A combination of four simple ingredients with fresh cranberries and oranges as the primary flavors creates this Cranberry Relish recipe.

Close up spoonful of sweet cranberry orange relish being lifted above the serving dish full.

Simple Cranberry Relish Recipe

Almost jelly like in texture this Orange Cranberry Relish is great to spread on a dinner roll or spoon over turkey to sweeten it up at the holiday table.

Softer and more spoonable than our firm Cranberry Salad or Applesauce Jello you can take a scoop out of this relish without a dent remaining in the original batch.

We like to include this jello salad on our Thanksgiving menu when hosting because it can be made 3 to 4 days ahead of time. Pour into a beautiful bowl, but ensure that it’s in a secure spot in the refrigerator that cannot be tipped or bumped.

Spoon in a beautiful bowl of sweet cranberry relish that is a jelly like consistency with a mixture of chopped cranberries and an orange in red jello.

Ingredients Needed

Fresh Cranberries – we grab a twelve ounce bag and use a mini food processor to grind them up evenly.
Jello – any red gelatin will work, but strawberry is our go to.
Orange – use a fresh citrus orange, peel and remove the seeds before tossing in the food processor.
Sugar – the original recipe my friend makes calls for a full cup of sugar, but we use half a cup or less. This is personal preference.

Ingredients to make cranberry relish are a bag of fresh cranberries, an orange, strawberry Jello and granulated sugar on a wooden counter top.

Step By Step Instructions

Peel orange, remove seeds if necessary. Grind cranberries and orange.

Pour into a mixing bowl and sprinkle sugar over the top.

Sugar spread over top of chopped cranberries and pureed oranges in a mixing bowl.

Stir in and let sit for at least 30 minutes up to over night.

Bowl stirring chopped oranges, pureed cranberries and sugar together in a mixing bowl.

Mix up the gelatin according to the directions on the package.

Ensure the Jello is fully dissolved in boiling water before pouring into the sweet fruit mixture.

Spoon stirring strawberry jello into boiling water in a glass measuring cup until it dissolves.

Stir well and pour into serving bowls. Cover tightly and set in a safe place where the bowl won’t tip or spill.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Pro Tip:

Pour the liquid gelatin mixture into a decorative serving dish before it sets. Spoon the bubbles off the top immediately as they will remain instead of dissolving.

Here is what the bubbles looked like when we tested the recipe. Take the time to remove anything that detracts from eye appeal before the mixture firms up.

Fancy dish full of bright and flavorful cranberry relish with oranges on a yellow and white napkin.

Serving Ideas

We make a double batch and split it between two smaller decorative dishes to take to different Thanksgiving celebrations.

Just like our Cranberry Jalapeño Salsa this sweet recipe is balanced nicely with a deeper dairy flavor when served over a block of cream cheese with crackers.

More Popular Thanksgiving Recipes

Side dishes include – French Onion and Beef Consommé Rice, Scalloped Corn Casserole, Old Fashioned Cornbread Dressing and Grandma’s Dressing.

More recipes to prep ahead of time are Lime Jello Salad, Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Pumpkin Carrot Cake and Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake.