Holiday Cranberry Orange Relish

This Holiday Cranberry Orange Relish will blow away the stuff out of a can! It has fresh orange juice and zest. There’s also grated apple and dried cherries. Toasted almonds add a nice crunch. Plus, a little jalapeño gives it a surprising kick! Serve it with turkey, ham, or spoon it over baked brie for the ultimate holiday appetizer.

The sweet and tart flavors work so well together, and the jalapeño adds just enough heat to keep things interesting. I promise people will come back for seconds!

🗝️ Recipe’s key points

• This cranberry orange relish recipe tastes even better the next day. Make it ahead of time, so you have one less thing to worry about on the big day.
• It has a great balance of sweet and tart with different textures from the apple, dried cherries, and toasted almonds.
• I make this cranberry relish for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s also tasty all year with pork and roasted chicken.

If you’re tired of plain cranberry sauce, give this version a try. Your guests will definitely ask for the recipe, plus you can keep enjoying the leftovers for up to a week!

🛒 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

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• Whole-berry cranberry sauce – this shortcut ingredient saves tons of time.
• Large orange (juice and zest) – adds bright citrus flavor.
• Granny Smith apple – grated apple adds sweetness and texture. I used Granny Smith, but you could also use another tart apple like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady.
• Jalapeño pepper – these provide some heat that balances the sweetness. Just start with one if you’re nervous about spice.
• Dried cherries – add chewiness and a little tartness.
• Sliced almonds – give the relish some crunch. Make sure to toast them!
• Cinnamon – this warm spice goes great with the fruit flavors.
• Almond extract – just a few drops enhance the almond flavor without being overpowering.
• Kosher salt – a pinch brings out all the fruit flavors.
• Honey or maple syrup – use this to taste for extra sweetness
• Extra zest (optional) – for more citrus punch, add a bit of extra orange zest!

🗒 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

🥫 Storage

Store leftover cranberry-orange relish in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. The flavors get even better as it sits!

I don’t recommend freezing this relish because the texture of the apple and other fresh ingredients changes.

📚 Variations

• Dried Fruit Swap: Use raisins or craisins instead of dried cherries – they add the same chewiness.
• Nut Options: Try toasted pecans or walnuts instead of almonds for a different flavor.
• Heat Level: Use 1 jalapeño for mild heat or 2 for more kick. You can also add a pinch of chili flakes if you want even more warmth.
• Sweeter Version: Add 1-2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup if your cranberry sauce isn’t sweet enough.
• Extra Citrus: Add more orange zest at the end if you want a stronger orange flavor.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

• Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes until golden and fragrant.
• When zesting the orange, don’t include the white pith underneath – it’s bitter and will throw off the flavor.
• Grate the apple on the larger holes of a box grater so you get texture without it turning to mush.
• The relish thickens as it chills, so don’t worry if it seems a little loose when you first make it.
• I always make this at least a day ahead – the flavors are so much better after sitting overnight in the fridge.

📗 Related Recipes

These cranberry dishes would also be perfect for a holiday spread:

• Mini Cranberry Orange Muffins – These flavorful muffins would be great for Christmas morning!
• Caramelized Brussels Sprouts – With bacon, pecans, and cranberries, these brussels sprouts are the perfect festive side dish.
• Harvest Apple Salad – A cool and creamy addition to your holiday spread.
• Fall Harvest Salad – Every large meal needs a green salad, and this one is loaded with cranberries, apples, walnuts, and feta cheese.
• Arugula Salad – Another great holiday salad, this one has pears, gorgonzola and walnuts that go great with the cranberries.
• Cranberry Cake with Mascarpone Frosting – This impressive holiday cake is topped with sugared whole cranberries!
• Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies – You won’t believe how easy these cranberry cookies are.
• Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies – These oatmeal cookies just taste like the holidays with peanut butter, cranberries, coconut, and walnuts.

🍽 What to serve with Cranberry Orange Relish

I love serving this relish with roasted turkey, glazed ham, pork tenderloin, or roasted chicken.

It’s also great on baked brie as an appetizer. You can serve it with a cheeseboard or enjoy it with cream cheese and crackers for a simple snack. Try it on these Easy Cheesy Turkey Sliders, and you have a match made in heaven!

🔪 All Our Way recommends the following

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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

• Saucepan – for warming and simmering the relish.
• Skillet – for toasting the almonds.
• Can opener – for opening the store-bought cranberry sauce we’ll use as the base
• Liquid measuring cup and dry measuring cups – for getting the proportions just right
• Citrus juicer and zester – for extracting the orange juice and saving that flavorful zest
• Vegetable grater – for grating the apple.

📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

This recipe started as a simple “Ina-inspired” upgrade. Ina Garten has her famous cranberry conserve, and at some point, she mentions zhuzhing up canned cranberry sauce with citrus and apple. Naturally, I thought… bravissima! But then hubby looked at my single can and said, “Are you sure that’s enough?” (Classic husband energy, right?) So I grabbed a second can, and honestly? Best decision ever. Suddenly the bowl looked holiday-worthy — big, beautiful, and generous, just like Christmas should be.

And then comes the jalapeño — a tiny little twist that somehow transforms the whole thing. It doesn’t make it spicy-spicy… just adds warmth and personality. Think of it as the holiday party guest who tells great stories but doesn’t steal the spotlight.

And that’s it, amici — the holiday cranberry relish I’ll be making every Christmas from now on. It’s colorful, festive, and just a little sassy with that jalapeño kick. I love that it starts with something simple, and with a few fresh ingredients, it becomes a dish your family will remember. Make it ahead, tuck it in the fridge, and you’ll feel like you’re winning at Christmas dinner before the oven even preheats.

From my kitchen to yours… Buon Natale e buon appetito, amici miei! May your table be full, your home be cozy, and your recipes be as joyful as the season. 🎄❤️✨

Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

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