Cranberry Brownies – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Rich chocolate brownies with cranberries and pecans are one of my favorite easy-to-make desserts this time of year – it is an unexpected and fun holiday flavor combination.

Served plain or topped with ice cream and hot fudge sauce, I’ve been making cranberry brownies at least a few times every holiday season for years. And without exception, everyone who has tasted them has raved over them.

Cranberry Brownies

The brownie base for this recipe has been my favorite for years. It’s a simple saucepan recipe that comes together in under 10 minutes, making it perfect for snacking any time of day.

The cranberries are a tart counterpart to the rich chocolate fudgy brownies. It’s a fun surprise flavor and they’re always a guaranteed hit on a dessert table. If you haven’t already fallen in love with the pairing of fruit and chocolate, these brownies may convince you to try it soon.

Who doesn’t love a rich, fudge brownie for a sweet snack? The cranberries that have a home in my freezer all year for the Cranberry Christmas Cake have to do double duty for these brownies now too.

Fresh Cranberry Recipes

There’s so much more to fresh cranberries than the cranberry sauce on the table for Thanksgiving dinner. From the crunch of the sugar crust on the bottom to the juicy cranberries to the flaky cake layer on top; Nantucket Christmas Cranberry Pie is cranberry dessert heaven.

“The sweet heat that you can not stop eating” is the best way to describe this sweet and spicy cranberry jalapeno dip. Double it for a crowd so you don’t run out! Tart cranberries and sweet apples are baked inside a brown sugar and oat crisp for a perfect not-to-sweet cranberry apple crisp.

Tangy cranberry pancakes sweetened with maple syrup make getting out of bed on the weekend a little bit easier. These buttermilk pancakes are a must-make for me the first weekend in December.

Cranberry Christmas Cookies are filled with an abundance of fresh tart cranberries balanced by a buttery sweet cookie. Sweet, tart, and full of cranberries, apples, raisins, and spices, cranberry chutney is sure to become a must-have on the holiday table.

Slightly chewy with a sweetly tart combination, cranberry oatmeal bars are full of cranberries and apples topped with brown sugar and oatmeal crumbs. Fresh cranberries and a hint of lemon are combined in this incredibly moist brown sugar streusel Cranberry Coffee Cake.

And last but not least, tart cranberries and spicy peppers mingle in this sweet and spicy Cranberry Pepper Jelly. Everyone goes crazy for this spicy jam at the very first bite! It’s the perfect addition to a Christmas charcuterie board.

Pecan Brownies

Oh, how I love a fudgy rich pan of brownies when they are sprinkled with nuts in every bite. My go-to brownie add-in is a handful of pecans, but I don’t discriminate with the nuts we enjoy in brownies.

Almond Joy Brownies are gooey fudgy brownies filled with plenty of chocolate, almonds, and coconut. Chocolate and nut-filled brownies are terrific with pecans or with walnuts – and they get bonus points for also being gluten and dairy free.

Kitchen Tip: I use this saucepan and this baking pan to make this recipe.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe

• butter
• semi-sweet chocolate
• light brown sugar
• vanilla extract
• eggs
• all-purpose flour
• kosher salt
• fresh or frozen cranberries
• pecans

COOK’S NOTE: These brownies will keep nicely in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. Alternatively, they can be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before eating.

Frozen cranberries work well in this recipe. I toss the bag of fresh cranberries directly into the freezer after I buy them. The frozen cranberries can be added to the recipe without thawing.

Fruit and Chocolate

Smooth and creamy chocolate fondue that you can make in just a couple of minutes? What’s not to love?? Served with loads of fruit, cream puffs, graham crackers, and pretzels, this Dessert Fondue Board is a treat for the eyes and for everyone’s taste buds.

Sweet and slightly tart fresh blueberries are lightly covered in dark chocolate to create an irresistible sweet snack that doubles as a quick and easy dessert too. My sister gets the thanks for these chocolate covered blueberries every time I make a batch for the freezer.

Before I took the first bite, I knew that I would like these Dark Chocolate Raspberry Brownies, (the house smelled fantastic while they were baking!) what I didn’t anticipate was the intense raspberry flavor that was in every bite. Chocolate and raspberries are a spectacular pair, aren’t they?

If you enjoy chocolate covered strawberries, you really do need to try chocolate coated orange slices. They’re like no other dessert and my whole family loves them!

Your favorite trail mix has been transformed into the ultimate candy bar in this Fruit and Nut Chocolate Bark with swirled layers of white and dark chocolate, studded with dried fruits, and crunchy nuts. Salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy, and chocolate all come together in this beautiful and easily adaptable holiday treat.

{originally published 10/5/17 – recipe notes and photos updated 12/4/24}