Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe (2024)

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Cranberry relish recipe has only 3 ingredients and goes perfectly with turkey, dressing and more. Make this in minutes for the perfect addition to your holiday meal.

Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe (1)

Easy Cranberry Relish is a must side dish at all of our Thanksgiving or Christmas Meal. My kids always have to have mashed potatoes but I will never skip on this dish.

If you are looking for more Thanksgiving Recipes, then this is the recipe to start with. You may also love this Crock Pot Cranberry Sauce or Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce.

Table of Contents

  • What is Cranberry Relish?
  • Ingredients:
  • Variations Ideas:
  • Step By Step Instructions:
  • Expert Tips:
  • What is Cranberry Relish Used For?
  • Frequently Asked Questions:
  • More Cranberry Recipes to try:
  • More Easy Side Dish Recipes:
  • Cranberry relish Recipe

What is Cranberry Relish?

Cranberry relish is made from raw cranberries and blended in a food processor with orange slices and sugar. It is uncooked which is one of the main differences from cranberry sauce.

Ingredients:

Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe (2)
  • Frozen Cranberries
  • Orange Peel
  • Granulated sugar

Scroll to the bottom for the recipe card to see the full list of ingredients and recipe.

Variations Ideas:

  • Sugar – You can decrease the sugar to ½ cup of sugar or ¼ cup if you want a slightly less sweet relish.
  • Toppings – Feel free to serve this relish with chopped nuts. We recommend walnuts or pecans.
  • Warm Spices – Feel free to add in warm spices to this Orange Relish Recipes. Ground Cinnamon or a teaspoons ginger for added flavor.
  • Change the Fruit – We have also substituted the orange with a granny smith apple or a pear.

Step By Step Instructions:

  • Step 1 – Prepare cranberries by thawing them if using frozen cranberries.
  • Step 2 – Slice the ends off the orange. Leave the rest of the skin on and slice the orange into 8 slices.
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  • Step 3 – Place the cranberries, add sugar, and the sliced orange in a food processor and pulse. You want the mixture to be smooth or until no large chunks remain and finely chopped.
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  • Step 3 – Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. It is best if you can let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour. It gives the flavors time to blend. When you are ready to serve, stir and enjoy! It is so delicious.

Expert Tips:

  • Double the recipe – You might want to double the recipe because it is really good.
  • Cranberries – If you are using frozen cranberries, make sure to let them thaw first before combining with the other ingredients. You can also use fresh cranberries.
  • Chill – Make sure to allow the cranberry relish to chill before serving.
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What is Cranberry Relish Used For?

Oh the possibilities are endless. The sweet and tart orange relish recipe is so delicious and pairs well with an assortment of things. We have even served it with our waffles, pancakes and chicken recipe.

Some of our favorites include:

  • Roasted Turkey and stuffing– It is delicious served with turkey.
  • Turkey sandwich – Use leftover turkey and make a sandwich with slices of turkey topped with cranberry relish.
  • Spiral Ham – Top slices of ham with cranberry relish for a great combination.
  • Bake Brie – Top a block of cream cheese with cranberry relish for a great appetizer. Serve with crackers or pretzels.
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Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I Make Ahead of Time?

Yes, this is a great side dish to prepare ahead of time. The flavors combine and all of the ingredients are enhanced.

How to Make from Scratch:

Making cranberry relish from scratch is so easy to do. All you need cranberries, sugar and oranges to make this. Everything gets combined in a food processor. It is really that simple and a easy recipe.

Can you Freeze?

If you want to freeze it, make sure you place in the airtight freezer container. It will last about 2-3 months in the freezer. Once you are ready to serve, let it thaw in the refrigerator.

More Cranberry Recipes to try:

  • Cranberry Orange Bread Recipe
  • Easy Cranberry Orange Muffins Recipe
  • Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad Recipe

More Easy Side Dish Recipes:

  • Instant Pot Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole Recipe
  • Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Casserole Recipe
  • Easy Corn Casserole
  • Cranberry Chutney Recipe

We love hearing from you. If you try this Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish, make sure to leave us a comment.

Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe (7)

Review

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Cranberry relish

5 from 11 votes

Cranberry relish recipe has only 3 ingredients and goes perfectly with turkey, dressing and more. Make this for your next holiday meal.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Refrigerate 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings 12

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 117

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces frozen cranberries fresh works too
  • 1 orange with the peel on
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

  • If you are using frozen cranberries, allow them to thaw slightly on the counter. We thawed ours for about 10 minutes while we were preparing everything else.

