22 Festive Cranberry Recipes for the Whole Family (2024)

Put cranberry recipes in your rotation when you need low-carb dishes to celebrate the holidays. With their tart and tangy flavor, they pair well in savory or sweet dishes that balance their flavors.

When you prep cranberry recipes, be sure to choose fresh over sugary dried and frozen varieties. Unlike packaged dried cranberries and juices, fresh cranberries naturally contain little fructose and antinutrients — plus, they come packed with vitamins and contain no GMOs.

As with any fruit on the Bulletproof Diet, you may want to enjoy cranberry recipes in the evening to minimize the impact of their fructose. No matter how you enjoy them, though, these keto cranberry recipes will have you feeling festive all winter long:

Cranberry recipes: Breakfast and breads

Gluten-Free Cranberry Bread

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This cranberry recipe comes loaded with a whopping 12 ounces of berries, along with a blend of stevia and erythritol to balance their tartness. To keep every slice Bulletproof, skip the molasses and use grass-fed butter.

Keto Cranberry Orange Muffins

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Along with classic flavors from fresh cranberries and orange zest, these muffins get added upgrades from fragrant vanilla bean and grass-fed ghee that keeps them perfectly tender.

Grain- and Dairy-Free Lemon Cranberry Muffins

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Instead of classic cranberry orange, these sweet muffins use lemon juice and zest for extra flavor. To keep it more keto and Bulletproof, use stevia to sweeten instead of honey or maple syrup.

Cranberry recipes: Main dishes and sides

Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad

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Instead of fructose-filled apples or grapes, this low-carb lunch swaps in tart cranberries and almonds for sweetness and crunch. To make this cranberry recipe Bulletproof, use homemade dried cranberries with no sugar added, raw almonds, pasture chicken, and an avocado oil mayo. Skip the tortillas and enjoy it on a salad instead.

Cranberry Pecan Cauliflower Rice Stuffing

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This stuffing is robust enough to stuff in a turkey or serve as a side dish, and packs every bite with savory herbs and crunchy pecans. Make a few adjustments to this cranberry recipe to stay Bulletproof: Use grass-fed butter and pastured chicken stock, plus skip the cheese (or use a raw variety from pastured animals).

Keto Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

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Tender turkey meatballs use mayonnaise and egg whites to stay moist, while dried cranberries add a tart burst of flavor. To make this cranberry recipe Bulletproof-friendly, use homemade sugar-free dried cranberries, avocado oil mayo, and pastured turkey.

Whole30 Cranberry Chicken

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This super-simple dinner uses seared chicken thighs as a savory base for a cranberry and shallot pan sauce — and it takes just 30 minutes. Make it more Bulletproof and use pastured chicken, sear it in ghee instead of olive oil, get pastured chicken stock, and only enjoy shallots on occasion.

Cranberry recipes: Sauces and snacks

Sugar-Free Low-Carb Dried Cranberries

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Make this your go-to cranberry recipe when other dishes call for a dried variety. By baking them low and slow in the oven with a keto-friendly sweetener, fresh berries shrink down into little gems perfect for adding to just about anything. Skip the orange extract to keep this recipe Bulletproof.

Bulletproof Cranberry Sauce

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No need for the gelatinous stuff from a can: Cranberry sauce takes only four ingredients and just minutes to make, all with help from a high-powered blender. If desired, add a drizzle of energizing Brain Octane Oil for smoother consistency.

Low-Carb Spiced Cranberry Sauce

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This wiggly cranberry sauce looks more like the classic canned variety, and gets a spicy kick from ground cloves. Use a pastured gelatin like Collagelatin to keep this recipe Bulletproof-approved.

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Fresh Cranberry Relish

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With less water than a traditional cranberry sauce, this cranberry recipe whips up a fresh and crunchy relish that compliments any holiday dish (or even keto pancakes).

