From cranberry desserts and holiday drinks to festive crafts and decor, this roundup has 28 creative ways to use cranberries all season long.
Looking for the best cranberry recipes and crafts to make your holidays extra festive? Cranberries aren’t just a side dish at Thanksgiving, they’re bright, tart, and versatile enough to shine in everything from desserts and cocktails to home decor and handmade projects.
This cranberry roundup has been around for a while, I first put it together years ago when I was part of the Social Fabric blogging community. Even though it’s an older post, the recipes and crafts are just as fun and useful today. I’ve refreshed the links and updated the sections so you can still enjoy 28 cranberry filled holiday ideas in one place.
Cranberry Dessert Recipes
When it comes to the holidays, you can never have too many cranberry desserts on the table. Whether you’re baking cookies for a cookie swap, making a cozy coffee cake, or whipping up a batch of festive scones, these recipes will impress your guests and give you that perfect balance of sweet and tart.
- Shortbread Cookies – Scrappy Geek
- Cranberry Apple Sauce – Kids Fun Reviewed
- Cranberry Scones – Joy’s Life
- Chewy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies – Creative Cynchronicity
Cranberry Holiday Drink Recipes
Cranberries also shine in the glass! From fizzy sodas to warm ciders, these holiday drinks are easy to mix up and perfect for family gatherings or winter parties. Serve them alongside your favorite cranberry desserts for a complete holiday spread.
- Cranberry Soda – Ginger Casa
- Cranberry Apple Cider – Building Our Story
- Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Lime Spritzer – Joannae
More Creative Cranberry Recipes
Cranberries aren’t limited to pies and cookies. Try them in savory dishes, salads, and sauces that bring fresh flavor to your holiday meals. These recipes show just how flexible cranberries can be in both traditional and unexpected pairings.
- Cranberry Almond Kale Quinoa Salad – To and Fro
- Pear and Pecan Arugula Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette – A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
- Cranberry Ambrosia Salad – Building Our Story
- 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce – Savoring the Good
- Cranberry Ice – Building Our Story
- Fresh Cranberry Relish – Diana Rambles
- Spiced Red Wine Cranberry Glazed Cornish Hens – Kitchen Concoctions
- Orange Cranberry Relish – A Paper Arrow
- Cranberry Honey Butter – Happy Go Lucky
- Creamy Butternut Squash Kale Pasta – A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
- Fresh Cranberry Sauce – Clever Pink Pirate
Cranberry Holiday Decor Ideas
Bring the cranberry theme into your home with these holiday decor ideas. A splash of deep red instantly adds warmth to your table settings and festive style to your Thanksgiving or Christmas décor.
Cranberry Inspired Style
Cranberry isn’t just for recipes and crafts, it’s also a holiday fashion statement. Bold, rich cranberry tones are a seasonal favorite, from cozy outfits to party looks.
More Cranberry Recipes and Crafts on Joy’s Life
If you’re looking for even more ways to use cranberries this season, don’t miss these Joy’s Life favorites:
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Chipotle Meatballs
- Tart & Sweet Cranberry Apple Bake Recipe
- Ginger Orange Cranberry Dipping Sauce
That’s 28 ways to enjoy cranberries this season, whether you’re baking, mixing drinks, stringing garlands, or decorating your table. Cranberry recipes and crafts are a timeless way to celebrate the holidays, and these ideas make it easy to add color, flavor, and handmade charm to your celebrations. Bookmark this page so you can come back anytime you need a little cranberry inspiration.
If you love this kind of seasonal collection, you might also enjoy my roundup of pumpkin recipes and crafts. It’s another old favorite that’s been updated with fresh links and inspiration.
