• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
First...you have a beer
  • Home
  • It's Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
  • Lagniappe
  • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • It's Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Condiment

    Cranberry Relish

    Published: Dec 24, 2018 · Modified: Dec 17, 2021 · By: Sweet Daddy D · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

    255 shares

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cranberry Relish is that little something extra that makes the Holiday meal more special. This Cranberry Relish recipe could easily be called Cranberry-Orange Relish or a Cranberry Chutney, it's that flavorful. Here’s Sweet Daddy D’s simple and no-angst for Cranberry Relish recipe that will get everyone’s attention.

    cranberry relish in a clear bowl with nutcracker and holiday greenery
    Sweet Daddy D's Cranberry Relish

    Sign up for my email notifications of new recipes and posts right HERE.

    This post is not sponsored, but you will find affiliate links on this page. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The price you pay as a consumer does not change, but I may make a small commission based on your purchase.

    Here’s What You Need

    Simple recipe, simple ingredients:

      • Fresh or frozen cranberries (12 ounces bag-if frozen do not defrost)
      • Navel oranges (one for pulp and one for zest and juice)
      • Golden Delicious Apple (to be chunked for sweetness and texture-like Cranberry Chutney) 
      • Fresh lemon (used for zest and juice) 
      • Granulated sugar
      • Chopped Pecans (optional) 
      • A pinch of kosher salt makes everyone play nice together.
    fresh cranberries in a strainer, an orange, apple and lemon and pecan pieces with white background and christmas decoration
    Here's what you need

    Here’s What You Do

    First...you have a beer. Holiday meal prep is always a little hectic but can be lots of fun. This is a simple recipe made easy with a little mise en place. Pop a beer and read the recipe top to bottom and get everything organized. It really is a breeze.

    Prep all the fruit

    Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse with cold water. Pick through them to remove any that don’t look good-smashed or maybe a little overripe. Peel one of the oranges then remove the seeds and as much of the membranes as possible. It's messy but makes a better relish. Zest the other orange, then squeeze the juice. Pour that in a measuring cup and add enough cold water to make 1 cup.  Zest the lemon and squeeze the juice. Peel, core and chop the apple into small pieces about ¼ to ½ inch, you’ll want the apple a little chunky but not so big that it won’t soften while simmering for a few minutes.

    Sign up for my email notifications of new recipes and posts right HERE.

    Simmer the Sauce

    Add the cranberries, sugar and orange juice/water to a saucepan and place over medium-high heat.

    fresh cranberries with sugar and orange juice ina sauce pan for cranberry relish
    Start with cranberries, orange juice and sugar

    Bring it to a boil and add the orange pulp, apples and a pinch of salt, then stir in the orange and lemon zest.

    orange pulp and apples added to a sauce pan with cranberries and orange juice for cranberry relsih
    Add the orange pulp and apples
    lemon and orange zest added to sauce pan with apples, oranges and cranberries for cranberry relish
    ...then the lemon and orange zest

     Give it a good stir, then adjust heat to maintain a rapid simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often.

    cranberries and fruit simmering in a sauce pan for cranberry relish
    Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes

    Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool for about 30 minutes.

    cranberry relish on a sauce pan
    Remove from the heat and cool

    Add the chopped pecans and stir to mix everything together. Place the cranberry sauce in the refrigerator and chill.

    That’s it, simple as that, all there is to it.

    Hints and Tips

    • This recipe yields approximately 4 cups (that's 32 2- tablespoon servings) of cranberry relish.
    • You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe. If you use frozen cranberries, do not defrost them before you cook, just put them in the saucepan frozen.
    • This recipe could easily be called Cranberry Chutney because the chunky nature of the apples adds a nice dimension to the texture. 
    • Resist the temptation to cook this more than 15 minutes. It will set up once it is allowed to cool.
    • How long will this keep in the refrigerator?  You can keep the cranberry relish in the fridge for about 2 weeks if its properly covered and sealed. It can also be frozen for a couple of months. Here's more on storing cranberry sauce. 
    • Try Louisiana Pecans, they are delicious.  Walnuts are also a good substitute but you can also leave the nuts out altogether.
    • Where do Cranberries come from? Cranberries, one of the few commercially grown fruits that are native to the United States, go back to the 17th century when Native Americans were known to mix cranberries and sugar in simple recipes. Over the years, cranberry sauces became known as a Thanksgiving accompaniment but now are actually associated with all Holiday meals. Interested in learning a little more about Cranberry Relish? Check out this article.

    Here are some other recipes from Sweet Daddy D which go great with Cranberry Relish:

    Sweet Daddy D's Herb Roasted Turkey
    A dry brine and a liberal application of a herb-butter paste will result in a tender and juicy bird. So good, you won't want to just eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
    Herb Roasted Turkey
    Berto's Cajun Fried Turkey
    Injected and rubbed with Cajun seasoning, then deep-fried to a golden brown. Crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. It's much more than finger-lickin' good!
    Cajun Fried Turkey
    Baked Ham
    A baked ham is the perfect centerpiece for any holiday meal or other gathering of friends and family. A simple sweet and tasty glaze puts this in a class by itself. There are almost endless ways to serve this and endless possibility for side dishes. Everyone will go crazy over this....and maybe the best part-it makes the best leftovers.
    Baked Ham with pineapples and cherries and glaze
    Double Smoked Ham
    Take a smoked ham and throw it on the smoker..you've got Double Smoked Ham. Delicious smoke flavor accented with a sweet and savory topping of pineapple slices and cherries covered with a sugary glaze. This will be very popular!
    smoked ham with pineapple slices and cherry garnish
    Cranberry BBQ Sauce
    Try something just a little different at the next BBQ. This BBQ sauce is sweet and savory and sets itself apart by combining the tartness of whole cranberries and the smokiness of chipotle peppers. Your family and friends will wonder where this delicious sauce came from and ask for it time and time again.
    Cranberry BBQ Sauce in Bowl with Ladle and Andouille Sausage

    If you make this recipe, please tell us about it in the Comments section below and make sure to LEAVE A RATING ON THE RECIPE. Post a picture on our Facebook page or on Instagram with a #firstyouhaveabeer. Make sure to Pin it on Pinterest.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest and make sure to share this with your friends…they will love you for it. SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL UPDATES below so you don't miss anything!

