Hi Reader,

Every November, I buy my first bag of fresh cranberries with the enthusiasm of a man who's just discovered a new food group.
​
And every November, I pop one into my mouth.
​
Why? Beats me. I know perfectly well what comes next. My face puckers, my eyes squint, and for a brief moment, I look like I've been handed very bad news.
​
Raw cranberries are mean little things. Hard as marbles, tart as vinegar.
​
But give them some sugar, a little orange zest, and the heat of an oven? Hallelujah. Suddenly, those sour little devils become something extraordinary.
​
I love how cranberries refuse to disappear into baked goods. Blueberries get soft and agreeable. Apples settle down and behave. Cranberries? They pop, bleed brilliant ruby-red juice into the batter, and insist on being noticed.
​
And thank goodness for that.
​
Whether they're tucked into buttery scones, scattered through a tender coffee cake, or baked beneath a crisp oat topping with sweet apples, cranberries bring a welcome jolt of tartness to November's parade of rich, sweet desserts.
​
Besides, Thanksgiving is still three weeks away. Why should cranberry season have to wait for the turkey?

Tart Little Devils

• Balance the tartness, don't bury it. Cranberries need sugar, yes, but resist the urge to sweeten them into submission. That bright, mouth-puckering bite is precisely what makes cranberry-orange bread, buttery cookies, and upside-down cake so good.
• Fresh or frozen? Both work beautifully. Frozen cranberries can often go straight into batters without thawing. In fact, keeping them frozen helps prevent their juices from turning your beautiful cake into something resembling a crime scene. Check your recipe for any adjustments.
• Give them a sweet sidekick. Orange zest is cranberry's longtime sweetheart, but apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and buttery streusel are equally good companions. For a little crunch, bring pecans or pistachios to the party.
• Know when to chop and when to leave them whole. Chopped cranberries distribute tartness throughout breads and cookies. Whole berries create juicy little explosions in cakes, buckles, and crisps. Neither is better; it depends on whether you want a whisper or a wallop.
• Bake an extra batch while you're at it. Cranberry breads, scones, and many cookies freeze beautifully. Wrap them well, and you'll have something homemade waiting when unexpected guests arrive, or when you need a little something with your afternoon coffee. (I'm firmly in favor of the latter.)

Seven cranberry recipes are waiting below, from simple breakfast bakes to a showstopping cranberry-orange cheesecake. Pick one, preheat the oven, and let those tart little troublemakers do their thing.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread​
• ​Cranberry Pistachio Cookies​
• ​Cranberry Upside Down Cake​
• ​Cranberry Scones​
• ​Cranberry Buckle With Crumb Topping​
• ​Apple Cranberry Crisp​
• ​Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake​

​Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.87 from 22 votes

This cranberry orange pecan bread, with its balance of tart and sweet, is so tempting it doesn't even need a schmear of butter as added enticement. We're thinking of it for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning—or any morning, for that matter.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Cranberry Pistachio Cookies​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 from 13 votes

These festive cookies are adorned with sweet-tart dried cranberries and crunchy pistachios. They're the perfect addition to your holiday cookie collection.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Cranberry Upside Down Cake​

The Grand Marnier (an orange liqueur) gives the cake a pleasant kick that plays beautifully with cranberry. Making this tender, buttery cake provides a perfect excuse to share a slice over the backyard fence, maybe with someone who’s short on their own cranberry source.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Cranberry Scones​

Cranberry scones drizzled with white chocolate that are flaky and perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, and festive as can be in appearance. Certainly sounds like an ideal Thanksgiving breakfast to us.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Cranberry Buckle With Crumb Topping​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.84 from 18 votes

This cranberry buckle with crumb topping is a tender cake enriched with sour cream and punctuated with tart cranberries. It makes a lovely autumn dessert, breakfast, or teatime indulgence.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Apple Cranberry Crisp​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.77 from 13 votes

Apple cranberry crisp is a warm, comforting, and cozy autumn dessert. Perfect for dinner guests and leftovers make a terrific breakfast the next morning.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake​

This cranberry-orange cheesecake from Bon Appetit is scented with vanilla and orange and topped with sweetened fresh cranberries. A perfect holiday dessert.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​