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Cranberry orange curd is perfect for the holidays! It’s easy to make and a delicious topping for pancakes, swirled into yogurt or oatmeal, or you can use even use it as a filling for a tart!

This recipe and photos have been updated since the original post on 11/21/2013
If you have a bag of cranberries in your freezer leftover from Thanksgiving, I have the perfect way to use them! Make this perfectly sweet and creamy cranberry orange curd.
If you’ve ever made lemon curd you’re aware of how sweet, tart, and luscious it is and how there are so many ways to use it. I love to use it in these lemon curd and vanilla cheesecake parfaits. It’s perfect for spring and summer!
When it comes to fall and winter, cranberry orange curd is where it’s at. It’s amazing to serve with dessert, breakfast, and is a wonderful hostess gift to share at the holidays. Be sure to check out my list of ways you can use cranberry orange curd below.
What Is Cranberry Orange Curd?
Cranberry orange curd is a variation of a fruit curd, which is most commonly found and used in England. The condiment is usually made with some type of fruit such as citrus, berries, mango, or passionfruit.
It uses the zest and fruit juice, which is then combined with sugar, eggs, and butter. The curd is cooked until it thickens and then cooled. It’s used as a spread for bread, biscuits, scones, muffins, pancakes. It can also be used in desserts or mixed with yogurt.
Ingredients For Cranberry Orange Curd
- fresh or frozen cranberries
- orange
- granulated sugar
- dark brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- eggs
- unsalted butter
- vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
How To Make Cranberry Orange Curd
Making this cranberry orange curd is similar to how you make any type of curd, with the exception being, you’ll need to blend the cranberries after they cook and strain the curd.
The first step to making this cranberry orange curd is to basically make cranberry sauce. Add the cranberries, orange zest and juice, water, sugars, salt, and cinnamon to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 8 minutes or until the cranberries pop and are soft.
Add the cranberry sauce to a food processor or blender and blend it until it’s smooth. Reserve a 1/2 cup of the sauce and add the remaining cranberry sauce to a saucepan over low heat.
In a bowl whisk together the eggs. Slowly pour in the reserved 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce whisking the entire time. Doing this will warm or temper the eggs so that they don’t curdle when you add them in with the cranberry sauce in the saucepan.
Pour the cranberry egg mixture into the saucepan whisking the entire time. Continue to whisk the curd until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.
Strain the curd into a sterile jar or jars and screw on the lid. Let it cool on the counter before storing it in the refrigerator.
Way To Serve Cranberry Orange Curd
- On top of vanilla ice cream
- As a dip for gingersnap cookies or even these cinnamon spritz cookies
- Swirled into plain Greek yogurt
- On top of toast, biscuits, or pancakes
- As a spread for muffins instead of using butter
- Swirled into oatmeal
How Long Will Cranberry Orange Curd Keep?
Cranberry orange curd will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze the curd in an airtight container for up to a year. To defrost, remove it from the freezer and let it defrost in the refrigerator.
More Cranberry Recipes
- Cranberry Orange Muffins
- Cranberry Orange Yogurt Cake
- Cranberry Maple Pecan Baked Oatmeal
- Bourbon Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole
Cranberry Orange Curd
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- Zest and juice of a large orange
- Enough water to equal 3/4 cup after orange juice added
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Add the cranberries, orange zest and juice, water, granulated and brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 8 minutes or until the cranberries pop and are soft.
- Pour the cranberry sauce into a food processor or blender and blend it until itโs smooth. Reserve a 1/2 cup of the sauce and add the remaining to a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- In a small bowl whisk egg and egg yolks. Slowly pour in the reserved 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce in with the eggs whisking the entire time.
- Pour the cranberry egg mixture into the saucepan whisking it the entire time. Continue to whisk the cranberry orange curd until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3-5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and remove the saucepan. Whisk in the butter and vanilla until the butter is melted and incorporated. Strain the curd into a sterile jar or jars and screw on the lid. Store the curd in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve made this recipe four or five times and it always turns out great! I’ve also quadrupled the recipe and put it into small mason jars as party favors/hostess gifts – the recipe scales well and the curd keeps for several weeks (assuming you don’t devour it sooner!) We usually spoon it over vanilla ice cream or pound cake, and I like to add it to my Greek yogurt in the morning :) Thanks for posting!
I’m so glad you like it Annie! It’s a great flavor for winter.
Just made this and it is devine!
Yay! So glad you liked the curd Nicole. I need to make it again as soon as I can get my hands on some cranberries!
I just made this and it is lovely. While thickening the curd I kept tasting it and I was afraid it would turn out too sweet, but once it was done it was perfect. It is nice and rich, sweet, but still has that cranberry tang.
Maria, it’s so nice to hear feedback from people who have tried my recipes. I’m glad you liked the curd, I’m definitely going to have to make another batch soon!
I can’t wait to try this! Hubby will be hunting this weekend so that will be the perfect opportunity!
Yay! I hope you like it, let me know what you think!
I’m a sucker for all flavors of curd – this looks positively heavenly!
Thanks Megna! It really is the perfect curd for the holidays!
looks like a yummy curd!
Thanks Dina!