    Sign up for my email notifications of new recipes and posts right HERE.

    cranberry relish in a glass bowl with holiday decorations
    Sweet Daddy D's Cranberry Relish

    Yeah You Right!

    Cranberry Relish in a glass bowl

    Cranberry Relish

    Cranberry Relish...tart and sweet at the same time. Add a little crunch with Louisiana Pecans and you have a traditional Holiday treat.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment, Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cranberry relish
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 32 Servings
    Calories: 47kcal
    Author: Sweet Daddy D

    Here's What You Need

    • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
    • 1 large navel orange peeled and membranes removed
    • Juices of one navel orange
    • Zest of one navel orange
    • 1 large golden delicious apple peeled, cored and chopped into small pieces
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • Zest of one lemon
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup broken pecans optional
    • Pinch kosher salt

    Here's What You Do

    • Rinse the cranberries and remove any that don’t look good.
    • Peel one orange and remove the seeds and as much of the membranes as possible.
    • Juice one orange and add enough cold water to make 1 cup
    • Zest the orange and the lemon
    • Peel, core and chop the apple into small pieces, ¼ to ½ inch. (See Notes)
    • Combine the cranberries, sugar, lemon juice, and orange juice/water in a sauce pan and place over medium-high heat. Stir well.
    • Bring to a boil and add the orange and lemon zest, orange pulp, apples and a pinch of salt.
    • Adjust heat to maintain a heavy simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. (See Notes)
    • Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 30 minutes.
    • Add the pecans and mix well.
    • Place in the refrigerator and chill.

    Recipe Notes

    This recipe yields approximately 4 cups (32 2-tablespoon servings) of cranberry relish.
    Resist the temptation to cook this more than 15 minutes. It will set up once it is allowed to cool.
    Try Louisiana Pecans, they are delicious.  Walnuts are also a good substitute, or leave the nuts out all together.
    You want the apples a little chunky so they add a nice dimension to the texture.
    You can keep the cranberry relish in the fridge for about 2 weeks if its properly covered and sealed. It can also be frozen for a couple of months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    « Making Cajun Fried Turkey
    Making Roast Pork Tenderloin with Meyer Lemon Sauce »
    255 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Have a Comment or a Question? Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Tonellaz

      November 23, 2022 at 12:17 pm

      Excellent recipe and perfect for any occasion, but especially Thanksgiving and Christmas! I will definitely make again and again and appreciate the 'tips' given. Yes, DO remove the white segment casing from the oranges...it makes a huge difference. I'm glad I took the time to do it.

      Reply
      • Sweet Daddy D

        November 23, 2022 at 1:11 pm

        Yeah You Right. @tonellaz! Glad you liked it. If you get a chance, throw a 5-star rating on it for me! Thanks for the note!

        Reply
        • Tonellaz

          November 25, 2022 at 9:57 am

          5 stars
          Sorry, I thought I hit the 5-stars on the first reply...but, actually...this should get a 10-star rating, to be honest!
          I took it to my Thanksgiving dinner yesterday and of the 3 other couples there, 2 have already asked for your recipe.
          I make a lot of your dishes and have loved them all. Unfortunately, I never took the time to reply on the recipe as to how good they are. I will try to be better on that.
          Now, get busy and get some more recipes to us!

          Reply
          • Sweet Daddy D

            November 25, 2022 at 10:57 am

            @Tonellaz, thanks so much for taking the time to let me know how much you liked my recipe. Stand y, there's more coming! Thanks for the 5-Stars!!

            Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    It's Me!

    Louisiana is a wonderful place where the rich cultural heritage enriches and entertains. I'm Sweet Daddy D and glad you found my website. I look forward to exploring the cultural mosaic of Louisiana with you... read the "It's Me" page to find out more about me and this website...

    Have My Recipes and Articles Delivered Right to Your Inbox

    Privacy Policy

    NOW AVAILABLE!

    Follow Me on Social Media!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Most Popular Posts

    mirliton shrimp dressing on a blue green plate

    Mirliton and Shrimp Dressing

    close-up of crawfish monica

    How to Make Crawfish Monica

    green beans smothered with potatoes, ham and bacon in a white bowl

    Smothered Green Beans and Potatoes-Cajun Style

    crawfish bisque with stuffed heads and rice in a white bowl with french bread and salad

    Cajun Crawfish Bisque

    stuffed artichoke casserole topped with lemon slices in a baking dish

    Stuffed Artichoke Casserole

    Copyright © 2021 • SDD Enterprises, LLC • All rights reserved.

    Search this Site

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2021 • SDD Enterprises, LLC • All rights reserved

    Join our Email list

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    About

    • It's Me!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Search this Site

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    255 shares
    255 shares