15 Easy Cranberry Desserts to Wow Your Friends
Think outside the can and whip up one of these sweet-tart cranberry desserts.
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Sorry apple pie, but we're on a cranberry kick this fall. We all know that cranberry sauce is synonymous with Thanksgiving, but we dare you to think outside the can this fall with these delicious cranberry desserts. Sure, cranberry compote pairs perfectly with Thanksgiving turkey (and stuffing recipes!). And there's nothing quite like a smear of cranberry sauce on a leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich. But this holiday season, grab yourself a bag of frozen or even dried cranberries, because these picks are where the ruby-red fruits really shine.
Whether you're looking for fresh or frozen cranberry recipes, ways to use up leftover cranberry sauce, or even want to use dried cranberries, we've got it all. From the requisite cranberry pie (mixed with apples, pears, raspberries — take your pick!) to cookies, cake, cheesecake and even dessert bars, there are so many ways to use the sweet-tart berries. Ever tried cranberry purée swirled into creamy cheesecake or fresh cranberries sweetened and used to fill a buttery, biscuit-topped cobbler? You can even put frozen ones straight into your baked goods and they'll emerge from the oven warm, plump and juicy. Best of all, cranberry health benefits are practically endless—they have loads of antioxidants (including vitamins A and E) and are a good source of vitamin C. So ... these desserts are practically healthy, right?
Cranberry Hand Pies
Sandwich leftover cranberry sauce within pie pastry for a super-simple dessert (or breakfast!).
Get the recipe for Cranberry Hand Pies »
RELATED: 20 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes to Savor the Holiday's Best Flavors
Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars
Made with cranberries and a chocolate cookie crust, this is a festive dessert for the holidays.
Cranberry-Pear Lattice Pie
Tart cranberries easily mix with sweet pears in this cinnamon-studded pie filling. Top it with the prettiest little pie crust lattice top for a show stopping dessert.
Pressed Cranberry and Pear Tart
This tart is elegant and impressive — but we promise, it’s so simple to make.
No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake
Got extra cranberry sauce? Spread some on the bottom of your pie crust before adding in this easy no-bake filling, then swirl the rest of top.
Cranberry Cobbler
Tart berries meet a sweet crumbly crust for the perfect end to Thanksgiving dinner.
Cranberry Frangipane Tarts
Syrupy, sugared fresh cranberries sit atop a creamy almond paste filling in these adorable little mini tarts — so cute and easy that everyone at the table can get one!
Cranberry-Pistachio Wreaths
Cut Winter Spice Dough into wreaths. Thin icing slightly with water; spoon into decorating bag with small writing tip. When cookies cool, decorate with icing. Immediately stud with finely chopped dried cranberries and pistachios.
Brown Butter Pear & Cranberry Cobbler
Sautéing pears and cranberries in fragrant, browned butter adds another layer of deliciousness to an ordinary fruit cobbler.
Fruitcake Cookies
Let's face it: nobody likes fruitcake. But add all the ingredients (like dried cranberries!) to cookies and you've got yourself a winner!
Get the recipe for Fruitcake Cookies »
RELATED: 90 Irresistibly Good Christmas Cookies to Make This Season
Very Berry Apple Pie
Balance out the cranberry's tart flavor by mixing them with sweet blueberries and raspberries in this berry bonanza.
Get the recipe for Very Berry Apple Pie »
RELATED: 25 Sweet and Savory Cranberry Recipes That Go Beyond the Sauce
Thanksgiving Cake
This three-tiered cake features all the best flavors of Thanksgiving: pumpkin, cranberry and pecan.
Cranberry Flummery
Creamy cranberry yogurt is layered with whipped cream and crushed gingersnap cookies in these adorable individual flummeries.
Florentines
Florentine cookies like these bad boys are packed with nuts and dried fruit including — you guessed it! — cranberries.
Cranberry Pie With Snickerdoodle Crust
This creamy cranberry pie is actually two delicious desserts in one: cranberry curd plus a cinnamon-sugar cookie crust.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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