Cranberry Orange Relish Wellplated Com

I’m a longtime believer in homemade cranberry sauce. It is THE EASIEST Thanksgiving side dish to make from scratch, so please do everyone a favor and skip the can. I thought I was all set with my favorite easy Cranberry Orange Sauce. Then, my friend Keri introduced me to her family’s fresh cranberry relish, and now I will forever make not just one but TWO cranberry sauce recipes for Thanksgiving.

An invigorating alternative to cranberry sauce, this cranberry orange relish positively pops with flavor. It provides a necessary fresh counterpoint to the richer sides on the table (hello, Cornbread Stuffing and Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes). AND, as these Cranberry Turkey Meatballs can attest, cranberry is made to be paired with Thanksgiving turkey.

Today’s cranberry orange relish recipe is my take on Keri’s. It’s made with fresh cranberries, a whole orange, apples, and walnuts (or pecans if you prefer). Added bonus: this is a cranberry relish without sugar. Naturally sweetened with honey, this is one Thanksgiving side dish about which you can feel good taking heaping seconds helpings.

How to Make Cranberry Orange Relish

No need to look for where to buy cranberry orange relish.

While cooked cranberry relish recipes exist, cranberry orange relish is traditionally raw.Since no cooking is required, cranberry relish typically has more texture and crunch than cranberry sauce.Cranberry relish is typically more tart than cranberry sauce, which usually has a sweeter flavor.For cranberry sauce, the berries are left whole, then cooked down. In cranberry relish, the cranberries are chopped. A food processor makes the task quick and easy.

I can’t overstate how quick and easy this recipe is to make from scratch. If you are hosting, you’ll love the fast prep. If you’ve been assigned a side and aren’t super confident in the kitchen, go ahead and volunteer for the cranberry relish now.

The Ingredients

Walnuts. Packed with healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, and key nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin B6, I love the toasty flavor and crunch the walnuts give this easy cranberry relish recipe.

Fresh Cranberries. Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly suited for a holiday meal. (Any extras can be used to make Cranberry Orange Muffins.)Navel Orange. It adds the most delicious sweetness and citrusy flavor. You don’t even need to fuss with peeling. Plop the whole orange into the food processor, including the rind.Apple. My addition to Keri’s recipe. A sweet and crisp variety like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or gala works best here.Honey. Most old-fashioned cranberry sauce recipes use sugar, but I love that honey is more natural, and it tastes wonderful paired with orange.

Orange Liqueur. An optional ingredient…but it’s the holidays, so we should go for it.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Place leftover cranberry orange relish in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.To Freeze. Store cranberry orange relish in an airtight container or ziptop bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Note that the texture will be more mushy once thawed.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Food Processor. I’ve had a version of this model for years, and I adore it.All-Purpose Baking Sheet. One of my most-used kitchen items.

This year, surprise and delight your family with this cranberry orange relish recipe.

You may also omit the nuts if you need the recipe to be nut-free.

Spoon some over the top of a block of softened cream cheese, and serve it with crackers as an appetizer.Serve it over the top of vanilla yogurt or Blender Whole Wheat Waffles with a light pour of maple syrup for breakfast. YUM!Use it to make a Leftover Cranberry Sauce Parfait.Pile it onto your leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich (try mixing it with mayo or Greek yogurt first to create a spread). For more leftover ideas, see Leftover Turkey Recipes.Spread the relish over a slice of Greek Yogurt Cheesecake.Enjoy a simple dessert of vanilla ice cream with a scoop of cranberry orange relish and a drizzle of honey.