  • Slice the egg root ends off the orange. Leave the rest of the. skin on. Then slice it into 8 slices.

  • Place the cranberries, sugar, and the sliced orange in a food processor.

  • Process until smooth or until no large chunks remain.

  • Refrigerate until ready to serve. We like the flavors to combine in the fridge for at least an hour.

  • Stir right before serving.

Recipe Notes

You can decrease the sugar to ½ cup if you want a slightly less sweet relish.
It will last up to 1 week in the fridge in a covered container.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 117kcal, Carbohydrates 30g, Protein 1g, Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 1g, Sodium 1mg, Potassium 32mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 28g, Vitamin A 33IU, Vitamin C 17mg, Calcium 7mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

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Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long will fresh cranberry relish last? ›

To make-ahead: Cranberry relish can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To freeze: Store cranberry relish in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. To use, remove it from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator.

What is cranberry relish made of? ›

There's no cooking involved, just using a grinder or a food processor to grind up and mix together raw cranberries, tart green apples, a large seedless orange, and sugar. It's amazing how good it is! Great with roast turkey, or for leftovers on turkey sandwiches.

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? ›

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? While cranberries should not be eaten as is (they are unpleasantly tart), they do not need to be cooked before they are used in baked goods.

How can I thicken my cranberry relish? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

Can I freeze leftover cranberry relish? ›

Yes, you can freeze homemade cranberry sauce—and it works well. It's best to store it in the freezer for up to 3 months; the taste may be affected due to its water content if frozen longer. Keep this in mind when putting away your leftover sauce and use it during this optimal period as part of an easy weeknight dinner.

Do you eat cranberry relish hot or cold? ›

Either! Some prefer to have it served fresh and warm, straight out of the pot, while others need it completely cooled down to enjoy the flavours. Personally, we prefer cooled sauce.

Is relish just blended pickles? ›

Relish: vegetables/fruits preserved using either sugar, vinegar or a combination of the two. Essentially, while sugar and vinegar are important for preserving they are not a major ingredient by weight, so you would be making a relish rather than a pickle.

How much cranberry relish per person? ›

How Much Cranberry Sauce Do I Need Per Person? If you're making fresh cranberry sauce, plan on at least 1/4 cup per person—more if your family really likes cranberry sauce. I usually make about 1/2 cup per person and find I have plenty left over for a few days of slathering cranberry sauce over everything.

Is cranberry relish good for you? ›

Nutrition Spotlight

The flavors of oranges and cranberries sing joyfully together! Their health benefits also complement each other as well! This relish provides an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C that will leave your belly full and body happy!

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Is it safe to eat cranberries raw? Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

How do you take the tartness out of cranberries? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

Do I need to rinse fresh cranberries? ›

Avoid cranberries that look bruised or shriveled. Before use, rinse fresh or frozen cranberries and discard any that are damaged. It is not necessary to rinse before freezing, and there is also no need to clean dried cranberries. When cooking, heat cranberries just until they pop.

What is the difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry relish? ›

The main difference is a sauce is typically blended in a food processor for a smoother consistency similar to a condiment or a liquid. Where as a relish is usually a chunkier sauce and tends to have some amount of sugar or vinegar to act as a preserve.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce watery? ›

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

How long will homemade cranberry chutney last in the fridge? ›

This easy cranberry sauce recipe makes a tart side dish that keeps for 10-14 days in the fridge. You can mix this up and stash it in the back of the fridge long before you've even picked up your turkey. It also makes a nice gift for the holiday season.

How long will homemade cranberry sauce last in refrigerator? ›

Properly stored, homemade cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 10 to 14 days. If you'd like to keep it for longer than that, pour the sauce into covered airtight containers or freezer-safe bags and freeze.

How long will fresh cranberries last in the refrigerator? ›

Fresh cranberries are usually good stored in the refrigerator for two weeks. If kept longer, you will find a gradual deterioration of quality with more soft or bruised berries. Berries can be stored in the original packaging in the refrigerator crisper for up to four weeks.

Does homemade cranberry sauce need to be refrigerated? ›

Canned cranberry sauce can be kept in the pantry until after it's opened—but feel free to store it in the fridge if you like a chilled sauce and magically have extra fridge space. Freshly made sauce should be refrigerated. Let cool to room temperature before transferring to a resealable container.

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