30 Easy Dried Cranberry Recipes

Looking to add a tart-sweet burst to your meals? Look no further than dried cranberry recipes. 

Dried cranberries are versatile little gems. Sweet or savory, you can add them to virtually anything you make.

Muffins and cookies might be the first thing that pops into your mind. 

But these tidbits go beyond the baked goods. 

From salads to pasta to burgers, these dried cranberry recipes will show you just how useful they can be.  

And, it doesn’t have to be Christmas or Thanksgiving for you to enjoy them. You’ll find plenty of year-round bites right here. 

1. Cranberry Orange Bread

Zesty and sweet cranberry orange bread is a treat any time of day.

Have a slice for breakfast, nibble on it for a snack, or warm it up for dessert. 

Instead of fresh cranberries, swap them out for dried cranberries. 

A baking trick I like to use is soaking them in orange juice. 

It enhances the flavor and reconstitutes the berries, so they get plump and juicy. 

2. Cranberry Orange Muffins

Breakfast on the go is easy when you’ve got these muffins on hand. 

It’s similar to my cranberry orange bread. Except it’s easier to eat on the run. 

I like to make a couple of batches on my meal prep day. 

Anything I’ll eat in a week I put in the fridge. The rest I’ll freeze for later. 

3. Favorite Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pepitas

From fall to winter, this salad makes a recurring appearance on my table.

You take a big helping of baby greens and pack it with seasonal flavors. 

It’s festive enough for Thanksgiving. Yet, it’s easy enough to throw together for a work lunch. 

If you need a boost of protein, add grilled chicken, leftover turkey, or pecans.

4. Cranberry Chocolate Chip Blondies

Here’s a holiday recipe my family adores. Bake a batch and your family will, too.

These chewy buttery bars are packed with dried cranberries and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

For an ultra-decadent twist, use white chocolate chips instead.

Either way, nobody can resist these blondies!

5. Roasted Butternut Squash and Cranberry Casserole

Thanksgiving or Christmas, this sweet casserole is perfect for your feast. 

It’s full of seasonal offerings like dried cranberries, butternut squash, and walnuts.

Coat the squash with warming spices and sugar, then load it up with butter. 

Sweet and rich, it pairs impeccably with turkey, ham, and rump roast. 

Sometimes, I even like to add fresh goat cheese on top.

6. Traditional Stuffing with Cranberries

It’s not Thanksgiving without the stuffing! This traditional Thanksgiving side dish is a holiday must. 

But with so much on your plate, it’s very tempting to go with the store-bought stuff. 

Luckily, this one is super easy. You just need seven ingredients, including dried cranberries.

I also like to use veggie broth instead of chicken. That way, vegetarians and vegans can enjoy it, too.

7. Easy White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge

When the holidays roll around, you can catch me in the kitchen making this easy fudge. 

These sweet confections make for fabulous holiday gifts.

And there’s something about tart dried cranberries and white chocolate that are so complementary.

If you’re new to fudge, fear not. This stuff is easy.

8. Cranberry Cake

Enjoy holiday flavors year-round with this cranberry cake. 

Finding fresh cranberries out of season isn’t easy. That’s why I used dried cranberries instead. 

Those tart cranberries suspended in the old-fashioned butter cake are delish!

I like to break the rules and have dessert for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

9. Cranberry Chicken Salad

If you like your chicken salad with grapes, you should give this version a try.

The tart and sweet dried cranberries are a tasty twist. 

It melds wonderfully with savory chicken, crisp celery, creamy mayo, and pine nuts. 

Pine nuts can get a little pricey. For a less expensive version, use walnuts, pecans, or make it nut-free.

10. Cranberry Balsamic Baked Chicken

This is a super simple idea for Thanksgiving for two.

In one dish, you get a main protein and a side. Not only is cleanup a breeze, but it’s easy. 

You marinate and bake the chicken with Brussels sprouts and cranberries.

Add a couple more chicken breasts to it and you’ll have leftovers.

11. Leftover Turkey Salad with Dried Cranberries

Looking to elevate your leftover turkey sandwich game? Fix it up like chicken salad. 

You meld leftover turkey with dried cranberries, mayo, celery, and slivered almonds. 

It’s a great way to repurpose turkey and it’s a little different too. 

Toss it on a roll or a croissant. Any leftover bread from Thanksgiving will do. Or serve it as is for a low-carb lunch.

12. Cranberry Brie Turkey Burger

These plump turkey burgers are crave-worthy!

The way the creamy brie and dried cranberries play on the savory turkey is epic. Just be sure the brie gets nice and melty. 

The lean ground turkey patty is far better than the stuff in the frozen aisle.

And it doesn’t take a bunch of extra work to make it. 

I like to serve mine with a side of baked sweet potato fries. 

13. Easy Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

Start a new holiday tradition with cranberry shortbread cookies. 

These five-ingredient cookies are fun to make and even better to eat. 

Use seasonal cookie-cutter shapes like stars, Christmas trees, or snowmen.

For the rest of the year, round or square cookie cutters make them more universal.

14. Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread

Festive, quick, and simple, this easy side is a holiday must.

It takes all but 5 minutes to make. The ingredients list couldn’t get any easier too. 

You meld cream cheese with dried fruits, nuts, orange zest, and orange juice. Add a pinch of ginger to it if you like. 

That’s all there is to it. 

It’s a lifesaver for when unexpected company shows up or when you’re too busy focusing on the main meal.

15. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

The holidays wouldn’t be right without a joyful cookie platter. So whip up a batch of classic oatmeal cookies with cranberries. 

