No cook cranberry sauce has been a tradition in my family for decades Add this easy, sweet-tart ruby relish to your Thanksgiving table. Even someone who doesn't cook can make this recipe!
No Cook Cranberry Sauce - A Family Tradition
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday to cook for. Get the coffee going early, ease into a day of cooking and and turn on the Thanksgiving Day Parade. I love tradition. Puttering all day in the kitchen preparing to delight everyone with a feast to come is a joy.
My family had a strict tradition with our Thanksgiving menu and woe to you if wanted to mess with it. You risked excommunication from the family. The tradition was roast turkey with dressing and gravy, mashed potatoes, green vegetable (yes, the ever present green bean casserole), creamed pearl onions and ruby colored cranberry "salad", really a cranberry sauce or relish.
Family Cranberry "Salad" (compote or relish)
Although I have fooled around with my Thanksgiving menu a bit over the years, it’s still a close variation to what my mom and my Aunt Rose used to do. I’ve long passed on doing green bean casserole with canned mushroom soup, but I always make the cranberry salad. Mom called it a salad, not a sauce.
Digging through my mom’s old metal recipe box I came across the original recipe card. It was from my Aunt Rose. She called it Cranberry Relish. There are no directions, just a simple, short list of ingredients and a note to top with whipped cream. One warning, this recipe is very high in sugar, so of you want a lower sugar alternative, try my cranberry pomegranate relish. It's great.
Cranberry Sauce, No Cooking Involved
The best part about this salad or relish is that there is no cooking involved. Just draining and mixing. Even a person with no cooking skills can do this one! It’s simply whole berry cranberry sauce, oranges, pineapple and walnuts.
Mom always used fresh oranges. I've used canned Mandarins. She always topped it with freshly whipped cream flavored with a little sugar and vanilla (Chantilly Cream). Why would you put whipped cream on cranberries I don't know.
Leave off the whipped cream and serve it in a glass or crystal bowl. The jewel-like colors are beautiful on the table.
If you are looking for something fresh and easy, I hope you’ll try this family tradition from my home to yours. I’ve been making it for as long as I can remember. Please let me know how you like it. If you are not big on turkey, it goes great with roast pork, ham and roast chicken.
Last Note - Save the Juices
Save the juice that drains from the fruit. It tastes wonderful mixed with a little ginger ale, sparkling mineral water, or club soda for the kids. That was a treat I always looked forward. These days I’d rather mix it with Champagne or sparkling white wine for a sort of Thanksgiving Kir Royale.
📖 Recipe
Easy No-Cook Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2-16 oz cans Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- 1-20 oz can pineapple chunks in water pieces cut in half
- 2-3 oranges or use a small can of mandarin oranges in water, drained, peeled, sectioned, and cut in half
- ½ cup chopped walnuts toast them if you’d like for more flavor
- ¾ cup sweetened whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Set a large strainer or colander into a deep bowl. Pour cranberries, pineapple and mandarin oranges (if using canned) into the strainer and drain for three to four hours, covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated.
- Add chopped walnuts and orange segments (if using fresh), and gently mix to combine. Transfer to a glass or crystal bowl to show off the pretty color of the salad. Spoon or pipe whipped cream on top of the salad around the edges (if using)
Lyn says
My sister-in-law’s mother always made this as her contribution to thanksgiving dinner. 20+ years later it’s still a family favorite and must for thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing.
Sally Cameron says
You bet! Thanks for your comment. I make my other recipe now with fresh cranberries and pomegranates as it's lower in sugar, but this classic is tasty!
Harriet says
My mother made a similar recipe she called Cranberry Jello Mold. Using the same ingredients but with Jello making it into a mold. Phyllis was know for it and make it at every holiday. Truth be told, your Cranberry Relish (that's the name I'm going with) is so much better. My thanksgiving guest loved it. And the bonus is the drained fruit with I froze in ice cube trays and later had with sparkling water, delish! Thanks for sharing.
A. Smith says
My father and I are allergic to pineapple, is there another fruit alternative you would recommend?
Or persimmon? Sally Cameron says
You could just skip it, or try my other recipe that doesn't have pineapple, the Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce. Its a little different, but no pineapple. Mango comes to mind but not sure how it would work. Or persimmon? https://afoodcentriclife.com/cranberry-pomegranate-sauce-reduced-sugar/
Hayley McHendry says
I make cranberry relish every year for Thanksgiving. We just moved and I can't find my book of recipes and could not remember how much walnuts to put in. I searched and thankfully found this recipe! I had never thought to toast the walnuts before, and I will now make it no other way! So good! Thank you!
Sally Cameron says
Yay! Good for you Hayley. Glad the recipes helped. Happy moving and Happy Thanksgiving. May you all have a blessed day and delicious feast! Hope you find your book!
Kevin says
Hello Sally, I thought I invented this cranberry salad. Apparently not since Mom and Aunt Rose have been serving for years. A success and gone every time I make it!
Sally Cameron says
Hi Kevin. Funny how that works with traditional foods isn't it? What is fun is tweaking the recipe to try new things. Then again why mess with success and it is just once or twice a year. I now do another version that is lower in sugar (and better for the diabetic family member). Happy Thanksgiving!
Michelle says
Hi Sal - now this is one that looks easy, even for me! I would like to print it and save it for Christmas. Is there an easy way to print recipes or parts of your blog that you are aware of?
Thanks for the diversity and lovely photos, I feel like I can taste it from the photo.
Cheers, Michelle K
Sally R says
Hey Sally,
My dad (Tag) just sent me your blog- I love it! I too love to cook and photography is a hobby that I'm working on getting better at. I really enjoy a blog with amazing food photogrpahy, like yours. Looking forward to seeing more...
Sally
by the way-nice name! :o)