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Easy Fresh Cranberry Relish (No-Cook Recipe)

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If you’ve only ever had cranberry sauce from a can, you’re in for a treat! This fresh cranberry relish is bright, tangy, and bursting with citrus flavor, and it comes together in just minutes with no cooking at all.

Made with fresh cranberries, sweet orange, pecans, and a touch of lemon juice, it’s the perfect holiday side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering.

Looking for easy desserts? Try my recipe on How to Make A Classic Homemade Apple Pie Recipe or this recipe for The Best Old-Fashioned Southern Pecan Pie Recipe.

A plate of fresh cranberry relish with nuts, displaying a vibrant red color, sits on a beige cloth. The text above reads "Fresh Cranberry Relish (Easy No-Cook Recipe)."
Table Of Contents
  1. What you'll love about this recipe:
  2. Recipe Ingredients
  3. Ingredient Notes
  4. How to Make Fresh Cranberry Relish Step-by-Step
  5. Recipe Tips & Variations
  6. Serving Recipes & Ideas
  7. Appetizer & Dip Ideas
  8. Make-Ahead Tip
  9. This cranberry relish actually tastes better after sitting! Make it up to 5 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors deepen as it chills, and the added lemon juice helps keep the apples fresh and bright. Give it a quick stir before serving to refresh the texture.
  10. Storage & Reheating
  11. Additions & Substitutions
  12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  13. More Recipes You'll Fancy!
  14. Easy Fresh Cranberry Relish (No-Cook Recipe)
  15. Looking for Delicious breakfast recipes?

What you’ll love about this recipe:

  • No cooking required – Just blend, chill, and serve!
  • Fresh, vibrant flavor – The combination of tart cranberries and sweet orange is irresistible.
  • Great make-ahead side – It tastes even better after chilling overnight.
  • Versatile – Delicious with turkey, ham, sandwiches, cheese boards, and more.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this fresh cranberry relish:

Ingredients for a recipe displayed on a wooden board: fresh cranberries, an orange, an apple, pecans, and a bowl of granulated sugar, labeled.

Ingredient Notes

Fresh cranberries are usually easy to find during the holiday season and are sold in 12-ounce bags in the produce section. If they’re out of season, you can use frozen cranberries, which are typically available year-round in the freezer aisle.

How to Make Fresh Cranberry Relish Step-by-Step

Here are quick visual instructions for making Fresh Cranberry Relish step-by-step. Remember, the full instructions will be in the printable recipe card below.

  1. Prepare and chop the fruit.
  2. Pulse the cranberries and orange together until finely chopped.
Orange halves, slices, and peels on a wooden cutting board. A Pyrex measuring cup filled with apple slices is nearby. A small serrated knife lies beside.
Chopped apples, oranges, and cranberries in a food processor, ready to blend. A white colander with cranberries sits in the background on the counter.
  1. Add the sugar and blend briefly to combine.
  2. Stir in the apples, pecans, and lemon juice.
  3. Chill the mixture until the flavors blend.
  4. Stir before serving and enjoy cold.
A wooden spoon holds a vibrant cranberry relish with nuts, above a blurred plate of the same dish. Warm, cozy lighting enhances its rich colors.

Recipe Tips & Variations

  • Use a sweet orange (navel or cara cara) to reduce bitterness.
  • Add a splash of orange liqueur or maple syrup for extra depth.
  • For a slightly less tart flavor, remove some of the orange peel before processing.

Serving Recipes & Ideas

Cranberry relish is a classic holiday side dish, but it’s also a secret weapon for leftovers. Try it with:

  • Roast turkey, ham, or chicken
  • Holiday cheese boards
  • Over cream cheese or brie for an easy dip
  • Turkey sandwiches or wraps
  • Swirled into yogurt or oatmeal
  • Served as a dip for crackers

Appetizer & Dip Ideas

This no-cook cranberry relish also doubles as a festive appetizer!

  • Cream Cheese & Relish Dip: Spread cream cheese on a plate and top with relish. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
  • Warm Brie Topping: Spoon over baked brie for an elegant holiday appetizer.
  • Sweet & Spicy Salsa: Mix in diced jalapeño, onion, and cilantro; great with tortilla chips.

Make-Ahead Tip

This cranberry relish actually tastes better after sitting! Make it up to 5 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors deepen as it chills, and the added lemon juice helps keep the apples fresh and bright. Give it a quick stir before serving to refresh the texture.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.

Freeze: Freeze for up to 2 months; thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Additions & Substitutions

Additions

Add 1: Orange Zest or Fresh Orange Slices
Add 2: Cinnamon Stick or Ground Cinnamon

Substitutions

Sub 1: Honey instead of Sugar
Sub 2: Coconut Sugar Instead of Brown or White Sugar

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make this cranberry relish without a food processor?

Yes! You can finely chop everything by hand using a sharp knife. It takes longer, but the texture will still be delicious.

How can I reduce the tartness without adding more sugar?

Try adding a diced sweet apple (like Fuji or Honeycrisp) or a tablespoon of maple syrup to naturally balance the tart cranberries.

Can I use frozen cranberries instead of fresh?

Absolutely. Frozen cranberries work well—just thaw and drain them first to avoid excess liquid in the relish.

Looking for Delicious breakfast recipes?

Grab your 5 breakfast recipes now!

Cover of a breakfast recipe booklet with syrup-drenched pancakes and the text "5 of the Best Breakfast Recipes." Warm, inviting tone.
A close-up of a hand holding a cracker topped with chunky, red cranberry salsa. A wooden spoon adds more salsa, with a blurred plate of salsa in the background.

More Recipes You’ll Fancy!

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Recipe for How to Make Cranberry Sauce Muffins

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The Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I hope you love the Fresh Cranberry Relish. If you make it, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating, so I know how you like it. Enjoy, Xo

Bowl of vibrant cranberry salad with chopped apples and nuts on a rustic cloth. The warm lighting adds a cozy, inviting feel to the scene.

Easy Fresh Cranberry Relish (No-Cook Recipe)

Dusty @ Linen & Wildflowers
Enjoy fresh cranberry relish bursting with citrus and apple flavor. A quick, no-cook recipe that’s ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and holiday gatherings.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill before Serving 2 hours
Course Appetizer
Servings 1 serving
Calories 45 kcal

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Medium Sized Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Mason Jar or Storage Container

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz 1 bag fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
  • 1 medium orange peeled and cut into chunks (remove seeds)
  • ¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar to taste
  • 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
  • ½ cup pecans chopped
  • ½ cup apple finely chopped (any sweet variety works)

Instructions
 

  • Peel and cut the orange into chunks. Remove seeds. Chop the apple into small pieces.
  • In a food processor, pulse the cranberries and orange until finely chopped (not puréed). Scrape down the sides as needed.
  • Add ¾-1 cup sugar and pulse a few more times. Taste and adjust to your preference.
  • Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Stir in the chopped apple, pecans, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight so the flavors blend.
  • Stir well before serving and enjoy chilled.

Notes

Optional Add-Ins

  • Swap pecans for walnuts
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon or a pinch of ginger

Storage Tips

  • Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
  • Freeze: Freeze for up to 2 months; thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 2TblsCalories: 45kcalCarbohydrates: 11gSugar: 9g
Keyword Christmas Cranberry Relish, Fresh Cranberry Relsih, no-cook cranberry relish, Thanksgiving Cranberry Relsih
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutrition is only an estimate based on the Recipe Analyzer

This easy fresh cranberry relish is sweet, tart, and full of bright citrus flavor. With no cooking required and just a handful of ingredients, it’s the perfect make-ahead holiday side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond.

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely Delicious! This fresh cranberry relish was such a hit! It came together in just a few minutes and tasted so bright and refreshing. The combination of cranberries, oranges, apples, and pecans gives it the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I made it ahead of time for our holiday meal, and the flavors only got better. This recipe is definitely going on my Thanksgiving menu every year!

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    Hi Dusty! This recipe was so easy to follow and this cranberry relish was DELICOUS! This will be a new staple for my family for the holidays!

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    this looks delicious and so simple! I love that it’s a no-cook recipe—perfect for saving time during the busy holiday season. I can’t wait to try it and see how the fresh cranberries pop with flavor. Thanks for sharing

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    I love that you added pecans to your cranberry relish! My grandmother used to make something similar to this but I never found her recipe so I am excited about making this one.

    Reply
5 from 5 votes

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