I just love how dried cranberries taste in oatmeal cookies. 

Say, you know what else will taste great? Adding white chocolate chips to the mix!

16. Cranberry Apple Oatmeal

Still eating bland oatmeal for breakfast? Do your tastebuds a favor and ditch those basic oats for this bowl.

It’s still wholesome and warming. Except it’s more exciting thanks to the dried cranberries, almonds, apples, vanilla, and milk. 

Use any type of milk you like. 

Whole or even half-in-half makes it super creamy. Almond or cashew milk are also great vegan options. 

17. Almond Cranberry Low-Carb Trail Mix

When you’re on a keto diet, finding quick snacks isn’t always easy. 

That’s why it’s important to keep diet-approved snacks on hand like this trail mix. 

Sugar-free dried cranberries and unsweetened coconut flakes keep the sugar in check. 

Meanwhile, raw almonds and egg whites pack it with protein. 

18. Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans

This dish graces my holiday table every year. It also tends to stick around well through the winter. 

Thick balsamic, dried cranberries, pecans, and parmesan make the sprouts rather addicting. 

Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. 

I’ve known quite a few Brussels sprouts haters who admit to liking them because of it. 

19. Cranberry and Walnut Rolls

Don’t forget the rolls!

These cranberry and walnut speckled rolls taste sensational with a slab of butter, particularly when they’re hot out of the oven.

Quick-rising dry yeast makes them super fluffy. It also cuts down on prep time.

Holidays, family dinners, breakfasts, or brunches, you have plenty of reasons to make a fresh batch.

20. Cranberry Bread Pudding

Need a holiday dessert that feeds a crowd? Skip the pies and cakes for bread pudding. 

It’s such a fun dessert. Add cranberries to the mix and it’s perfect for the holidays. 

Day-old bread soaks up the creamy egg mixture for a decadent bite.

What makes it more lavish, though, is the vanilla orange sauce. 

21. Cranberry Quinoa Salad

At least once a week I rely on a quinoa salad for a quick lunch. 

This week, I’m trying out this cranberry quinoa salad recipe.

The quinoa base is all dressed up with dried cranberries, almonds, scallions, and parsley. It even comes with a zippy dressing. 

It’s enough for a light meal and makes for a great side. 

22. Dried Cranberry Scones

Slow down and take a moment to savor life with these cranberry scones. 

There’s something about a warm scone that’s so relaxing. 

Perhaps it’s because I like to enjoy it with either coffee or a cup of tea. 

Whatever it is, I just love these scones. 

The dried cranberries add just enough flavor to keep things interesting. 

23. Dried Cranberry Coffee Cake

Another baked good that tastes better with coffee is coffee cake. 

It’s right there in the name, after all!

For a twist, mix dried cranberries into the batter and sprinkle more on top.

That along with the streusel topping and vanilla bean glaze is exquisite. 

Be sure to rehydrate the cranberries. Water or orange juice both work. 

24. Cranberry Walnut Pasta Salad

This dish takes all the best fall salad fillers and adds them to rotini. 

It has dried cranberries, walnuts, green onion, and goat cheese. 

If you prefer more bite, add feta instead. You can also mess around with the pasta shapes like farfalle, penne, or macaroni. 

Whichever shape you use, it’s great for potlucks, picnics, lunches, and more.

25. Spaghetti with Spinach and Cranberries

Spaghetti and cranberries together? Don’t knock it until you try it!

I admit, I was a bit skeptical, too. 

Cranberries aren’t the first thing that I think about putting into spaghetti.

Nor is any sort of creamy maple pumpkin glaze for that matter. 

Oddly enough, it works. 

If you’re feeling adventurous, give it a try tonight. 

26. Cranberry Orange Biscotti

Pour a cup of coffee because you won’t want to miss dunking these biscotti. 

Orange is one of those flavors that go great with dried cranberries. So is white chocolate. 

And these biscotti come with both!

Bright, tart, and buttery, these crispy Italian delicacies are a marvelous delight.

27. Bacon Cranberry Walnut Dip

Before a big holiday dinner, you need something to tide your guests over. And I’ve got just the thing!

It’s like a deconstructed cheese ball speckled with seasonal flavors. 

Tart, creamy, cheesy, fatty, and nutty, your friends and family will devour it. 

Serve it with a side of crackers and plenty of napkins. It can get a little messy.

28. Cranberry Pecan Slaw

There are so many great reasons to try this slaw. First, it’s an easy side for the holidays. 

Second, it makes both creamy and vinegar-based slaw lovers happy. Third, it’s quick. 

You combine bagged coleslaw mix with apples, pecans, green onions, and dried cranberries.

Then, toss them in a creamy and zippy five-ingredient dressing. 

Barbecue ribs, rotisserie chicken, turkey, and ham all go well with this crunchy slaw. 

29. Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

Pinwheels are the perfect finger food. You can roll them up with any ingredients you like. 

If you just so happen to have dried cranberries, make these bites. They’re oozing with cheese and flecked with chives. 

All in all, they only require five ingredients and 10 minutes of your time. 

So you can also make them the next time you have a snack attack. 

30. Cranberry Bliss White Chocolate Bark

One bite of these confections is pure bliss, indeed!

Chocolate bark is a fun treat for the holidays. But you won’t need to wait for the seasons to change to make these. 

What you do need is plenty of white chocolate, tons of dried cranberries, and citrus. 

The tang from the lemon and orange zest is what makes it pop.

Pass it out as presents or make a candy platter for guests. It’s so good, you’ll want to spread the joy.