Cranberry Relish… just like Grandma made! Using just 4 simple ingredients, it’s an easy, delicious side dish that makes the perfect addition to any holiday menu.
Growing up, cranberries were a staple on the holiday menu. And by cranberries, of course, I mean the canned, jellied sauce we all know and love.
To be honest, there’s something about it I’ve always enjoyed. Not only because it has always reminded me of jello (another childhood favorite) but also because of the nostalgia factor. It was one of those things that I just came to expect!
I think we can all agree that cranberries are a holiday must… but as an adult, I’ve move on from the canned variety. These days? I’m all about fresh. And this Cranberry Orange Relish is definitely my favorite.
It’s made with just four ingredients and takes no time at all. It requires no cooking, no stirring, and no cooling. In other words, it’s one of those side dishes that’s literally NO fuss!
Best of all, the end result is always amazing. It’s sweet and tart and packed with delicious fruit flavor. The perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anytime! So ditch the canned variety… I promise, you’ll never go back!
what is cranberry relish?
A traditional holiday side dish made with uncooked cranberries and sugar. Many recipes include a combination of fresh oranges, apples, pineapple, or chopped pecans. Cranberry Relish is typically served as part of a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It pairs well with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all the other traditional holiday menu items.
what you’ll need for this recipe
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries
- 1 large navel orange
- 1 medium red apple
- 1/2 c. granulated sugar
how to make cranberry relish
Combine the ingredients. In a high powered blender or food processor, combine cranberries, chopped orange segments, chopped apple, and granulated sugar.
Chop/Pulse. Pulse until relish reaches desired consistency, stirring as necessary.
Serve. Transfer to serving bowl and serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.
make-ahead & storage tips
This recipe is ideal for making in advance, and may even taste better after the flavors have some time to combine and develop. When making this recipe in advance, you can either store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator (for up to one week) or in the freezer (for up to 6 months). Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Recipe Variations
- Add crushed canned pineapple
- Add chopped canned or fresh pears
- Add shredded sweetened coconut
- Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds
- Add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or allspice
- Add or substitute sliced pears
- Add a splash or lemon or orange juice
More Holiday Side Dishes
You can never have too many side dish recipes to choose from! These are some of our other favorites:
Cranberry Relish
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1 navel orange peeled and chopped
- 1 apple chopped
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Orange zest
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
- Pulse until you reach desired consistency, stirring as needed.
- Transfer to a serving bowl; garnish with orange zest as desired.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.
Amanda says
This looks so tasty thank you for sharing!!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This Cranberry Relish looks delicious and so easy to make!
Jan F says
This has been a family tradition for decades. We process thru a good mill/meat grinder for the perfect texture. I recently started using craisins instead of sugar. It’s just as sweet and I feel better about it. It’s not Thanksgiving without this amazing relish.
Cathy Trochelman says
It has quickly become one of my favorites. Thanks for the tip!
Sara Welch says
Such a beautiful dish! This will make my table look even more delicious on Thanksgiving Day! Yum!
jade manning says
This will go perfectly with my turkey for Thanksgiving!
Toni says
This is such a great recipe to add to our Thanksgiving menu!
Beth says
I never knew how easy this relish would be to make! Simple and fast too! Love that there is no cooking required!
Cynthia Hirtz says
Add some crushed pineapple and a big box of any red jello.
TwirlyGirly says
This is very similar to the recipe I use, which is the one my mother made every Thanksgiving. The difference? Mine also adds one lemon, AND the orange, apple, and lemon are not peeled. You just cut the whole fruits into chunks and remove any seeds (and the apple core, of course) and off you go. My mother used to use her hand-crank meat grinder to make this; I use my food processor but just recently bought an electric meat grinder I might use to make the relish with instead this year. The downside to the food processor, IMO, is a lot of unevenly sized pieces. But this type of relish is absolutely delicious, and lasts quite a while in the fridge. Try slathering some on a sandwich made with the leftover turkey!
Beth Durham says
This has been a family favorite for years! Great with turkey, chicken and pork. Easy to make and freezes great. Already have my cranberries!