What To Make With What’s On Sale: Fresh Cranberries

It’s time for What To Make With What’s On Sale!  Thanksgiving is only five weeks away, and we’re beginning to see sales on fresh cranberries: Safeway has Ocean Spray fresh cranberries (12 oz) as low as $1.50 after coupon.

Fresh cranberries are easy to freeze — just toss the bag of berries in the freezer, no preparation required!  Just last week I used some cranberries that I bought and froze last November and they tasted great.  Here are some ideas for using fresh or frozen cranberries!

Cranberry sauce is a must for many families’ Thanksgiving celebrations.  I personally don’t enjoy the stuff in the can, but I do love homemade cranberry sauce!  This very basic recipe, Perfect Cranberry Sauce, is essentially foolproof and easily adapted to your preferences.  Here’s another one, Cranberry Sauce Extraordinaire, that includes additional fruit and nuts.  The recipe author suggests serving the sauce over a block of cream cheese with crackers.  This makes a tasty appetizer that’s good for any time of the year!

Perfect Cranberry Sauce: Image from Food Network

I made these Cranberry and Crumb Top Muffins for Valentine’s Day this year and my kids devoured them.  Most muffin recipes call for dried cranberries, so I was excited to find one that uses fresh!

This Cranberry Chicken Stew looks like an interesting twist on the French dish, coq au vin.  It would be a nice recipe for colder temperatures and the holiday season!

Cranberry Chicken Stew: Image from Ocean Spray

If you need a cranberry dessert recipe, try Ina Garten’s 5-star Easy Cranberry and Apple Cake.  A few of the reviewers thought that the dessert was a bit on the tart side, but many said that the sweet-to-tart ratio was perfect.  Try serving it with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream to balance the tartness.

The Pioneer Woman has a recipe for Nantucket Cranberry Pie that looks amazing.  She says it’s really more of a cake than a pie, but either way, it’s a perfect holiday dessert!

What’s your favorite way to use fresh or frozen cranberries?

Be sure to check out the What To Make With What’s On Sale archives for more meal-planning ideas!