Cranberry Relish Recipe (2024)

Fresh Cranberry Relish recipe made with 3 ingredients and ready in minutes! It is delicious served with turkey, chicken, ham, and pork. Make ahead friendly!

Cranberry Relish Recipe (1)

Cranberry recipes are favorites at my house throughout the holidays. From cranberry sauce, cranberry salsa, and cranberry rolls to this cranberry relish, we love them!

Why I Love this Recipe

This fresh cranberry relish is quick, easy, and simple to make. It is made of three fresh ingredients for a tart yet sweet taste that is so delicious.

Simple ingredients. Made of ingredients that are fresh, flavorful, and delicious.

Quick and easy. Minimal prep and about five minutes is all that is required with this easy recipe!

Sweet and tart. The combination of fresh cranberries and orange with a touch of sugar is all this amazing dish needs.

Table of Contents

  • Why I Love this Recipe
  • What is the Difference Between Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Relish?
  • How to Make Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • What to Serve with Cranberry Relish
  • Storage Tips
  • Make Ahead Tip
  • Cranberry Relish Recipe

What is the Difference Between Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Relish?

My cranberry relish has ingredients similar to my cranberry sauce. However, the method to prepare it is very different. Cranberry sauce is cooked, while the cranberry relish is made with raw ingredients for a fresh taste.

Cranberry Relish: Made with fresh, raw ingredients. Slightly sweet, tart flavor.

Cranberry Sauce: Cooked over medium heat until the cranberries burst and the sauce is thick. Cranberry sauce that is thicker and sweeter.

Cranberry Salsa: Made with fresh ingredients. Includes cilantro, onion, and jalapeno for a spicy, zesty flavor.

How to Make Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe

Cranberry Relish Recipe (2)

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

  • Cranberries – You can use frozen cranberries if you do not have fresh ones. There is no need to thaw them.
  • Orange – You’ll use a seedless orange, such as a Navel orange. Cut it into eight individual sections. You can reserve one of the sections to use as garnish. If the orange is large, use half of it.
  • Sugar – Adjust the amount of sugar you use in the recipe to the level of sweetness desired.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cranberry Relish Recipe (3)
Cranberry Relish Recipe (4)

Add the cranberries, orange sections, and 1/2 cup sugar to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse together until the cranberry relish reaches the desired consistency, but be careful not to over process or it can become mushy.

Taste and add more sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, until you reach the desired level of sweetness. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour for the flavors to develop before serving. See Storage Tips for how to make this recipe ahead of time or freeze for later.

What to Serve with Cranberry Relish

It is a delicious condiment for your Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas celebration. We love a few teaspoons with our Thanksgiving turkey or served with our leftovers in sandwiches. It is also perfect with roast chicken or served with sliced Christmas ham. You can also add a tablespoon or two to your morning yogurt or as a topping for buttermilk pancakes or biscuits.

Storage Tips

Store. Place the cranberry orange relish in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze. Place into a freezer-safe, airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Make Ahead Tip

Double the recipe. Use half for Thanksgiving and freeze half to use during Christmas!

Cranberry Relish Recipe (5)

Cranberry Relish Recipe (6)

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Cranberry Relish Recipe

Robyn Stone

5 from 1 vote

Fresh Cranberry Relish recipe made with 3 ingredients and ready in minutes! Delicious served with Thanksgiving turkey, chicken, ham, and pork. Make ahead and freezer friendly!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) package cranberries
  • 1 medium orange, seedless, cut into 8 sections, with the peeling left on
  • 1/2 – 1 cup sugar, adjust to taste

Instructions

  • Add the cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, and 7 of the orange sections to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to desired consistency. Do not overprocess.

  • Taste for sweetness and adjust to taste by stirring more sugar into the relish, a few tablespoons at a time to reach the desired level of sweetness.

  • Transfer the cranberry relish to a serving bowl. Cut the final orange section into 2-3 thin slices as garnish. Serve.

Notes

Ingredient Notes:

Orange: If the orange is large, use half.
Sugar: Adjust the sweetness to taste. I believe 1/2 cup sugar is sweet enough, but it depends on the sweetness of the orange.

Storage Tips:

Store. Place the cranberry orange relish in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze. Place into a freezer-safe, airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.03g | Saturated Fat: 0.002g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 0.1mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.01mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Dairy-Free Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Grain-Free Recipes, Halloween Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, New Year Recipes, No Cook Recipes, Thanksgiving Recipes, Valentine’s Day Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Cranberry Relish Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

How long will cranberry relish keep in the refrigerator? ›

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.

How many cranberries are needed to make one can? ›

The average number of cranberries used per can of sauce is 200. If you lay out all the cans of sauce consumed in a year from end to end, it would stretch 3,385 miles.

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.

What is traditional relish made from? ›

What Is Relish Made Of? There are three key ingredients in relish: produce (fruits, vegetables or a mixture), vinegar, and sugar. Additional ingredients are often added, including spices like mustard seed to make old-fashioned mustard pickle relish or mayonnaise to make crisp onion relish.

How to make cranberry relish less tart? ›

And one last overlooked remedy for cranberry sauce: a pinch of salt. While you won't taste it, salt helps equalize the sweet-tart flavor of your cranberry sauce while making it a better pairing for the rest of your savory sides and, of course, the turkey.

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.

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.

What to use cranberry relish for? ›

Simple Appetizers

Top your favorite cracker with whipped cream cheese and a dollop of Cranberry Relish for the ultimate speedy starter. If you have a little more time you can try this Three-Ingredient Cranberry Relish Appetizer with white cheddar cheese.

Are too many cranberries bad for you? ›

Cranberries and cranberry products are usually safe for most people if consumed in moderation. However, excessive consumption may cause stomach upset and diarrhea — and may also increase the risk of kidney stones in predisposed individuals.

How much is 3 cups of cranberries? ›

One 12-ounce bag of cranberries equals 3 cups.

How many cranberries for 10 people? ›

One 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries yields about 2 1/4 cups of cranberry sauce, which should be enough for about 8 to 10 people, Hartigan says, adding that you can half that amount of cranberries when making a cranberry-apple or -orange sauce since the alternative fruit will bulk up each serving.

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.

Is cranberry relish served hot or cold? ›

Typically served chilled, our recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead.

Why is my cranberry sauce runny? ›

The simplest reason that your cranberry sauce is too runny is that it has too much liquid in it. Usually, this is just water, but some people use orange juice or other flavored fluids. No matter what you're using, the answer is to cook it longer.

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!

What is jellied cranberry sauce made of? ›

It is amazing how a simple mixture of cranberries, sugar, and water can be easily transformed into delicious, lovely jellied cranberry sauce.

What is in Publix cranberry orange relish? ›

Ingredients. Cranberries, Sugar, Orange Juice Concentrate, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Citric Acid, Sodium Ascorbate (to Maintain Color).

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