25 Recipes That Perfect the Cranberry-Orange Combination

top-down view of a beautiful wine-red tart garnished with sugared cranberries around the edge of the crust, served on a white plate
Photo: Kim

Tart cranberry and sweet orange are two flavors simply meant for each other. When paired in treats like cookies, cakes, and breads, or even savory options like relish and meatballs, the two fruits become better together. A particularly popular duo in the fall, you can also enjoy most of these recipes year-round by using frozen cranberries found at any well-stocked grocery store.

01 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Muffins

Cranberry-Orange Muffins in parchment paper
Kim's Cooking Now

"These cranberry-orange muffins are not overly sweet, and big on flavor," says recipe creator Jedimom. "Lots of tart cranberries and sweet orange juice/zest kick the flavor up. Best when made with fresh cranberries, fresh orange juice, and lots of pulp!"

02 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Scones with Walnuts

Cranberry-Orange Scones with Walnuts on a red plate
Jeannette

"The cranberry, orange, and walnut combination is perfect for Christmas morning," says recipe creator Jeannette. "These scones can be made ahead but should be warmed in the oven to maintain the shortbread-like texture." She suggests serving them with a cup of tea or mug of mulled cider.

03 of 26

Easy Cranberry Orange Relish

Easy Cranberry Orange Relish in a glass dish
Marianne

You only need four simple ingredients to whip up this ultra easy cranberry-orange relish. One bite and you'll be asked to bring it to every family holiday.

04 of 26

Cranberry Orange Bread

Closeup of slices of cranberry orange bread with white Christmas tree lights in the background
SunnyDaysNora

Is this cranberry-orange bread breakfast, snack, or dessert? It's all three — or just whatever you want it to be. "This just came out of the oven, and WOW is it good," wrote recipe reviewer ceejae.

05 of 26

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Cranberry Orange Cookies on a white plate
Kimberly Kahmann Harvey

Just the right amount of tart and sweet, these tangy cookies are a holiday favorite. Reviewer MJones says, "Oh my goodness these are THE BEST! I usually make cranberry orange bread during the holidays, but from now on I'm making these cookies instead."

06 of 26

Cranberry Orange Duck

Cranberry Orange Duck on a cutting board
Jocelyn

A whole bag of cranberries and entire orange are used for this ultra savory duck recipe. The inside is stuffed with Chinese five-spice and chopped oranges, while the skin is coated in a sweet cranberry sauce that creates an extra crispy texture.

07 of 26

Cranberry Orange Loaf

Cranberry Orange Loaf
momonmama

Zesty cranberries, heady orange rind, and crunchy pecans are the delicious trio behind this sweet bread recipe. As a bonus, it's even better the next day.

08 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Biscotti

Cranberry-Orange Biscotti
Lela

The perfect accompaniment to a strong cup of coffee or tea, these toothsome biscotti are infused with orange extract, dried cranberries, and fresh orange zest. These make great holiday gifts when wrapped up in clear packaging and paired with a box of tea bags.

09 of 26

Cranberry Orange Cake

slice of bundt cake on a white plate
lutzflcat

Each slice is studded with fresh cranberries and flavored with orange zest. You won't be able to resist a second slice from this wow-worthy cake. All it needs is a small dusting of powdered sugar for a beautiful presentation.

10 of 26

Cranberry Orange Oat Cookies

Cranberry Orange Oat Cookies on a green background
dawn

Orange and cranberry are great, but when teamed up with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar, you're guaranteed an irresistible dessert. Better make a double batch of these oatmeal cookies; they're sure to not last very long.

11 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake Bars

Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake Bars on a red plate
Yoly

Cheesecake bars are easy to share during the holidays and much simpler to transport than an entire cake. This version is flavored with orange juice and zest along with chewy, dried cranberries.

12 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Spiced Oatmeal

Cranberry-Orange Spiced Oatmeal
Tammy Lynn

Orange juice, dried cranberries, and fresh blueberries dress up your basic bowl of oatmeal. "This is a wonderful microwave recipe that gets me going every morning," says recipe creator Leah Prather Hanley.

13 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Brownies

Cranberry-Orange Brownies on a wooden background
LibrarianLaura

"This is the perfect fall brownie," says recipe creator LibrarianLaura. "I absolutely love how these come out. The orange blossom water adds a delicate sweetness to the fudgy chocolate, while the cranberries give a surprising tangy flavor."

14 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Tea Ring

Cranberry Orange Tea Ring
Photo by SunnyDaysNora. SunnyDaysNora

If you need an impressive treat for your next get-together, this is the recipe for you. Orange marmalade is mixed right into the yeast dough, while a cranberry walnut filling adds tangy flavor and crunchy texture.

15 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Curd Tart

top-down view of a beautiful wine-red tart garnished with sugared cranberries around the edge of the crust, served on a white plate
Kim

An entire orange and a whole bag of cranberries are blended into the ultra creamy filling for this impressive tart. Decorate with sugar-coated cranberries for a beautiful presentation.

16 of 26

Cranberry-Orange French Toast

Cranberry-Orange French Toast on a green plate

Say bye to boring French toast thanks to this bold recipe. Each slice is ready to soak up the sweet cranberry-orange sauce ladled over top.

17 of 26

Turkey Cocktail Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Glaze

Turkey Cocktail Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Glaze in a yellow bowl
Allrecipes

Meatballs in grape jelly and chili sauce are a common appetizer, but this recipe takes that concept to a whole new level with jellied cranberry sauce and orange marmalade for a burst of flavor. Reviewer Hilda says, "I made these for a party recently and wished I had doubled it!"

18 of 26

Luscious Orange-Cranberry Sweet Rolls

Luscious Orange-Cranberry Sweet Rolls on a metal platter
Diana71

"These sweet rolls are super soft and tastily flavored with orange, cranberry, and the tiniest bit of cardamom," says recipe creator Diana71. "This yeasted dough bakes up beautifully for a pull-apart treat!"

19 of 26

Really Cranberry Orange Yummy Gummy Pudding Cake

Really Cranberry Orange Yummy Gummy Pudding Cake in metal pans
Patti

Extra moist and dense, this cranberry-orange recipe is perfect for making a stand-out cake. Fresh cranberries are paired with a trio of citrus: orange juice concentrate, orange extract, and orange zest.

20 of 26

Cranberry Orange Pancakes

Cranberry Orange Pancakes on a white plate
Molly

Start the day off right with this flavorful recipe. "Wake up to these comforting cranberry orange pancakes," says recipe creator Megan Olson. "As light as crepes and as filling as pancakes, this citrus-infused stack is a holiday-inspired favorite!"

21 of 26

Cranberry-Orange Cookie Bars

Cranberry-Orange Cookie Bars on a floral plate
Asgard Ranch

A copycat of a seasonal treat sold at a popular coffee chain, these chewy bars make an excellent dessert. The base is studded with cranberries and flavored with orange extract, perfect for holding up to the rich cream cheese frosting and fun array of toppings.

22 of 26

Grandma's Cranberry Orange Cake

Grandma's Cranberry Orange Cake on a dark background
Preeti

Just like Grandma used to make! The secret ingredient is a dash of cranberry liqueur, adding a tart bite to the sweet orange cake.

23 of 26

Easy Cranberry-Orange Muffins

closeup of a cranberry-studded muffin on a cooling rack with a few fresh cranberries in the background
Chef Mo

Orange juice and zest pairs with fresh cranberries to create these colorful breakfast muffins. Reviewer Chef Mo says, "The orange flavors pop in this recipe! Very fresh tasting."

24 of 26

Orange Cranberry Drops

Orange Cranberry Drops on a white plate
abapplez

It doesn't get much easier than these tart and sweet cookies. Simply mix, scoop, and bake to enjoy these tasty treats.

25 of 26

Orange-Cranberry Bundt® Cake

Orange-Cranberry Bundt® Cake
Allrecipes Magazine

No one will even guess that this light and flavorful Bundt cake is entirely vegan. Recipe creator Isa Chandra credits it to the combination of applesauce and coconut oil to create a moist crumb.

26 of 26

Cranberry Orange Relish with Orange Flavored Liqueur

Cranberry Orange Relish with Orange Flavored Liqueur in a glass dish
Cupcakes and Cutlery

Orange liqueur is the not-so-secret ingredient that makes this relish a stand out dish. "I've made this many times for Thanksgiving and everyone loves it," says Lillian. "In my opinion its much better than cranberry jelly!"

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