Orange Cranberry Relish Recipe

This is the best Fresh Orange Cranberry Relish! This simple recipe is bursting with flavor, yet so easy to prepare – it only requires 9 ingredients and 20 minutes! Gently flavored with orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, brown sugar and fresh thyme, it’s a robust and versatile sauce that’s sure to impress! 

This savory, sweet and tart relish is the perfect addition to your holiday table! Add it to your cheese boards for a pop of festive flavor, or pair it with a turkey breast roulade, croissant stuffing and brussels sprouts gratin for a special meal!

Continue to read on for helpful tips on preparing the perfect homemade cranberry sauce! And, don’t miss the in-depth step-by-step photos and recipe video at the bottom of the post!

Update: This post was originally published in December 2017. I’ve made updates to the post below to include more information about cranberry orange sauce. Plus, I’ve included step-by-step photos and a recipe video to show you exactly how easy this homemade relish is to make! 

Hi friends! Well, we have officially made it to December! I hope you are ready, because we are legitimately slam bang in the middle of the season synonymous with entertaining!

Personally, appetizers, small bites and delicious sides are my favorite part of any soirée. And, obviously there also needs to be some bottles of wine, but I feel like that is a given. I mean, a party just ain’t a party without ALL the starters, sides and booze!

So, to celebrate the season, and my undying love of side dishes, I have an EPIC recipe for you today! And, bonus points, this dish just so happens to double as a condiment or spread and a side!

This holiday relish situation is what I like to call easy elegance. It’s ridiculously easy to prepare, yet elegant and sure to impress – no matter how you serve it!

What is a relish?

A relish is a sauce made up of fruits or vegetables, sugar and vinegar. Relishes can vary in flavor from sweet, tart or sour to spicy, medium or mild; or they can be any combination of these. While relishes and chutneys are quite similar, a relish is typically cooked for a shorter period of time and has a firmer texture.

What’s the difference between a relish and a sauce?

Cranberry relish is a type of cranberry sauce. Fresh cranberry relish cooks the cranberries until they just burst open, about 4 minutes. As it cools, the natural pectin (starch) in the cranberries thickens the mixture making the sauce thick and chunky. On the other hand, classic homemade cranberry sauce is cooked for a longer period of time with a larger amount of liquid which results in a softer texture.

It’s worth noting that there is also another type of cranberry relish which involves finely chopping the berries to create a dish that is more similar to a raw salsa than a sauce.

What is cranberry relish made of?

This easy holiday relish recipe only requires 9 ingredients, plus a couple pantry staples, to create a festive sauce that is insanely delicious! No cornstarch, water or other unnecessary components required – just fresh, flavorful ingredients!

(Scroll down for the detailed measurements in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.)

Ingredients for fresh relish

• Cranberries: You can purchase cranberries fresh, frozen or dried. For this recipe, I recommend fresh cranberries for the best taste; however, frozen cranberries will work too. Unfortunately, dried cranberries are not a good option for this sauce.
• Shallot: One whole shallot adds a touch of delicate, soft onion flavor.
• Pomegranate Juice: 1/4 cup of pomegranate juice provides a sweet, tart flavor. Make sure you use 100% pomegranate juice. You can substitute 100% cranberry juice or fresh orange juice if you would like!
• Orange Liqueur: Orange liqueur creates a depth of flavor and provides a hint of citrusy flavor. It’s one of my the secret ingredients to next level cranberry sauce!
• Pomegranate Molasses: Pomegranate molasses is the other ingredient I swear by. It adds a intense sweet-and-sour flavor that just can’t be beat! You can find pomegranate molasses in the international aisle of major grocery stores. I’ve also included instructions for making your own molasses in the notes section of the recipe below!
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a beautiful rich sweetness. I normally add 2/3 cup of sugar for a well balanced flavor, but if you want a sweeter relish, use 3/4 cup.
• Thyme: Fresh thyme provides subtle herbal and floral flavors that give the sauce dimension.
• Orange Zest: Fresh orange zest gives the sauce a punch of bright orange flavor. Make sure you stir the orange zest in after the relish is removed from the heat. Cooking the zest can make it taste slightly bitter.
• Pomegranate Arils: Cranberry, orange and pomegranate is a stellar combination! Pomegranate arils add a pop of shiny, jewel-like color and brilliant sweet-tart, juicy flavor. You can substitute orange segments if you prefer!

How to use cranberry relish?

Fresh cranberry relish isn’t just for the holidays! It’s an incredibly versatile sauce and there are numerous ways to serve or use it! Plus, it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes!

