In Season: Fresh cranberries are available from October through December. Some markets also carry frozen cranberries year-round.

What to Look For: Look for bright-colored, firm cranberries in the produce section. Avoid bags that have brown or shriveled berries at the bottom.

How to Store: Store in the original packaging for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, or up to one year in the freezer. To prep, rinse and discard any discolored or soft berries; if frozen, there's no need to thaw before use.

Pears take on an eye-catching crimson cast when poached with vibrant fresh cranberries. Their pleasing tartness can be countered by a sliver of rich goat cheese or a dollop of creme fraiche or yogurt.

Homemade cranberry sauce couldn't be easier than this two-ingredient recipe. Simmering a bag of fresh or frozen cranberries with a jar of red-currant jelly creates a complex, not-too-sweet sauce.

To make this Northeastern interpretation of an old-fashioned upside-down cake, fresh cranberries and toasted pecans are topped with buttery batter, then baked and inverted. The cranberries soften in the oven but the pecans stay crunchy, lending a textural flourish.

Cinnamon-spiced almond custard filling (known as frangipane) is sandwiched between layers of cranberry jam and fresh cranberry compote. This tart makes a stunning finish to a holiday meal.

Orange juice and zest perfume a simple sauce made from fresh cranberries. This recipe makes a big batch, so there will be plenty for leftovers.

A fresh take on guacamole, avocado, red onion, jalapeno pepper, fresh cranberries, and cilantro mingle with lime and honey in this chunky salsa. Serve with tortilla chips or pita crisps.

Lightly sweetened sauteed cranberries add a tasty surprise to this cornbread. Candied ginger adds zing to a loaf that can be served with dinner or as a snack.

Buttery pears provide the perfect counterpoint to the tart zing of fresh cranberries. An oat-y cinnamon topping adds a sweet crunch.

Cranberry sauce gets a tropical twist from pineapple and orange. Honey adds a little extra sweetness, balanced by the bite of black pepper.

There's a double dose of cranberries in this festive red-and-green salad. Fresh cranberries are pureed into a lime-kissed vinaigrette, then the dressed salad is sprinkled with shaved manchego cheese and sweetened dried cranberries.

Crimson cranberry-orange custard is spiced with cinnamon and topped with fluffy meringue in these bite-size desserts. These tarts are perfect for serving at cocktail parties or buffets.

Fresh cranberries are muddled with sugar and stirred with apple cider, ginger beer, and a little lemon juice. Serve this festive drink with or without gin mixed in.

The topping for this gorgeous dessert is made by simply baking cranberries placed in a layer over sugar and spices at the bottom of the pan. As the cake bakes, the sugar caramelizes, forming a rich syrup.

A slightly savory version of cranberry sauce, this chutney combines the tart berries with fresh ginger and sauteed shallots in addition to sugar. In addition to turkey, it's excellent with lamb and beef.

Freshly squeezed orange and lemon juices are mixed with orange liqueur to make a refreshing citrusy slush. The sweet-tart scarlet topping is simply fresh cranberries simmered with vanilla bean and a cinnamon stick.

Orange-scented cranberry sauce gets a spot on the dessert table in these two-bite cookies. The crunchy yellow cornmeal crust, brightened with orange zest, is a perfect platform.

This easy cranberry-orange infused vodka will be a hit at holiday cocktail parties. Or, make decorative labels and give the sweetened spirit as a gift.

No need to save the cranberry sauce just for Thanksgiving turkey! Here, it makes a delightful companion to simple, thyme-rubbed roast chicken breasts.

Red grapes contribute sweetness and texture to this simple cranberry sauce. You can prepare the compote up to two weeks ahead and store in the refrigerator.

Not your ordinary cranberry sauce, this satiny dessert topping starts with fresh apple sauteed in butter, then cider-simmered cranberries are added. Serve over vanilla ice cream or apple pie.

Similar to a moist, dense spice cake, steamed pudding is an old-fashioned holiday dessert that deserves a comeback. If you lack a pudding mold, you can use a deep stainless steel bowl covered tightly with aluminum foil.

Invite cranberry sauce to the breakfast table! Simply warm up your favorite sauce and drizzle it over pancakes or waffles.

With layers of sweetened cranberries, buttery pound cake, and fluffy whipped cream, this trifle is a truly easy and dazzling dessert. You can prepare all the components ahead of time and assemble shortly before serving.

Studded with cranberries, this quick bread is adaptable: Try it at breakfast or as an afternoon snack. A sprinkle of turbinado sugar on top begets crunch.

Make your applesauce extra festive with the addition of fresh cranberries. This sauce is great with roast pork, potato pancakes, or simply as a snack.

The classic apple crisp gets brilliant color and a tart tang from fresh cranberries. This easy dessert only takes 15 minutes to assemble.

With the only additions being sugar and a little grated lemon zest, nothing interferes with the pure flavor of fresh cranberries in this simple sauce. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

In these bite-size tartlets, almond-y filling is topped with sugared cranberries. These hand-held desserts are great for potlucks or cocktail parties.

This unique, festive dessert is so easy to assemble. Simply simmer fresh cranberries with brown sugar and brandy, then spoon the compote over store-bought cookies spread with rich mascarpone cheese.

Golden raisins and diced apple provide bursts of sweetness in this cranberry chutney, while sauteed shallots and thyme add a savory dimension. No need to wait for Thanksgiving; try it on a turkey sandwich today!

Apple slices and fresh cranberries are arranged decoratively atop crisp, flaky store-bought phyllo dough. This easy tart is sweetened simply with maple syrup and served with whipped cream.

The sweet, fragrant bite of ginger permeates this fresh cranberry sauce. A splash of sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar contributes palate-refreshing acidity.

A soft-centered, marshmallowlike meringue forms a pillow for cranberry topping infused with vanilla. Both the meringue and the sauce can be prepared a day or two in advance.

Fresh jalapeno pepper adds an exciting bite to this easy cranberry jam. Serve it with roasted meats, on sandwiches, or as a filling for baked brie.

Apples and cranberries form the base of this homemade version of a lunchbox favorite. You don't need a dehydrator -- just your oven -- to make this fruit leather.

Allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and crushed red-pepper flakes add sweet heat to this Cognac-spiked cranberry sauce. Tightly covered, the sauce will keep for more than a week in the refrigerator.

This pear-and-cranberry sorbet is served in elegant hollowed-out pears. Serve as a light dessert or as an intermezzo.

Light, elegant cranberry jelly is flavored with ginger and thickened with unflavored gelatin. Serve as you would cranberry sauce, or spread on freshly baked scones for a festive brunch.

Sliced pears and fresh cranberries caramelize with butter and brown sugar on the bottom of the pan while the spice cake bakes. Before serving, the cake is inverted onto a plate so the fruit becomes the sweet, gorgeous topping.

Fresh cranberry relish gets crunch and spice from celery, red onion, jalapeno pepper, and fresh ginger. This is an easy addition to the menu since it doesn't require any cooking.

This impressive cocktail combines easy homemade cranberry juice with vodka, club soda, and orange sherbet. Skewers of sugared cranberries make a festive garnish.