Cranberry Relish
Cranberry Relish is a traditional holiday side that’s easy to make with just 3 ingredients. Fresh and tangy cranberries are blended together with oranges and sugar, creating a fresh tasting chunky sauce with light citrus note.
Make this in under 5 minutes, with no cooking necessary! There’s really no need to buy store-bought cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and Christmas after this!
Easy Cranberry Relish
Cranberry relish is basically a fresh and chunky version of cranberry sauce.
It has a texture similar to a chunky jam or jelly, where cranberries are roughly chopped up but not mashed, along with the bits of peels of oranges.
The flavors are vibrant and complex and absolutely delicious. The cranberry relish is a raw cranberry recipe, bites of tanginess from the cranberries, and balanced with a touch of sweetness from the citrus and sugar.
We love serving cranberry relish along side our our Thanksgiving turkey, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, gravy, and all the traditional Thanksgiving classics.
Cranberry Relish vs Cranberry Sauce
Both cranberry relish and cranberry sauce are made with fresh cranberries, but the textures and consistencies are different.
Cranberry relish has more of a chunky texture where you can identify bits of cranberries and oranges.
Cranberry sauce is more runny where cranberries are cooked down to a point where the sauce is a lot smoother in texture – the pieces of cranberries are harder to find.
Ingredients
Cranberry relish only calls for 3 simple ingredients:
- cranberries – we are using fresh cranberries. No need to boil the cranberries, they will be processed raw. You can use frozen cranberries, but be sure to defrost and pat dry to remove excess moisture.
- orange – we are using medium/small whole oranges. Don’t peel the skin, as that is really where most of the citrus flavor lies. Cut them into chunks before adding to food processor. If you prefer a stronger citrus flavor, use more oranges. If you prefer a lighter flavor, use half an orange.
- sugar – we are using granulated or turbinado sugar. You can also use honey, maple syrup or agave if you prefer.
How to make Cranberry Relish
We are using a food processor to make this recipe. No cooking needed, just a food processor!
Bring all three ingredients – cranberries, oranges (cut into chunks), and granulated sugar – into the food processor.
Then pulse it until it reaches your desired consistency.
Don’t pulse for too long because it only takes a few seconds to chop up the cranberries and oranges.
If you like a smoother consistency, pulse for longer. I personally prefer it slightly chunky as shown in the pictures. I like being able to bite into chunks of the fruits!
Transfer to a container or jar and refrigerate for at least an hour so that the flavors will come together.
And get ready to be blown away by its incredible freshness, flavors and beauty!
Cranberry relish makes a delicious and festive side dish for your Christmas and Thanksgiving menu.
I love how simple it is to make, and that I can even make it ahead of time.
Variations
This cranberry relish is delicious just the way it is, but sometimes I like to take it up a notch, especially for special festivities and dinner parties. Here are other things you can do to add some extra touches:
- Other fruits – bring in other fruits such as apples or pears and pulse it up along the cranberries and orange. Or add fried fruits such as raisins or dates at the end.
- Different flavors – Try adding a splash of a flavored liquor such as Grand Marnier or Bourbon, or add a touch of vanilla extract.
- Nuts – walnuts, pecans, almonds or a mix of these are great to pulse alongside the cranberries and orange.
- Spices – add a touch of spice such as cinnamon, nutmeg or mint leaves. If you like it spicy, add some chopped jalapeños to give it a delicious punch!
Make Ahead Instructions
Cranberry relish is the perfect recipe to make ahead before those busy days leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Simply make them up to 10 days in advance and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
They serve great chill so you don’t even have to bring it out or heat it up.
Seriously it doesn’t get easier than this!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Make sure they are completely defrost and pat dry to remove excess moisture before using.
Cranberry relish is versatile and can be used as a topping for pancakes, oatmeal, and yogurt, or use as a dip with crackers. I especially love to top crackers with some cream cheese and cranberry relish.
Turbinado sugar, maple syrup and honey makes great sweeteners. You can also use a sugar substitute like Stevia. Just remember to adjust it to taste.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE? Please comment below and give us a 5-star rating! This will help others find this recipe on Google and Pinterest. We very much appreciate your help! 🤍
More Delicious Holiday Sides
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Milk Bread Rolls
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Winter Fruit Salad
- Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
Cranberry Relish
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 orange sliced, peel on
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Place the three ingredients in the food processor.
- Blend until you reach the desired consistency.
- Transfer to a jar or container, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to a few days.
- Serve and enjoy!
