Roasted Cranberries- Easy Cranberry Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Our roasted cranberries recipe is a simple, sophisticated side dish. It is perfect for your holiday table but easy enough for every day. Flavored with bourbon and orange, this recipe is paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.

Roasted Cranberries- Easy Cranberry Recipe (1)

This post may include affiliate links.Please read mydisclosure policy.

Our recipe directions allow you to serve this as a cranberry sauce, a savory side dish, or as a cranberry dessert (but without all the sugar)!

i firmly believe that it is possible to get healthier fruits and vegetables into your holiday menus without sacrificing traditions or taste. We got such a great response to our Sweet Potato Crunch I thought we should share our roasted cranberries recipe with you.

Jump to:
  • 📖Why This Recipe Works
  • 🧾Ingredient Notes
  • ⏲️ How to Make Roasted Cranberries
  • 💭Cranberry Sauce Variation
  • 💭Cranberry Dessert Variation
  • 🌡️Storage
  • 🦃More Thanksgiving Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • ⭐Reviews

📖Why This Recipe Works

  • Roasting cranberries brings out their tartness, rather than covering it up with extra sugar or jello.
  • This recipe has less than 5 minutes of hands-on time.
  • This recipe can be made in advance and reheated before serving.

🧾Ingredient Notes

Fresh Cranberries

Orange- Any variety will do.

Bourbon- If you are avoiding alcohol you can substitute water, apple juice, or additional orange juice for the bourbon.

Honey- Or substitute sugar for vegan. This recipe is VERY light on sugar. You can increase it but the purpose of roasting the cranberries is to bring out their tart flavor.

Spices- Cinnamon,nutmeg, and just a pinch of kosher salt.

Out of oranges and OJ? Check out our list of substitutes for orange juice.

⏲️ How to Make Roasted Cranberries

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Combine the whole cranberries, orange juice & zest, bourbon, honey, and spices into an ovenproof dish. Stir to combine. Bake for 45 minutes until cranberries are soft and the liquid is reduced by two-thirds.

Roasted Cranberries- Easy Cranberry Recipe (2)

Yep, that is it! How easy are these roasted cranberries? Good food does not have to be complicated to make. To serve we just add some additional orange zest and dig in.

(Side note: We recommend this Microplane tool for zesting citrus- durable and useful!).

As you know, I love a recipe that can be easily modified into something new. So what if you want to make these roasted cranberries into a sauce?

💭Cranberry Sauce Variation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the whole cranberries, orange juice & zest, bourbon, ¼ cup of water, honey, and spices in an ovenproof dish. Stir to combine. Bake for 45 minutes until cranberries are soft and the liquid is reduced by one-third.

Use an immersion blender to break up about half the cranberries. The cranberry sauce should be chunky but saucy.

💭Cranberry Dessert Variation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the whole cranberries, orange juice & zest, bourbon, ½ cup of honey (warmed), and spices in a bowl. Stir to combine.

Divide the mixture into four ramekins. Bake for 35-45 minutes until cranberries are soft and the liquid is reduced by two-thirds. Top with whipped cream or dairy-free paleo whipped topping. Garnish with orange zest and chopped nuts.

If you want a sweeter cranberry sauce or salad, check out my cranberry salad with raspberry jello recipe.

Roasted Cranberries- Easy Cranberry Recipe (3)

Also, let us know in the comments how you will be making your roasted cranberries. Side dish, sauce, or dessert?

🌡️Storage

Leftover cranberries should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for up to 5 days. Reheat in a small pan on the stovetop or reheat in the oven at 300 F degrees.

🦃More Thanksgiving Recipes

If you are looking for an everyday way to use up leftover cranberries check out our sheet pan dinner of pork chops with acorn squash and cranberries. It is an easy one-pot Fall dinner!

Be sure to check out more of our holiday recipes. Here are a couple of our favorites.

  • Sweet and Spicy Hasselback Butternut Squash
  • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate
  • Celeriac Puree (Celery Root Puree)
  • Modern Green Bean Casserole

Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe? Please rate this recipe with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with my food.

📖 Recipe Card

Roasted Cranberries

Roasted cranberries, a classic healthy holiday dish that is easy enough for every day. Flavored with bourbon and orange this recipe does triple duty as a side dish, a sauce, and a dessert.

