From puddings and pies to cakes and tarts, these cranberry dessert recipes bring out the best of the seasonal fruit.
1/25
Coconut Cranberry Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
When my husband came home from the grocery store with six bags of fresh cranberries, I launched a full-scale effort to creatively use them all. Bursting with tart and sweet flavors, these cranberry coconut cookies are my favorite result from that experiment. —Amy Alberts, Appleton, Wisconsin
2/25
Cranberry-Carrot Layer Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist cake smothered with rich cream cheese frosting makes any dinner festive. Every autumn I go to a cranberry festival in Wisconsin and load up on fresh cranberries to freeze for year-round cooking. —Nellie Runne, Rockford, Illinois
3/25
Cranberry Butter Crunch Bark
From the Recipe Creator:
One Christmas I dreamed up this recipe when making butter crunch toffee. It is an addictive treat that disappears fast. —Heather Ferris, Vanderhoof, British Columbia
4/25
Cranberry Zucchini Wedges
From the Recipe Creator:
I try to slip zucchini into as many dishes as possible. These cake wedges have wonderful flavor and a tender texture. They are pretty, too, with bits of pineapple, cranberries and zucchini. And they're perfect for brunch. —Redawna Kalynchuk, Sexsmith, Alberta
5/25
Cranberry Bog Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
Sweet and chewy, these fun bars combine the flavors of oats, cranberries, brown sugar and pecans. I like to sprinkle the squares with confectioners’ sugar before serving. —Sally Wakefield, Gans, Pennsylvania
6/25
Cranberry Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
Every year when the cranberries are harvested, my family looks forward to eating this cheesecake. —Nairda Monroe, Webberville, Michigan
7/25
Cranberry Christmas Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
The ruby cranberries in this recipe stay bright and beautiful, and their tartness is irresistible. I've made this cranberry Christmas cake many times to share. —Marilyn Paradis, Woodburn, Oregon
8/25
Cranberry Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
From the Recipe Creator:
When I place a pan of these bars in the teachers' lounge and come back after the last bell, the pan is always empty. I'd say that's a good thing. White chocolate chips and cranberries make them extra-special. —Mirella Hackett, Chandler, Arizona
9/25
Cranberry Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
While everyone is enjoying a bountiful meal, this eye-catching tart can be baking to perfection in the oven. The pretty holiday dessert calls for very few ingredients, and it's a snap to assemble. —Jackie Zack, Riverside, Connecticut
10/25
Apple Cranberry Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple cranberry crisp is a wonderful dessert for fall, when both cranberries and apples are in season. The fruits are quite compatible in flavor and color, and they help make any table look festive and inviting. —Martha Sue Stroud, Clarksville, Texas
11/25
Frosted Pumpkin Cranberry Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
With tangy dried cranberries tucked inside and a creamy brown butter frosting, these mildly spiced pumpkin bars are doubly delightful. It's a good thing the recipe makes lots, because once you taste one, you won't be able to resist going back for more! —Barbara Nowakowski, Mesa, Arizona
12/25
Cranberry Layer Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
13/25
Cranberry Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Both kids and grown-ups like this gorgeous dessert. It will keep a few days and is actually better the second day, so you can make it a day ahead. —Sherry Conley, Noel Hants County, Nova Scotia
14/25
Cranberry Lime Macaroons
From the Recipe Creator:
It wouldn’t be the holidays for my family and friends if I didn’t make these chewy lime-flavored macaroons. I usually make several batches a week during the season. —Alisa Costa, Chatham, New York
15/25
Cranberry Orange Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe came to be through much trial and error. While I was growing up, my family used farina flour in desserts, and I thought it would lend a nice texture to this cake. It's an old-world Italian-style cake—delicious but not too sweet. The orange-cranberry combination is perfect! —Ninette Holbrook, Orlando, Florida
16/25
Rustic Cranberry Tarts
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to serve colorful desserts for gatherings with family and friends. These beautiful tarts are filled with cranberry and citrus flavor, and they’re easy to make and serve. —Holly Bauer, West Bend, Wisconsin
17/25
Cranberry-Almond Pound Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
When you want an extra-special dessert for the holidays, it’s hard to beat a seasonal homemade cake. I like to drizzle mine with a simple but elegant glaze flavored with amaretto. —Jackie Howell, Tucson, Arizona
18/25
White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies
From the Recipe Creator:
Friends sometimes ask me to make these for wedding receptions. For a fancier presentation, I cut the bars into triangle shapes and drizzle white chocolate over each one individually. —Erika Busz, Kent, Washington
19/25
Fluffy Cranberry Mousse
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a delicious and pretty salad for the holidays, but it's so good that I serve it at other times too. I got the recipe from a neighbor who had served it with a traditional turkey dinner. —Helen Clement, Hemet, California
20/25
Cranberry Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
To showcase abundant fall cranberries, make this beautiful lattice-topped cranberry pie. A dollop of orange cream complements the slightly tart flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
21/25
Cranberry-Orange Cake with Lemon Glaze
From the Recipe Creator:
I used cranberries for decorations in a wedding, then challenged myself to find a way to use up the surplus. This pretty, super moist cake with cranberries in the batter, and sometimes sugared ones on top, was the result! —S. Jade Klope, Paducah, Kentucky
22/25
Baked Cranberry Pudding
From the Recipe Creator:
This is an old-fashioned pudding that's a cranberry lover's delight. Serve warm topped with whipped cream for an elegant look or in bowls with rich cream poured over for a homey touch. —Lucy Meyring, Walden, Colorado
23/25
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
From the Recipe Creator:
This tasty biscotti is studded with dried cranberries and crunchy pistachios. It's delicious with tea or coffee. —Diane Gruber, Sioux City, Iowa
24/25
Cranberry-Almond Apple Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother made this treat every year for Christmas. It’s much better than everyday apple pie. The recipe is a family treasure. —Maxine Theriauit, Nashua, New Hampshire
25/25
Cranberry Coconut Cake with Marshmallow Cream Frosting
From the Recipe Creator:
Filled with a homemade cranberry curd and smothered with one of the fluffiest frostings you've ever had, this tall cake will make a memorable impression at any gathering. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
Cranberry Dessert Recipes FAQ
Can I substitute dried cranberries for fresh in holiday cranberry treats?
Sometimes fresh cranberries aren’t in season or available, so dried cranberries make a convenient stand-in. Since dried cranberries have a more concentrated flavor, you would want to use a smaller amount. We suggest swapping in 3/4 cup dried cranberries for every 1 cup needed in a recipe.
How do I balance the tartness of cranberries in baked goods?
If you’re baking with cranberries, the tart flavor can sometimes feel overpowering. Sugar works well when the dish is still warm, but once it cools, try honey, maple syrup, agave or molasses for a smoother sweetness that blends evenly.
Are there gluten-free recipes featuring cranberries?
Dietary needs often call for gluten-free swaps and cranberry desserts are easy to adapt. For your cheesecake base, use gluten-free cookies instead of graham crackers or make a gluten-free pie crust for all your pies. In other recipes, use gluten-free substitutes, like almond flour or buckwheat, instead of regular flour.
