Wondering what to do with leftover cranberry sauce? Here are ten easy recipes with cranberry sauce to use up the leftovers!
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Hey there, Rhubarbarians! If you're like me and you make way too much cranberry sauce for your holiday feasts, don't worry; you're not alone! The good news is that vibrant, tangy, and slightly sweet leftover cranberry sauce can become the star of some incredibly delicious dishes.
Now, you might be thinking, "What can I really do with leftover cranberry sauce besides spreading it on my post-Thanksgiving-all-the-leftovers sandwich?" Well, the possibilities are endless. Whether you have whole-berry cranberry sauce, smooth jellied cranberry sauce, or canned cranberry sauce, these recipes use them all.
From cozy muffins to savory appetizers to fall co*cktails, these easy recipes will make sure that Thanksgiving cranberry sauce doesn't go to waste.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love these
- Recipes
- Recommended equipment and resources
- FAQs
- Comments and reviews
Why you'll love these
Picture this: it's the day after Thanksgiving and you open your fridge to an array of delicious leftovers. You're wondering what to do with leftover cranberry sauce. You could make yet another plate of Thanksgiving food, or you could try one of these easy recipes with cranberry sauce instead!
- Waste Not, Want Not: We're all about making the most of what we have, and these recipes are the perfect solution to your post-holiday leftovers. Don't let that cranberry sauce go to waste.
- Flavorful Magic: Cranberry sauce is a flavor powerhouse. It brings that vibrant, tart, and colorful contrast to so many dishes.
- Versatile Vibes: Cranberry sauce is incredibly versatile. It can work its magic in sweet and savory dishes, making it the ultimate all-rounder.
- Impress Without Stress: Planning a post Thanksgiving leftovers dinner party or get-together? These recipes will have your guests impressed!
How long does leftover cranberry sauce last? "To refrigerate, transfer to a covered glass or plastic container, and it'll keep for 10 to 14 days." - Real Simple
Recipes
Whether you're in the mood for a cozy breakfast, a savory appetizer, or a fall co*cktail, these recipes using cranberry sauce are sure to satisfy your craving. Let's go.
Quick and easy cranberry orange hand pies
These are super simple and are an adorable hand held size, about the size of a cookie. The filling is loaded with cranberry sauce and warming spices. All cooked in store bought pie crust.
Easy cranberry orange hand pies
Quick and easy cranberry orange hand pies recipe! Festive and flaky holiday hand pies made with cranberry sauce and store bought pie crust.
Check out this recipe
Easy vegan co*cktail meatballs with cranberry sauce
We love these as a flavorful and savory appetizer or a main dish! The glaze can easily be made with leftover cranberry sauce.
Vegan co*cktail meatballs with cranberry sauce
Easy vegan co*cktail meatballs with cranberry sauce recipe! These vegetarian cranberry meatballs are the perfect meatless appetizer for your holiday table.
Check out this recipe
Easy cream cheese cranberry crescent rolls
Use a bit of that big batch of sauce and make these easy, festive crescent rolls! They are special enough to be a big hit at any holiday gathering or holiday meal, but only take a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep.
Cream cheese cranberry crescent rolls
Easy cream cheese cranberry crescent rolls recipe! These 4-ingredient holiday crescent roll ups are the perfect quick and easy appetizer for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Check out this recipe
Buttermilk cranberry pancakes
These pancakes are perfect if you still have fresh cranberries and cranberry sauce to use up in your fridge! Fresh cranberries in the pancakes and then warm cranberry sauce drizzled on top. Yum.
Cranberry pancakes with buttermilk and cinnamon
Got some cranberries in your fridge? Try this fresh cranberry pancakes recipe with buttermilk and cinnamon. Buttery and bursting with flavor!
Check out this recipe
Spicy, sweet, tart, creamy, and a little salty, this dip has it all! Snack on it while you put the tree up, watch the big game, or just hang out and enjoy time with family.
Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
Tart, sweet, spicy, and creamy, this cranberry jalapeno dip is a great way to repurpose any leftover cranberry sauce you have in the fridge!
Sour cream is the secret ingredient in these! It makes the muffins rich, moist, and slightly tangy.
Cranberry Sauce Muffins
These Cranberry Sauce Muffins are the most delicious way to use up leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving. Whip these up in just a few minutes!
Cranberry orange bourbon smash
This smash style bourbon co*cktail contains a generous amount of citrus flavor that blends well with the sweet and sour cranberry sauce.
Cranberry Orange Bourbon Smash
Cranberry Orange Bourbon Smash is a fun twist on a classic co*cktail. It features cranberry sauce, citrus juice, bourbon, and fresh mint.
How about dolloping cranberry sauce onto vanilla ice cream and gingersnap cookies? Heck yes!
Vanilla Cranberry Ice Cream Sundaes with Spiced Gingersnaps
Vanilla Cranberry Ice Cream Sundaes with Spiced Gingersnaps and Bourbon Whipped Cream. A great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce for a quick dessert
Cranberry sauce, pear, and brie grilled cheese
This Cranberry, Pear, & Brie Grilled Cheese is one seriously mouth-watering hot mess. Melty, sweet-with-the-salty, ooey, buttery, crunchy, gooey … yeah, it’s worth an extra napkin or two.
Cranberry, Pear, & Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Melty, savory brie melts over sweet pears and mingles with tart cranberry sauce. It’s not the prettiest sandwich in town, but it might just be the tastiest.
This cake has a mild vanilla orange flavor, and it has a sweet cranberry swirl throughout. The cake is topped with a light orange glaze for a sweet citrus-y finish.
Cranberry Orange Pound Cake
This cranberry orange pound cake is a moist cake with a cranberry filling and topped with an orange glaze. Ultimate Thanksgiving dessert!
Recommended equipment and resources
Let's highlight the equipment and resources that will help you whip up these dishes at home, ensuring your kitchen adventures are as enjoyable as they are delicious.
Recommended equipment:
- Storage container for the cranberry sauce. I love the size of these ones.
- Fine mesh strainer if you need to make your sauce smooth. I have an OXO strainer and it's help up very well.
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Recommended resources:
- Jellied cranberry sauce recipe.
- Whole berry cranberry sauce recipe.
- Beginner's guide to fresh cranberries.
- Ten fresh cranberry recipes.
- All of the cranberry recipes on the site.
FAQs
Have a question? You may find the answer you're looking for here! If not, please leave a comment below and I'll get back to you ASAP.
Can I use any type of cranberry sauce for these recipes?
Unless otherwise stated in the recipe, absolutely! Whether you have whole-berry, jellied, homemade, or store-bought cranberry sauce, these recipes are designed to be versatile and work with all varieties.
How long can I store cranberry sauce in the refrigerator before using it in these recipes?
Cranberry sauce can typically be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to ten days. Just make sure it's stored in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Can I freeze cranberry sauce to use in future recipes?
Yes, you can freeze cranberry sauce! Thaw it in the refrigerator before using it in your chosen recipes.
Are these recipes suitable for vegetarians?
Absolutely! As a vegetarian recipes blogger, all the recipes featured in this article are vegetarian-friendly.
Do you have a bag of fresh cranberries still in your fridge? Try these fresh cranberry recipes:
- Refreshing cranberry smoothie
- Spiced pumpkin cranberry bread
- Cranberry chili with cocoa
Check out the rest of the fresh cranberry recipes here!
If you make any of these leftover cranberry sauce recipes, let us know how it went in the comments below and don't forget to tag us with your photos on Instagram!
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