Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges

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This Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It will remind you of that whole berry cranberry sauce that everyone loves.

Leftovers are delicious on salads, and in fruit salads. Or just to eat straight out of the fridge with a fork. It’s easy to make and always on our holiday table.

Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges with mint and orange rind on top.

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Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges

Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges is wonderful to serve on a platter for Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner or any time you want a fresh salad to serve as a side dish. It is a delicious combination of flavors.

Why This Cranberry Orange Salad Recipe is a Keeper

The Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish recipe below is so much better than the can variety. It is not that the can stuff is bad, however, this relish adds a freshness to the heavy Thanksgiving menu that you really appreciate. This will be in your personal cookbook for every holiday.

  • 10 Minute Recipe: Just peel, grind and refrigerate in a large mixing bowl.
  • Easy Ingredients: All easy ingredients and no baking or need to boil, plus it looks so good.
  • Adaptable: Can make this hearty dish low calorie, it is gluten free and vegan. If it is too sweet add a little strawberry vinegar.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: Use as a spread, on top of pork or great the next day.

If you’re looking for more salad inspired recipes, try these Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce Recipe, Orange Fluff Salad and Strawberry Poppyseed Salad. We also love this cranberry orange shortbread.

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What if I do not have a food processor?

A bowl of the finished side dish.

Using the meat grinder attachment for a Kitchen Aid stand mixer gives this Ocean Spray Cranberry Orange Relish the perfect texture and saves those delicious cranberry juices that can be used to make your favorite cranberry juice cocktail!

Ingredient Notes to Make Cranberry Orange Relish Recipe

Pineapple, oranges and whole cranberries.

You will love the tangy taste of fresh ocean spray cranberries. Also you can make a fun cranberry fluff with marshmallows, and pineapple juice that your kids will beg you for. Just pour into a bowl, chill and enjoy!

  • Whole Fresh Cranberries: A package found in the fresh produce section.
  • Orange: Orange sections with the pith removed, the orange juice adds so much flavor.
  • Apples: Fresh apple slices that are good for dicing.
  • Crushed pineapple: Adds that sweet tangy, a can is great.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Variations and Substitutions for the Cranberry Salad Recipe with Apple

This salad is so much better than the usual cranberry sauce. It is ideal for thanksgiving and Christmas.

  • Orange: Mandarin Oranges are a great alternative.
  • Dried Cranberries: Add a few dried cranberries to this salad with apples.
  • Cheese: Try a sprinkle of goat cheese crumbles for this tasty salad.
  • Season: Sprinkle with salt and pepper if you wish.

Special Equipment Needed for Cranberry Relish Side Dish

How to Make the Cranberry Side for Thanksgiving Dinner

These are the basic steps for making ocean spray cranberry relish recipe. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions. And thank you so much for sharing.

Draining the canned goods for the dish.

STEP 1: Grind

First, pulse or grind cranberries, add orange and apples using a meat grinder or food processor.

STEP 2: Mix Together

Next, toss in sugar and pineapple. Finally, place in a salad bowl or large bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Stirring before serving.

Mixing the ingredients to create the salad.

Recipe FAQs for this Old Fashioned Cranberry Salad with Oranges

Truly, a nice green Granny Smith is my pick for this recipe, however, use what you have or like.

While this is a fresh salad, it is best fresh. However, you can store this sweet salad in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. To use, remove it from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator.

A top shot of the finished cranberry salad with oranges.

Expert Tips for Making This Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges Recipe. Top over a Green Salad with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

While everyone loves a traditional green salad with dressing, this flavorful, traditional cranberry salad is the hit of the season.

  • Nutty flavor: Finely chopped walnuts or chopped pecans add a nice texture and crunch to this relish. Serve over yogurt or jello for a delightful dessert.
  • Top: Top relish with some fresh lemon zest or orange zest to add a zing. Avoid the pith so it is not bitter or garnish with some fresh goat cheese for a creamier finish. A little fresh mint is also wonderful.
  • Alternate ingredients: Use a sugar substitute to reduce calories in this .Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges.
  • Sugar: Taste your relish, if you require more sugar add some, the cranberries can sweetness often varies. So sweeten as you like.
  • Spice: A little cinnamon or a pinch of salt warms up the Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges dish nicely.
  • Store: Store in an airtight container or jar.
  • Salad: Use this cranberry relish as a topper for lettuce.
Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges with mint and orange rind on top.
4.43 from 66 votes

Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges

Yield: 8 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 10 minutes
This Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It will remind you of that whole berry cranberry sauce that everyone loves. Leftovers are delicious on salads, and fruit salads. Or just to eat straight out of the fridge with a fork. It’s easy to make and always on our holiday table.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds Whole fresh cranberries
  • 1 Large orange, peeled
  • 2 Large apples, peeled
  • 8.5 ounces Crushed pineapple, 1 can drained
  • 1 cup Sugar

Instructions

  • Grind cranberries, orange and apples using a meat grinder or food processor.
  • Stir in sugar and pineapple.
  • Additional sugar may be required depending on how tart the cranberries are.
  • Stir to combine and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Expert Tips

 
  • Add Nuts: Finely chopped walnuts or pecans add a nice texture and crunch to this relish.
  • Top: Top relish with some fresh lemon zest or orange zest to add a zing. Avoid the pith so it is not bitter or garnish with some fresh goat cheese for a creamier finish. A little fresh mint is also wonderful.
  • Variation tip: Feel free to use this relish on top of Brie or as a sandwich spread.
  • Alternate ingredients: Use a sugar substitute to reduce calories.
  • Sugar: Taste your relish, if you require more sugar add some, the cranberries can sweetness often varies.
  • Spice: A little cinnamon warms up the dish nicely.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

20 thoughts on “Fresh Cranberry Salad with Oranges”

  1. 5 stars
    In our family we do a similar salad, no orange( it was in original recipe, but got lost through the years), we use fresh (or frozen) cranberries, (some grind the old fashioned way, I like the faster food processor), a couple of finely diced apples, 2-3 ribs of celery finely diced, some chopped walnuts and raspberry jello. We love this salad, it’s the perfect complement to Turkey! Nice to see some variations!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    My sister was telling me about a fresh cranberry relish that she was addicted to. I think this must be the recipe! It’s so fresh and healthy plus it’s so tasty you don’t know it’s good for you.

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing cranberry salad recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

    Reply
  4. I have to tell you I have been making cranberry relish for 25years! Mine has cranberrys ,Apple orange diabetic sugar to taste an orange juice I also grind Pecans to add to it. Your amount. I could not get your recipe to come up. Hope they are alike

    Reply
  5. This was such a nice change from the “over-sweet, boiled to death” cranberries from Thanksgiving past. It has such fresh and bright flavors!

    Reply
  6. 5 stars
    I just had to come back and tell you – this delicious Thanksgiving recipe is definitely a keeper! Everyone raved about. Thank you so much for sharing it.

    Reply
  7. I would like to share a fantastic cranberry relish recipe! 1 bag of cleaned fresh cranberries-1 naval orange- 1 lg. red delicious apple! Grind in a grinder these three ingredients into a medium mixing bowl! Add to mixture one cup sugar! Add one small jar of orange marmelade, add one half bag of thawed rasberries! mix together and store in canning jars with seals! Best if chilled before serving! I give it to family and friends as gifts at Thanksgiving and Christmas! You may also add about 1 cup of chopped pecans, finely chopped! Always sweeten to desired taste!
    Merry Christmas and have safe holidays!

    Reply

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