Name: Cranberry Orange Relish
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 2/3 cups cranberries; 1 1/2 apples; 1 orange; 1 cup sugar

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This Cranberry Orange Relish recipe calls for a bold and sweet combination of flavors that results in a tangy dip, spread, or topping that you’ll love serving! Just as good as a side dish for a holiday meal as it is for a spring or summer appetizer.

Unique and delicious, this orange cranberry relish is a simple recipe that yields a relish with the perfect balance of tart and fruity flavors. You can pair this relish with a variety of side dishes, or use it to add flair to your next charcuterie board.

And if you’re looking for even more fantastic recipes to try, check out the Recipe Archives for lots of delicious ideas!

Cranberry orange relish on a counter with ingredients. — Orange cranberry relish is a simple and unique dish that’s as versatile as it is delicious!

However you use it, this simple fruity relish is bursting with the flavors of cranberry and orange. Perfectly sweet and tart, you may even want to eat this relish by the spoonful! Forget ordinary cranberry sauce and try this orange cranberry relish instead.

Why You’ll Love this Cranberry Relish with Orange

This is without a doubt the best cranberry relish recipe ever! How can I be sure? The results are always incredibly delicious, it’s easy to put together, and it only requires four ingredients.

Family, friends, and guests will be impressed by this unique and tart relish. Little do they know, it was so simple to make!

Cranberry Orange Relish in a bowl — Cranberry Orange Relish is a delicious twist on traditional cranberry sauce.

Combine tart and citrusy orange with bold and bright cranberries for the perfect marriage of flavors. Apples help to form a base for this relish, and a bit of sugar pulls together all of the tart, fruity ingredients.

Use this relish wherever you would enjoy cranberry sauce, as an addition to an appetizer spread, or a topping for other side dishes or main entrees.

Regardless of how you use it, you’ll always want to have some cranberry relish on hand once you try this recipe!

Ingredients for Cranberry and Orange Relish

Ingredients for cranberry orange relish on a counter. — You’ll only need four simple ingredients for this tasty relish!

Fresh Cranberries – typically eaten around the holidays, cranberries provide a bold and tart flavor with the perfect amount of sweetness and brightness. You’ll want to use fresh cranberries for the best relish.
Apple – milder in flavor, apple helps to form the base of the relish and balances out some of the tartness from the cranberries and orange.
Orange – adds acidity and an extra punch of brightness along with its signature aromatic and fragrant citrus flavor.
Sugar – a bit of sugar can go a long way here; sugar will aid in balance out the sharpness of the tangy fruits and will bring this relish together perfectly.

How to Make Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish

Prepare all ingredients, beginning with the cranberries. Grind cranberries with a blender or food processor until finely chopped.
Be sure to blend your cranberries up into small enough pieces. But feel free to experiment with the consistency of your relish.
Chop the apple with a blender or grater, again until chopped finely.
Finely chopped apple gives this relish a boost of mild and familiar sweetness.
Grind orange with a blender.
This relish includes not just orange juice, but the actual orange itself for a distinctly citrusy flavor.
Mix together in one bowl and add the sugar. Stir well till combined.

FAQs

Can you freeze cranberry orange relish?

Yes, this relish can be frozen! Be sure to store it in an airtight container of some kind and store for 2-3 months. To use it again, allow the relish to thaw in the fridge overnight, or for a few hours at least.

Your relish can also be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Can orange cranberry relish be made ahead of time?

Relish keeps well, so this is a fantastic recipe to make ahead of time. Whether you make it one day in advance or a week, you’ll have a delicious and flavorful relish that’s bursting with flavor and ready to eat!

How to eat cranberry and orange relish?

This unique relish has a wide variety of uses. First, you can use it as a substitute for cranberry sauce. Serve it with your Thanksgiving meal with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and turkey.

It can be used with sweet dishes to enhance their sweetness. Spoon some cranberry relish over top of oatmeal, pancakes, french toast, or other breakfast classics. It can also be layered with granola (here’s how to make your own granola) and yogurt for a flavorful breakfast or brunch parfait.

On the other hand, this relish is also great alongside savory dishes. It pairs well with meat dishes like ham and turkey.

Finally, you could add some cranberry relish to a block of cream cheese and serve with some really good quality crackers or with a charcuterie board for a yummy appetizer. Feel free to experiment with different ways to use your relish!

Orange Cranberry Relish in a bowl with a spoon. — Make this easy 4 ingredient Orange Cranberry Relish!

Popular Variations and Substitutions

For a more complex relish, use brown sugar instead of white sugar. This is especially tasty with holiday meals or even desserts like pies.
Add some fresh ginger for a zingy flavor that gives your relish a completely different taste.
If you want a somewhat thinner relish with a bit of punch, mix in a bit of orange liqueur. This accentuates the citrus flavor and provides a bit of extra bite.

Cranberry orange relish in a bowl with a spoon. — Excellent to pair with holiday side dishes or to serve as a yummy appetizer, this orange cranberry relish will be a crowd favorite wherever you take it!

More Recipes You’ll Love

Pumpkin Cranberry Banana Bread – This upgraded version of banana bread is an excellent baked good to make in the fall as a breakfast treat.
Apple Walnut Muffins with Streusel – Sweet and moist, these tasty muffins are topped with a cinnamon and sugar streusel and have an extra crunch from walnuts.
Meyer Lemon Bundt Cake – You’ll love the bright and refreshing lemon flavor of this easy and gorgeous bundt cake!
Cranberry Brie Bites – For another tasty and elegant appetizer that features cranberry, try these handheld bite-sized cups with cranberry sauce and Brie cheese.
Cranberry Moscow Mule – Still can’t get enough cranberries? Use them for this fruity take on the classic mule cocktail!

Orange and Cranberry Relish Recipe