10 Ideas for Using Cranberries in Your Holiday Decor and Dishes

Cranberries have long been a part of American Thanksgivings. I grew up, as most Americans did, with some form of cranberries adorning the Thanksgiving table. However, there are a lot more uses for cranberries than your run-of-the mill Turkey-Day feast.

Fresh cranberries should be firm, red in color (either bright or dark red), and are free from brown spots. Also, fresh cranberries should bounce when dropped. Make sure to use fresh cranberries for the following:

1. OK, Thanksgiving would not be Thanksgiving without cranberry relish. To make this, combine three cups fresh whole cranberries, ½ cup sugar, two tablespoons finely granted orange zest and ½ cup water. Simmer over medium-low heat until cranberries pop (about five minutes). Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

2. For a twist on the traditional cranberry relish, try cranberry salsa. Mix in order: three cups chopped cranberries, ½ cup honey, two tablespoons lime juice, two seeded jalapeno peppers, two chopped and seeded oranges, ½ cup fresh cilantro, and 1 ½ pounds room temperature cream cheese.

3. String cranberries to hang on your Christmas tree. Use a thick piece of thread and a large needle. Alternate cranberries and popcorn for a traditional garland.

4. Make a cranberry topiary centerpiece for your table. To do this, purchase a topiary with a Styrofoam ball. Break toothpicks in half, and insert toothpicks into fresh cranberries, then the topiary, making sure to cover it completely with cranberries. You can fill any empty spaces with whole cloves. Place the topiary on a bed of dried leaves for a festive, fragrant centerpiece.

5. Make cranberry punch as an alternative to mulled cider. Combine two cups cranberries, two cups water, and one cup sugar in a pot and boil. After this mixture cools, add one quart ginger ale, juice of three lemons, juice of a lime. Float cranberries in the punch.

6. Use cranberries in place of florist marbles in arrangements. A large clear vase filled with cranberries to which you add interestingly shaped twigs is simple and beautiful.

7. Make a candle and cranberry centerpiece. Spread cranberries on the tray. Arrange votive candles throughout cranberries. Place sprigs of evergreen under the tray. You can also add Christmas ornaments, bows, or a string of lights.

8. String cranberries, attach them to a tree, and feed the birds. Alternate the cranberries with peanuts in the shell, or popcorn to attract a greater number of bird species.

9. Freeze fresh cranberries for up to a year in a zip top plastic bag. Cranberries are only available in the supermarket during the fall, so take this opportunity to stock up. Freezing them will assure that you have them year around to put in your favorite recipes.

10. Dry cranberries for use in recipes in place of raisins. Set the oven at 140F (60C) until dry. You will know they are dry when they are shriveled and light in weight with no sign of moisture, however they will likely be a bit sticky. Dried cranberries can be stored for over a year in cool temperatures.

I hope you can use these ideas to take advantage of cranberries this holiday season!