Cranberry Relish

Cranberry Relish is the best condiment for your holiday meal! This simple blend of 3 ingredients is tart, sweet and so easy to make with no cooking involved. Perfect to serve with turkey, chicken or pork.

Is fresh cranberry relish on the menu at your Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner? Maybe it should be! It’s the perfect addition for your holiday table with its fresh and bright flavors.

I prefer it over the canned stuff. I’m not a big fan of the jellied cranberry sauce. I like this recipe because it’s so easy to make with 3 ingredients in just minutes! It pairs well with so many types of protein.

If you love cranberry sauce, give cranberry relish a try. Who knows, maybe it will become of your new favorite things for the holiday season?

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Relish Recipe

• Great recipe to make as an alternative to cranberry sauce
• Tart flavors with added sweetness
• Perfect to serve at a holiday feast (it even looks festive!)
• Basic recipe ready in minutes
• Only 3 ingredients
• Freezes well
• Can be made in a dip with added ingredients
• No cooking required

Ingredients

• Fresh cranberries
• Navel orange with the peel on
• Granulated sugar

How to Make Cranberry Relish

• Step One: Rinse cranberries and set aside.
• Step Two: Wash the navel orange and slice off the ends. Cut into quarters or wedges, leaving the peel on.
• Step Three: Add the cranberries, orange wedges and granulated sugar to a food processor or blender. Pulse until the cranberries and oranges are minced to a relish consistency.
• Step Four: Pour into a bowl or large container and stir well. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Equipment Needed

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• Food processor or high powered blender
• Serving bowl
• Cutting board
• Measuring cups 

Holiday Dinner Recipes to Serve with Cranberry Relish

• Crockpot Cranberry Pecan Stuffing
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Green Bean Casserole
• Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Substitutions and Variations

• Add in other fruits like apples or pears. Granny Smith apples pair well with this recipe.
• If you don’t want to use a whole orange, you can substitute with 1 to 2 teaspoons of orange zest and 1/4 cup orange juice.
• If you prefer a more natural sweetness, use 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey instead of granulated sugar.
• Add a richer sweetness by substituting brown sugar for the granulated sugar.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger for a lovely warm spicy flavor.
• For more texture, add in some nuts like chopped pecans or walnuts.

Storage Instructions

Store any leftover cranberry relish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 to 14 days. 

Can I Freeze?

Yes, for sure! Add the cranberry relish to freezer bags and store in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months.

Can I Make Ahead?

Yes, you can make a batch ahead of time up to 2 to 3 days in advance. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container and stir again once you are ready to serve.

How Do I Eat Cranberry Orange Relish?

• It’s delicious served over meats like Thanksgiving turkey, pork chops, chicken or ham.
• Serve on top of oatmeal, pancakes or French toast.
• Make it into a dip. Spread a layer of whipped cream cheese in a small dish and top with a thin layer of cranberry relish. Serve with crackers for a yummy appetizer.
• Mix into vanilla yogurt for a quick breakfast or snack.
• Use up with your leftover turkey by spreading a spoonful onto turkey sandwiches. Make Thanksgiving Sliders and use cranberry relish instead of cranberry sauce.
• Serve with baked brie.

Recipe Tips

• This is a great recipe to make ahead of time. The longer it sits in the fridge, the more chance the flavors have a chance to come together. I recommend making it and letting it sit in the fridge for at least an hour or two before you serve it.
• Make sure to not over pulse the cranberry/orange mixture. You want it to still have some texture and not be liquid.

What is Cranberry Relish?

No, it’s not the same as cranberry sauce! It’s an uncooked sauce made with raw ingredients including cranberries, an orange and sugar (or some other type of sweetener). It’s typically served as a condiment at holiday dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Cranberry sauce, on the other hand, is a sweeter cooked sauce. 

Can I Use Frozen Cranberries?

If you don’t have access to fresh cranberries, you can substitute frozen cranberries. You don’t even have to thaw them out!

What If I Don’t Have a Food Processor or Blender?

You can use an old fashioned grinder if you have one. If you have the grinder attachment for your KitchenAid stand mixer, try that as well.

Can I Use Less Sugar?

You can, but it will be much more tart with less sugar. I wouldn’t reduce it by anymore than half. 

Other options you could try are using maple syrup, honey or even coconut sugar. 

Is Cranberry Relish Served Hot or Cold?

It’s typically served cold or at room temperature. It’s not cooked so you don’t need to heat it up.

Cranberry Recipes

• Spiced Cranberry Punch
• Cherry Cranberry Pie
• Cranberry Pecan Muffins
• Cranberry White Chocolate Cheesecake
• Cranberry Cobbler Dump Cake

You’ll also like Christmas Pretzel Salad and Christmas Ham.

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