Keto Chipotle and Lime Cranberry Sauce

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This hot take on cranberry sauce gets a kick from fresh ginger and chipotle peppers. Simply simmer ingredients in a saucepan until the berries pop, and you have a super-festive sauce in 20 minutes flat.

Cranberry recipes: Drinks

Keto Cranberry Lemon Spritzer

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This bright and lemony punch uses fresh cranberries, sparkling mineral water, and lemons for a fresh, alcohol-free refreshment. To keep this cranberry recipe Bulletproof, use a sweetener like birch xylitol or non-GMO erythritol.

Fresh Cranberry Smoothie Recipe

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If you must put fruit in a smoothie, try cranberries! This easy recipe blitzes them with sweetener, MCT oil, and non-dairy milk for a tart and creamy drink. Make this recipe Bulletproof and use full-fat, canned coconut milk as your dairy choice.

Easy Mulled Cranberry Juice

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This warming cranberry recipe heats up fresh berries with spices like fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, and cloves for an alcohol-free spin on mulled wine. For a Bulletproof spin on this cozy drink, use a sweetener like non-GMO erythritol or birch xylitol.

Cranberry recipe: Desserts

Cranberry Bliss Bars

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With a cakey texture and creamy frosting, these sweet little bars will remind you of the holiday treats at your corner coffee shop — all with no gluten, grains, or sugar. To make this cranberry recipe Bulletproof, use grass-fed butter, skip the molasses, use orange zest instead of extract, use more almond flour instead of flax, and swap the cream cheese for softened coconut butter.

Keto Cranberry Curd Tart

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This eye-popping tart uses a sweet shortbread crust and whips up a hot pink curd using fresh berries, butter, and sweetener. For a more Bulletproof tart, use grass-fed butter and a sweetener like birch xylitol or non-GMO erythritol.

Chocolate Almond Cranberry Bark

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The whole family can love this easy cranberry recipe, thanks to a layer of rich chocolate studded with almonds, dried cranberries, and melted coconut butter. Make a more Bulletproof bark with chocolate that has at least 85% cacao, plus homemade, sugar-free dried cranberries.

Low-Carb Cranberry Shortbread Streusel Bars

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These buttery bars have three layers: A shortbread crust, a silky cranberry filling, and a nutty streusel topping. Make just a few adjustments to stay Bulletproof: Use grass-fed butter, skip the almond extract and orange liqueur, pick up Ceylon cinnamon, and use raw pecans.

Cranberry Chocolate Clusters

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If you like sour candy, try this cranberry recipe. Whole berries take a dip in a sweetened chocolate mixture, then break up into bite-size pieces. To make this recipe more Bulletproof, use orange zest instead of extract, plus a high quality cacao powder.

Keto Biscotti With Almond Flour

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This low-carb spin on a classic holiday cookie uses a batter with almond flour, erythritol, butter, and dried cranberries. To make every crunchy bite Bulletproof, use homemade unsweetened dried cranberries, Ceylon cinnamon, and grass-fed butter.

Cranberry Cake With Walnut Crumb Topping

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This crumbly cranberry cake stays moist with coconut milk and coconut oil, and gets a sweet topping with homemade cranberry sauce and walnuts. For a more Bulletproof spin on this cranberry recipe, use Ceylon cinnamon, full-fat canned coconut milk, and raw walnuts.

Related: 25 Keto Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall

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22 Festive Cranberry Recipes for the Whole Family (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with cranberries? ›

cranberry
  • Thyme (Orange) citrus. grassy. woody. floral.
  • Sage (Common) savory. herbal. menthol.
  • Rosemary. savory. herbal.
  • Mexican Tarragon. citrus. anise.
  • Zaatar Marjoram. woody. floral.
  • Marigold Flower. citrus. grapefruit. grassy.
  • Epazote. oregano. anise. mint. gasoline.
  • Basil (Purple Ruffles) cinnamon. anise. menthol.