10 ways to use fresh cranberry sauce

• Breakfast: Swap out fresh fruit for a generous dollop of sauce on pancakes, waffles, english muffins and biscuits!
• Charcuterie and Cheese Boards: Serve fresh berry relish as an accompaniment to cheeses, crackers, artisan breads and meats to create your own beautiful charcuterie board!
• Crostini: Top crostini with soft cheese, such as goat cheese, and a healthy spoonful of cranberry sauce for an easy, elegant appetizer!
• Dip: Serve relish as a unique dip for chips or pita bread!
• Nachos: Give your nachos a clever twist! Top your chips with shredded chicken or turkey, pepper jack cheese and plenty of cranberry sauce!
• Tacos: Dollop relish on top of tacos for a burst of sweet-tart flavor. Turkey tacos with cranberry relish are a unique way to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers!
• Sandwiches and Burgers: Use relish as a spread on your favorite burger, sandwich or panini!
• Holiday Side Dish: The most obvious way to use this sauce – serve it at your next Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner as a side dish to accompany your turkey or roast!
• Topping for meats: Spoon pomegranate relish on top of roast chicken, turkey, pork, lamb or fish as a topping or relish.
• Dessert: Spoon sauce on top of cheesecake for a festive flare! Or, swirl some of the sauce into the batter before baking.

How to make fresh cranberry relish from scratch?

This holiday relish recipe only requires 9 ingredients and a total of 20 minutes to make! It’s insanely quick and easy, yet produces a relish that is a total show stopper!

1. Sweat the shallots: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add in the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the liquids + sugar: Add in pomegranate juice, liqueur, molasses, sugar and thyme. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes.
3. Add the cranberries and bring to a simmer.
4. Simmer: Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have just burst, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Add arils + zest: Stir in the pomegranate arils and orange zest. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt or add honey if you prefer a sweeter sauce.
6. Store or Serve: Transfer to a container and chill until ready to serve. Serve & Enjoy!

How to easily make cranberry sauce step by step photos

(Please scroll down for the detailed instructions in the complete printable recipe card at the bottom of the page!)

This cranberry relish is so delicious and guaranteed to make your next celebration sparkle!

Until next week, friends, cheers!

XOXO

Cheyanne

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Looking for more holiday recipes?

If you love this cranberry sauce, try one of these delicious recipes next:

The Best Cheddar Apple Soup

Brown Butter Parker House Rolls

Warm Kale Salad recipe with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

Whipped Sweet Potatoes Recipe

How to make the best Cranberry Relish 👇

Print Recipe

5 from 10 votes

Cranberry Relish

This is the best Fresh Orange Cranberry Relish! This simple recipe is bursting with flavor, yet so easy to prepare - it only requires 9 ingredients and 20 minutes! Flavored with orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, brown sugar and fresh thyme, it's a versatile sauce that's sure to impress! Serve it as a side dish or try it as a condiment for cheese boards! 

Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas, cranberry, Easy, holiday, quick, relish, sauce, thanksgiving

Servings: 6

Calories: 168kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Equipment

• Medium Saucepan

Ingredients

Relish:

• 2 teaspoons Vegetable Oil
• 1 medium Shallot - finely diced (about 1/4 cup)
• ¼ Cup Pomegranate Juice
• 3 TBS Orange Liqueur (or Orange Juice Concentrate)
• 2 TBS Pomegranate Molasses
• 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar - packed
• ¾ tsp Fresh Thyme - chopped
• 1 (12 ounce) bag Fresh Cranberries
• ½ Cup Pomegranate Arils
• 2 tsp Orange Zest (zest only!)
• Coarse Kosher Salt to taste

Instructions

• Sweat the shallots: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat. Add in the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes.
  
• Add the liquids + sugar: Add in pomegranate juice, liqueur, molasses, sugar and thyme. Season with a generous pinch of salt. Whisk together. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, 12 minutes.
  
• Add the cranberries and increase the heat to medium. Bring to a simmer and immediately reduce heat to maintain simmer.
  
• Simmer: Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have just burst, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  
• Add arils + zest: Stir in the pomegranate arils and orange zest. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt or add honey if you prefer a sweeter sauce.
  
• Store or Serve: Transfer to a container and chill until ready to serve. Serve & Enjoy!
  

Video

Notes

1. The recipe below calls for a very small amount (3 TBS) of orange liqueur. If you aren’t a fan of cooking with liqueur, please note that the alcohol cooks out of the sauce. The orange liqueur simply adds a bright, citrusy, acidic flavor to the relish. I highly suggest you don't skip it.
2. The recipe also utilizes pomegranate molasses which is simply reduced pomegranate juice (sometimes with a touch of sugar). It adds a depth of sweet and sour flavor to the relish, which tastes amazing! You can find pomegranate molasses in either the ethnic or international isle of most major grocery stores.
3. The relish can be made up to two days in advance and stored in a container with a tight fitted lid in the refrigerator. Just remove the relish from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to using to remove the chill.

Homemade Pomegranate Molasses:

2 cups (100% Pure) Pomegranate Juice

1/4 cup Granulated Sugar

1 TBS Lemon Juice

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a simmer while stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
2. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced to 1/2 of a cup and reaches a syrup-like consistency, about 55-60 minutes.
3. Taste and adjust to your liking adding more sugar if you want it a bit sweeter, or more lemon if you want it a bit more tart.
4. Let the pomegranate molasses chill completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Nutritional information is an approximation and based upon 6 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

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