Servings: 4 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 45 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

5 from 17 votes

PRINT PIN SAVE

Ingredients

  • 4 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 small orange, juiced & zested set aside ½ the zest, for garnish
  • 2 tablespoon bourbon or apple juice
  • 2 tablespoon raw honey or coconut sugar for vegan
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F degrees.

  • Combine all ingredients in a 9-inch baking dish. Stir until well combined.

    4 cups fresh cranberries, 1 small orange, juiced & zested, 2 tablespoon bourbon, 2 tablespoon raw honey, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, pinch of kosher salt

  • Bake for 45 minutes or until cranberries are soft and the liquid has reduced by two-thirds. Serve as desired.

Rate this Recipe

Notes

  • To serve as a side dish- top with orange zest and serve.
  • To serve as a sauce- add 3 to 4 tablespoon of water before baking. Reduce liquid by ⅓ and pulse with an immersion blender to barely break up the cranberries. It should still be chunky.
  • To serve as a dessert- Increase the honey to ½ cup before baking. Top with whipped cream and orange zest when serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbs: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Fiber: 5g

Author: Jen Wooster

Course:: Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, British, Christmas, Healthy, Holiday, Thanksgiving

Like this?Leave a comment below. Jump to comments.

Roasted Cranberries- Easy Cranberry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you pre cook cranberries before baking? ›

Do you need to cook fresh cranberries before baking? While cranberries should not be eaten as is (they are unpleasantly tart), they do not need to be cooked before they are used in baked goods.

How do you take the bitterness out of cranberries? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

One of the best foils for bitter flavors are acidic ingredients, like citrus juices or vinegars. Their sharp tang counteracts bitter flavors without having to add extra sugar.

How long to soak cranberries before baking? ›

Rehydrate the fruits: Dried fruits can be quite hard and dry, so it's often a good idea to rehydrate them before adding them to your baked goods. To do this, simply soak the dried fruits in warm water or fruit juice for 15-20 minutes until they are plump and tender.

How do you dry cranberries quickly in the oven? ›

How to Dehydrate Cranberries in the Oven. To dehydrate cranberries in the oven, turn it on for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Check your oven temperature before proceeding, to assure maximum drying of the fruit. Spread cranberries on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and place in the oven.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Is it safe to eat cranberries raw? Cranberries are generally considered safe whether they are cooked or raw. However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

How to cut the tartness of cranberry? ›

Granulated sugar (white or brown) is a good option, but you can also experiment with other sweeteners. Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well.

Can you overcook cranberries? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

How do you soften cranberries for baking? ›

The Easiest Way to Soften Any Dried Fruit

This is very simple, and works on any kind of dried fruit. Put your dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain the fruit and discard the water. The fruit will be plumper, juicier, and softer.

Why do you soak cranberries? ›

However, some people might choose to soak dried cranberries briefly (15-30 minutes) in warm water or fruit juice to rehydrate them slightly if they prefer a softer texture or if they plan to use them in recipes where a softer consistency is desired. Soaking can also help reduce their natural tartness.

Is it better to bake with fresh or frozen cranberries? ›

If cooking your berries into a pie filling, you may need to add additional thickening agents because frozen berries tend to release more liquid than fresh and will lead to a runnier consistency. For best results in your baking, don't defrost the berries before use but instead toss them in flour.

How to sweeten cranberries for baking? ›

In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and let it simmer on low heat for 3 minutes. Stir in the cranberries to fully coat in the syrup then remove from heat and stir 1 minute.

Can you use raw cranberries in baking? ›

The tartness of fresh cranberries pairs well with sweet or buttery baked goods, such as banana bread and pound cake. Just toss the cranberries with flour to keep them from sinking during baking, then stir into the finished batter before transferring it to the baking pan.

Should you chop cranberries before baking? ›

If your cranberries are on the larger size, we'd cut them in half or quarters before baking. Toss them with a little flour so they won't sink in the batter, too!

How do you know when cranberries are done cooking? ›

If you're making cranberry sauce, cook the cranberries just until they “pop.” Cooking them longer will make them mushy and quite bitter. Adding 1 teaspoon butter or oil will help prevent them from boiling over.

Can I dry cranberries in an air fryer? ›

Make your own Craisins with this Air Fryer Dried Cranberries recipe. Store-bought cranberries are great, but if you want to learn to make your own, the air fryer is the perfect way.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 5451

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.