Cranberry Butter

Flavored butter is one of the easiest and most versatile condiments you can make at home. And while garlic and herb butter is great for elevating a steak dinner, sweet versions like cranberry butter pair perfectly with your favorite baked goods. Spread cranberry butter on crusty sourdough, waffles, biscuits, muffins, cornbread—you name it!

This cranberry butter has a vibrant ruby hue and sweet-tart flavor, which adds a festive touch to any fall or winter celebration. You only need a handful of ingredients for this cranberry honey butter recipe, including butter, dried cranberries, honey, orange zest and a bit of salt. Just soften the butter, finely chop the cranberries and mix them—it’s that easy. Serve it with a holiday buffet, enjoy it with everyday meals or add it to a charcuterie board. It even makes a thoughtful homemade gift.

Ingredients for Cranberry Honey Butter

• Butter: This recipe is all about the butter, so go with the best-tasting butter you can find at the store, or make it extra special with butter made from scratch. Salted or unsalted butter will work here—unless you prefer to control the amount of salt, in which case you should use unsalted butter.
• Dried cranberries: Dried cranberries add a chewy texture and their signature sweet-tart flavor. They usually contain added sugar, but you can find low-sugar or unsweetened varieties if you prefer to control the sweetness level or want the natural taste of cranberries to stand out. Be sure to finely chop them so they mix evenly into the butter.
• Honey: The floral sweetness of honey mellows the tartness of the cranberries without making the butter overly sweet. Not sure which honey to buy? See which brands of honey our Test Kitchen favors.
• Orange zest: Cranberry and orange is a classic flavor combination in baked goods, cocktails, cranberry sauce and more. Orange zest adds a bright, citrusy note that pairs perfectly with the sweet-tart cranberries. You’ll need one large orange to yield the 2 teaspoons of zest required for this recipe.
• Salt: A pinch of salt helps balance the cranberries’ tartness and the honey’s sweetness. If you use salted butter, you can skip adding salt.

Directions

Step 1: Make the cranberry butter

In a small bowl, beat the softened butter, chopped dried cranberries, honey, orange zest and salt with an electric mixer or rubber spatula until they’re blended.

Editor’s Tip: Let your butter sit at room temperature for at least one hour before making cranberry butter. If you forget, use one of our hacks to soften butter quickly.

Step 2: Store the cranberry butter

Transfer the cranberry butter to an airtight container or shape it into a log. Store the cranberry butter in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to three months.

Editor’s Tip: If you prefer to shape it into a butter log, scoop the butter into the center of a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper, roll it tightly and twist the ends closed. Double-wrap it in aluminum foil to keep it fresh and free from absorbing odors in the fridge or freezer.

Josh Rink for Taste Recipes

Cranberry Butter Variations

• Change the fruit: Instead of dried cranberries, try making flavored butter with other dried fruits, like cherries, blueberries or apricots. Just be sure to chop large pieces of fruit so they blend evenly.
• Swap the citrus: Try swapping in lemon or lime zest for a different citrusy twist.
• Sweeten it with maple syrup: For a slightly different flavor, substitute maple syrup for the honey—its rich sweetness pairs wonderfully with breakfast favorites.
• Add warming spices: Mix ground cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger into the butter for a cozy, spiced vibe.
• Use decorative molds: For a fun seasonal touch, skip the jars and pack the cranberry butter into decorative silicone molds. Try pumpkins for Thanksgiving, trees for Christmas, or any shape that fits the occasion.

How to Store Cranberry Butter

Store cranberry butter in the refrigerator. You can keep it in an airtight container, or if you rolled it into a log, wrapped in parchment paper or storage wrap. It’ll last for up to two weeks in the fridge.

Can you freeze cranberry butter?

Yes, you can freeze cranberry butter for up to three months, which is perfect if you want to get a jump on prepping for the holidays or making homemade gifts ahead of time. Freeze butter in an airtight container, or store a butter log in a freezer-safe bag with the air squeezed out. Before serving, thaw the cranberry butter overnight in the fridge.

Can you make cranberry butter ahead of time?

You can absolutely make cranberry butter ahead of time. It’ll be even more delicious when the flavors have had a chance to meld. Since cranberry butter lasts up to two weeks in the fridge, you can make it several days or even a week in advance. Just keep it chilled in an airtight container until it’s time to use it.

Cranberry Honey Butter Tips

Josh Rink for Taste Recipes

Can you use fresh cranberries in cranberry butter?

Fresh cranberries aren’t the best choice for making cranberry butter unless you cook them first. Raw cranberries are quite tart and firm, making them challenging to mix into the butter. You can simmer cranberries with water, sugar, or honey, similar to this cranberry sauce recipe; they’ll be softer, sweeter, and easier to mix.

What’s the best way to package cranberry butter for gifting?

Cranberry butter is a festive, homemade food gift and looks charming packed into small glass jars with lids (like mini Mason jars). Tie a seasonal ribbon around the jar and add a gift tag, a sprig of rosemary or a mini butter spreader to make the gift extra festive. You could also tuck jars of cranberry butter into a gift basket with crackers, a mini baguette or a homemade batch of muffins. Just remember to keep cranberry butter refrigerated (or frozen) until it’s time to give it to friends and family.

How do you serve cranberry butter?

You can serve cranberry butter with a stack of hearty oatmeal pancakes, buttermilk waffles, warm croissants or your favorite toast. Cranberry butter is also delicious served with a platter of homemade biscuits, soft dinner rolls or crusty baguettes. It pairs exceptionally well with other autumnal flavors and foods, such as cornbread, sweet potato bread and pumpkin oatmeal muffins. No matter what goodies you pair cranberry butter with, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving so it’s spreadable.