How to dress up canned cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

What to do with whole frozen cranberries? ›

Some simple ways to use frozen cranberries include:
  1. Blend into smoothies.
  2. Make your own cranberry sauce (and then see our post regarding cranberry sauce uses)
  3. Make sweet or savory salsa.
  4. Roast with winter squash, sweet potatoes or in a roasted cranberry and butternut squash soup.
  5. Mix into muffins, pancakes and breads.

Are cranberries a fruit? ›

Cranberries are a native North American fruit and a Thanksgiving staple for many families. Cranberries are potent sources of antioxidants, specifically from a subclass of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins, which are unique to and abundant in cranberries.

What not to mix with cranberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  • Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  • Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

What kind of cheese goes with cranberries? ›

Try some crumbled chèvre or feta with fresh cranberries for a salad that is as pretty to look at as it is tasty to eat. Don't love fresh, whole cranberries? No problem! Vermont Creamery's Cranberry and Tarragon Goat Cheese Crumbles use slightly sweetened dried cranberries.

How to jazz up canned cranberry? ›

Stir-in one (or more) of the following add-ins to one can of whole or jellied cranberry sauce:
  1. 2 Tbsp. of orange juice plus 1 tsp. of finely grated orange peel.
  2. ½ can of mandarin oranges.
  3. ½ cup pineapple.
  4. ½ tsp. cinnamon.
  5. ½ cup chopped dried apricots.
  6. ½ cup toasted pecans.
  7. 2 Tbsp. Zinfandel Wine.
Aug 11, 2022

How many cans of cranberry sauce per person? ›

One 12-ounce bag of cranberries makes about 2 1/4 cups of basic cranberry sauce—in my house, that's enough for about five people. Going the canned route? You'll need at least one can for six people.

How to spice up jellied cranberry sauce? ›

Arrange store-bought strips of candied ginger atop sliced jellied cranberry sauce. The ginger adds a spicy sweetness and a little bite to the sauce's texture.

Do frozen cranberries need to be thawed before cooking? ›

Thankfully, cranberries can be frozen for up to a year. When you're ready to use frozen cranberries for cooking, it's usually best not to thaw them first. For baking, follow the directions in each recipe for thawing recommendations.

Do frozen cranberries get mushy when thawed? ›

If cranberries are frozen then removed from the freezer then thawed, they will have a soft texture and are usable for cooking and baking.

Do you thaw frozen cranberries before baking? ›

5 Tips for Using Cranberries in Your Recipes

No Need to Thaw Your Cranberries: You don't need to thaw frozen berries before using in a recipe—just give them a quick water bath.

Are cranberries healthier than blueberries? ›

The cranberry is also a contender when it comes to antioxidant content. While wild blueberries outperform them when it comes to measuring both antioxidant capacity and cellular antioxidant activity, cranberries pack their own health punch.

What does cranberries do to your body? ›

Consuming cranberries can prevent tooth decay and gum disease, inhibit urinary tract infections, reduce inflammation in the body, maintain a healthy digestion system, and decrease cholesterol levels [2,5,9,10].

Are cranberries anti-inflammatory? ›

Cranberries have anti-inflammatory effects, thanks to their high amounts of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins and flavanols, which give cranberries their dark hue. “Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases because they can help lower inflammation in our bodies,” says O'Neill.

What color compliments cranberries? ›

Complementary colors are two colors opposite each other on the color wheel, such as Cranberry and Willow (red and green), and Goldrush and Pacifica (orange and blue).

What colors go well with cranberry? ›

For an accent, choose a light grey-green shade of blue to sooth the intensity of a dark red scheme or pull out the stops with a deeper teal colour for a richer, moodier vibe.

What do you eat raw cranberries with? ›

Well, that's actually pretty easy. Wash and thinly chop a few fresh, raw cranberries as a garnish for a salad or a stir-in for your morning oatmeal.

What cheese pairs well with dried cranberries? ›

Cheese Pairing
  • 1 Year Aged Cheddar.
  • 5 Year Aged Cheddar. Products.

References

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