31 Cranberry Desserts that are Sweet, Tart, and Totally Irresistible
If you thought cranberries were only invited to Thanksgiving dinner, think again—because these little ruby-red gems are ready to crash dessert tables all year long. From cakes that soak up cranberry sauce like it’s happy hour, to cookies that bring their citrusy BFFs along for the ride, this roundup of 31 cranberry desserts proves tart can totally be sweet. Whether you’re team “bake it into bread” or “just hand me the frosting-covered stuff,” there’s a treat here that’ll make you wonder why cranberries don’t have their own holiday.
These Cranberry Treats and Desserts are Perfect for:
- Thanksgiving dinner – the ultimate stage for cranberry to shine.
- Friendsgiving potlucks – show up with cranberry desserts and instantly win MVP.
- Christmas parties – because cranberries + twinkle lights = magic.
- Holiday cookie exchanges – tart little gems stand out on the platter.
- Winter brunches – cranberry breads, muffins, and scones pair perfectly with coffee.
- New Year’s gatherings – a sweet-tart way to start the year fresh.
- Snow day baking marathons – cozy up with cranberry treats straight from the oven.
Sweet, Tart, and Totally Irresistible: 31 Cranberry Treats to Try
Discover 31 irresistible cranberry desserts and treats perfect for fall, winter, and the holidays. From cranberry bread and cookies to cakes and festive sweets, these recipes prove tart and sweet are the perfect pair.
This Cranberry Sauce Poke Cake is perfect for the holiday season! Whether you need a fast cake for Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert, or something fun to take to holiday potlucks, this cake has you covered.
Cream cheese cranberry bread is velvety soft and tender, with just the right amount of sweetness to pair with the tangy berries. It’s a delicious breakfast or dessert, and also makes a great handmade gift!
Bright, zesty, and irresistibly chewy, these cookies are packed with tart fresh cranberries, creamy white chocolate, and orange zest. Perfect for anytime you want a little sunshine in dessert form!
Enjoy these healthy Starbucks-inspired cranberry bliss bars! Made with better-for-you ingredients, they’re a tasty treat you can feel great about.
Make snack time fun with this easy single-serve cranberry walnut cream cheese ball—creamy, flavorful, and just the right size!
This easy Nantucket cranberry pie is a thanksgiving classic!
Cranberry zucchini muffins are a great, nutritious breakfast or snack!
Sweet, salty, and bursting with flavor, this cranberry bliss saltine toffee is a must-make festive treat! Simple to whip up—and totally irresistible.
Made with just 5 ingredients, these cranberry flapjacks make a delicious sweet snack or on-the-go breakfast.
This rich, festive Cranberry Cheesecake combines classic flavor with a homemade cranberry compote-infused layer above a crust sweetly made with light brown sugar and graham crackers.
Easy Russian Vatrushka Recipe: Delicious, fluffy and healthy farmer's cheese individual sweet buns look impressive and take a bit more than an hour to make! They make for a great tea-time treat, dessert as well as Thanksgiving or Christmas breakfast treat.
The best cranberry orange cake recipe you'll find! Juicy cranberries are hidden within a moist orange cake with a sweet glaze!
This homemade cranberry ice cream is bursting with tart, tangy cranberry flavor wrapped up in a delicious creamy ice cream that's great for the holidays.
A festive twist on classic fruit salad, this Millionaire Cranberry Salad blends tart cranberries, sweet pineapple, creamy whipped topping, and crunchy nuts into a luxurious yet simple dessert or side. Make-ahead friendly and perfect for holiday tables, it’s rich in flavor and easy to toss together!
These cranberry lemon bars are just divine. Sweet, with some tartness from the cranberries. I. Can't. Stop. Eating.
These cranberry bars are a tasty treat with three delicious layers: a soft, buttery shortbread base, a sweet and tangy cranberry filling, and a golden, crumbly topping. They’re simple to make and great for holidays or everyday desserts.
Creamy and festive, this cranberry cheesecake features a spiced graham cracker crust and a luscious orange‑infused filling, topped with homemade cranberry sauce and sugared cranberries. It’s a stunning holiday dessert that feels gourmet yet comes together with straightforward steps—bake, chill, and serve!
Pumpkin cranberry bread is the perfect autumn treat with a cup of coffee!
Christmas Jam is a cranberry and apple jam infused with orange and mixed spice. Enjoy as a spread or as a condiment with poultry.
Satisfy that sweet-and-savory craving with the perfect on-the-go goodie—pecan cranberry nut bars!
Make this moist and spicy sourdough gingerbread cake featuring bursts of tangy cranberries! It’s an easy holiday dessert using sourdough discard.
These cranberry orange almond shortbread cookies are a tasty treat and so easy to make. The dough freezes beautifully, so keep a log in your freezer so you can slice and bake them as needed.
Say Hello To Fall With This DELICIOUS Apple Cranberry Pecan Crumble
Apple cranberry pecan crumble is a sweet, tart dessert that is great year round!
These cranberry oatmeal cookies are a delicious mix of chewy oats and tangy dried cranberries, all baked into a buttery, soft cookie. The brown butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that makes them perfect for any time you want a homemade treat.
Grain-free Almond Flour Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake made refined sugar-free, dairy-free and paleo friendly. This moist, fluffy, perfectly sweet treat is an explosion of citrusy sweet flavors.
Beautifully textured, orange scented scones filled with tart fresh cranberries and white chocolate.
These Sugared Cranberries make the perfect sweet snack to garnish! You can make them with or with out booze for a treat everyone will love.
These cranberry pear muffins look straight out of a bakery, but they’re surprisingly easy to whip up at home this holiday season.
This festive no bake cranberry cheesecake combines a classic no bake cheesecake with a tangy cranberry sauce that's perfect for the holidays.
This apple cranberry crisp hits the mark to please everyone with its sweet and tart flavor! Just add a scoop of ice cream for the crowning touch!
The easiest crumb bar recipe you'll ever make! These delicious fresh Cranberry Crumb Bars only require a handful of ingredients and come together in a flash.
So there you have it—31 ways to give cranberries the standing ovation they deserve. Whether you’re sneaking them into a cozy loaf, swirling them through cake, or teaming them up with chocolate, these recipes prove tart and sweet really are a power couple. Now the only question left is: which cranberry treat will you “accidentally” taste-test first? (Spoiler: it’s okay if the answer is all of them.)
