Fresh Cranberry Pineapple Relish (with Maple Syrup) 🌱 Bursting with color and flavor, this easy vegan relish combines fresh cranberries, juicy pineapple, crisp apples, and oranges lightly sweetened with maple syrup and a hint of spice. The perfect no-cook holiday side dish!
Ready in just minutes, this fresh cranberry pineapple relish adds a bright, tangy pop to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table - no cooking required!
When I was little, there was always a bowl of cranberry relish on our Thanksgiving table - it just wasn't the holidays without it. My mom's version was sweet and simple, but I've given it a fresh, fruity upgrade that's 100% vegan and even more vibrant. The combination of tart cranberries, pineapple, and citrus brings such sparkle to any meal, and I love how it pairs beautifully with savory dishes like vegan stuffing or herbed tofu. It's one of those recipes that's as joyful to make as it is to share.
You won't believe how quick and easy it is to whip up a batch of this fresh cranberry pineapple relish with maple syrup. Prepare with just a few ingredients in three simple steps and in less than 10 minutes - you'll have this tasty side dish ready to add to your holiday table!
Why we love this recipe
- It's a perfect whole food plant-based Thanksgiving side dish
- Colorful and appealing!
- Fresh and delicious
- Quick and easy to make
- Makes a wonderful relish for Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches!
Ingredients
🥕See the printable recipe card below for quantities & details
- Cranberries - whole fresh or frozen (thawed in refrigerator)
- Pineapple - fresh, canned or frozen (thawed in refrigerator)
- Apples - your choice. I like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
- Orange - one large orange or 2-3 tangerines
- Maple syrup - or agave nectar, vegan honey, or sugar
- Orange zest
- Cinnamon - ground
- Cloves - ground
Instructions
1. Thoroughly rinse and drain cranberries, removing any stems and over-ripe or soft berries.
2. Place fruit into food processor. Cover securely with lid.
3. Pulse until fruit is finely chopped.
4. Transfer chopped fruit into mixing bowl. Stir in maple syrup and spices. Sprinkle with orange zest. That's it - so easy!
5. Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
- Medium mixing bowl
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Cutting board
- Kitchen knife
- Citrus zester
🥕FAQ's
This cranberry pineapple relish is made with raw fresh fruits. Since it is not cooked and tastes best while the apples and cranberries are still slightly crisp, I suggest preparing it no more than a few hours before serving. This recipe is quick to make and can be made at the last minute, if needed.
Refrigerate it in a covered airtight container up to 3 days.
Did you enjoyed this cranberry pineapple relish? You might like to try some of our other favorite cran-tastic recipes!
If you love this recipe ★★★★★ please be sure to rate it below! Sharing your experience lets me know that you enjoyed it and will help other readers decide if they should give the recipe a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Fresh Cranberry Pineapple Relish (with maple syrup)
Equipment
- food processor or blender
- Medium mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberries fresh - rinsed & drained (remove stems and over-ripe or soft berries)
- ½ cup apples cubed with peel intact
- 1 orange peeled and sectioned - remove pith
- ½ cup pineapple cubed or chunks
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Prepare fruit and place into food processor or blender.
- Pulse until fruit is finely chopped.
- Transfer chopped fruit into mixing bowl. Stir in maple syrup and spices.
- Sprinkle with orange zest.
- Serve immediately or store in airtight container in refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Nancy Andres says
This recipe is eye-appealing and contains such healthy and delicious ingredients. So glad it's cranberry season and I intend to make this dish often (I'll pin this post). Think I'll leave out the maple syrup as the pineapple and orange gives it enough sweetness for me. Best wishes for a wonderful autumn season.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Thank you Nancy! Enjoy!💚🥕
Connie says
A colorful, fresh and refreshing side dish, full of bright flavors, to include on your Thanksgiving table.