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Cranberry sauce has long been a Thanksgiving staple, and this Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish maintains tradition while adding more flavor and tastiness to the much-beloved turkey dinner condiment! 

 

 

Fruit and meat pairings might seem strange, but don’t underestimate the way a bit of sweet acidity can elevate your favorite meat dish!

Cranberries have been used for sauces dating back to the 1600’s and have been served with Thanksgiving dinners for — quite literally — centuries. 

This cranberry orange relish recipe is bright and citrusy, with the perfect combination of tart and sweet to compliment your turkey or any other meat.

Whether you’re looking for a non-cook cranberry recipe or a new twist on an old favorite, this quick and easy 3 ingredient cranberry orange relish is the one for you. 

With only three ingredients, minimal prep time, and the option to make ahead, this is the PERFECT recipe for a busy holiday hosts!

 

 

What is Cranberry Orange Relish?

The difference between cranberry orange sauce and relish is pretty simple — cranberry sauce is cooked and has a jelly-like texture while relish is raw and uncooked.

A cranberry relish is typically fresh ingredients tossed into a food processor and ground up.

A relish usually sits for an hour or more in the fridge to let the flavors meld naturally.

A traditional cranberry sauce is a combination of ingredients that are cooked down to a sauce or jelly consistency. 

Sauce is generally not as chunky as a relish and the flavors become more blended together as it cooks.

Both cranberry relish and cranberry sauce are served cold, used as a condiment to meats and sides, and can be made a few days in advance. 

The main differences between the two are the preparation/cooking methods and consistency.

If you are looking for more of a sauce, I recommend this Cranberry Raspberry Sauce or this Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe.  

Both have been featured at our Thanksgiving table and are delicious!

This cranberry and orange relish is super easy to make, has a more fresh texture, and still has all the wonderful cranberry flavor we all love!

And honestly, either the cranberry sauce or the cranberry relish are delicious recipes to add to your holiday menu.

 

 

What Is In Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish?

This cranberry-orange relish recipe is incredibly quick and easy to make! 

It only has three ingredients (making it perfect for the holiday season) — and I bet you can guess at least two of them:

• Cranberries – Ocean Spray cranberries are the most well known brand, and make for a great ocean spray cranberry orange relish. But any brand of fresh cranberries works great!
• Orange – you’ll be utilizing all of the orange for this recipe, including the rind!
• Sugar – cranberries are naturally quite tart, so a bit of sugar helps balance that. In addition to giving the relish great flavor, it also aids the texture!

Pro Tips:

• Yes you can use the whole cranberries in this great recipe.
• You can use less sugar to taste if desired.

 

 

Do You Use The Rind of Oranges in Blender Cranberry Orange Relish?

As mentioned above, you will be using the rind of the orange when you make this easy recipe.

The orange rind actually has the most flavor and while you wouldn’t necessarily want to dig into a bowl of rinds, the fresh orange zest adds fantastic depth of flavor to the dish.

It gives you fresh flavor that pairs really well with the rest of your Thanksgiving meal.

Plus it’s full of Vitamin C! And we all know that any side dishes that are healthy recipes are a plus!

 

 

How to Make Cranberry Orange Relish?

It really doesn’t get much easier in terms of preparation than this thee ingredient cranberry orange relish. 

You can have fresh cranberry relish ready in a matter of minutes, with no cooking involved!

1. Remove orange seeds if any.
2. Blend cranberries and orange slices in a blender or food processor.
3. Mix in sugar.
4. Refrigerate and serve!

That’s it! No simmering, no time-taking chopping, no massive cleanup — just blend and mix!

The natural sweetness of the orange pieces pairs well with the tartness of the cranberries!

 

 

What Do I Do With Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish?

Delicious cranberry and relish is a condiment. 

It’s typically served on or alongside meat (particularly turkey at Thanksgiving, but is also great with ham or pork loins or chicken).

It can also be eaten as a dip, side dish, bread or roll topping, or whatever suits your fancy.

You can even pair it with ice cream! Which is a really great thing to know!

Pairing fruit sauces or relishes with meats is common and delicious. 

Turkey sandwiches are one of the most popular choices after Thanksgiving dinner.

Think fruit salsas or chutneys with tacos or fajitas, pork loins with cherry or pomegranate sauces, or Ikea’s meatballs and lingonberry jam.

If you’re not a fan of meat and fruit combos, you can also serve this relish with our cinnamon chips as a side dish or spread it on top of bread or rolls.

 

 

Check out some of these other cranberry recipes:

• Cranberry Pineapple Salad
• Cranberry Raspberry Sauce
• Cranberry Fluff
• Cranberry Apple Crisp
• Cranberry Orange Bread
• Cranberry Bars
• Cranberry Grape Gelatin – SSD
• Cranberry Vanilla Eggnog Bread – DDL
• Cranberry Sauce Bruschetta
• Cranberry Punch Recipe
• Cranberry Meringue

What to Do With Leftover Cranberry Orange Relish?

We have no shortage when it comes to leftover fresh relish and sauce ideas! 

Check out some of the following, or head straight to our Leftover Cranberry Sauce page.

• Cranberry Baked Brie in a Puff Pastry
• Leftover Cranberry Sauce Bruschetta
• Cranberry Chili Meatballs
• Cranberry Sauce Roll Ups

Many of the ideas from above about how to serve it are easy for serving leftovers as well. 

That orange flavor really pairs well with so many foods at your holiday table!

 

 

Can I Freeze Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish?

Absolutely, you can freeze this cranberry orange relish! 

That’s one of the great things about this recipe — you can make it ahead and keep it in the fridge for up to a week, or you can make ahead and freeze it.

To freeze, simply make as directed and store in an airtight container or bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

I recommend freezing, flat, in a zipper freezer bag. Once it’s frozen, you can slide it in vertically to take up less space and store easier.

All you need to do to thaw the frozen relish is pop it in the fridge 24 hours before you’re ready to serve it! 

 

 

It really doesn’t get much easier or more convenient than this tasty cranberry orange relish recipe.

I’m sure you’ll love this delicious cranberry orange relish as much as we did. 

The bright, citrus flavor paired with the tart cranberries and sweet sugar really is a delightful combination and the perfect complement for your Thanksgiving turkey or any other roast!

 

Originally Posted: November 25, 2019

Photos & Text Updated: September 22, 2023

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