Sweet, Tangy & Perfect for the Holidays
This Cranberry Honey Butter is the kind of festive spread that instantly levels up any holiday table. With its blend of creamy butter, tart cranberries, and warm honey sweetness, it’s both eye-catching and irresistibly delicious. Perfect for biscuits, rolls, pancakes, waffles, or as a sweet spread on grazing boards, this recipe takes just minutes to make and keeps beautifully in the fridge. Whether you’re hosting, gifting, or simply treating yourself, this easy holiday butter adds a magical pop of color and flavor to every bite. ❄️🍯
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Servings: About 1 cup
📝 Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp orange juice (or water)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1–2 tbsp powdered sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- Pinch of salt
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Small saucepan
- Mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Air-tight storage container
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Cook the cranberries: In a small saucepan, heat cranberries, honey, and orange juice over medium heat for 3–5 minutes until berries burst and mixture thickens.
- Mash & cool: Use a spoon to mash berries slightly, then let the mixture cool completely.
- Whip the butter: In a bowl, whip softened butter until creamy and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes. 🧈
- Combine: Add the cooled cranberry mixture to the butter. Whip again until pink, smooth, and fully combined.
- Taste & adjust: Add powdered sugar for more sweetness, vanilla for warmth, or a pinch of salt to balance flavors.
- Serve: Transfer to a container and refrigerate 30 minutes for best texture. Spread on everything and enjoy! 😍
💡 Pro Tips
- Make ahead: Keeps up to 1 week in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
- Festive color: Pulse cooled cranberries in a blender for a smoother, more vibrant pink butter.
- Flavor twists: Add cinnamon, a splash of maple syrup, or zest from half an orange.
- Perfect for gifting: Pack into small jars and tie with ribbon for an easy holiday treat.