Cranberry Nantucket Pie is a classic Christmas pie! Only 10 minutes to prep, with fresh cranberries, walnuts, covered in a sweet, orange cranberry cookie crust. Easiest pie ever!
The berries pop with juiciness in this irresistible cranberry nut pie, which is perfect with ice cream. I even have gluten-free and reduced sugar options which are just as yummy!
Check out these other cranberry favorites; Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, Lemon Cranberry Bars and this gorgeous, but easy Cranberry Christmas cake!
Why You Will Love this Cranberry Pie
- Easy as Pie | Actually even easier, because it’s dump and bake!
- Cranberry lovers will love this cranberry Nantucket pie recipe! Sweet and tart and full of great texture and flavor!
- Holiday Favorite | Wow everyone at the party with this fun dessert!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
I look forward to this season all year long to make holiday desserts like my crustless cranberry pie. The aroma of the tart berries cooking with sugar, citrus, and nuts makes my mouth water.
Simple Ingredients for Cranberry Nantucket Pie
- Cranberries | If fresh berries aren’t in season, frozen work too, just don’t thaw them.
- Brown Sugar | Dixie Crystals is my go to for desserts, and both light and dark varieties are equally delicious.
- Sugar | Pure cane sugar melts with all the juicy goodness in this Christmas pie!
- Walnuts | The nutty flavors combine perfectly in this dessert. Use your favorite chopped nuts or omit altogether.
- Flour | Organic unbleached all-purpose King Arthur’s flour is a staple in my kitchen.
- Orange Zest | Even though this ingredient is optional, I promise it gives an extra zing to the final product!
- Vanilla Extract | This dessert is a great opportunity to try my Homemade Bourbon Vanilla Extract Recipe—it’s rich, easy, and unforgettable!
- Almond Extract | I use this in my baking to add a more complex flavor.
- Butter | Real butter allows steam to rise in batter or dough, creating a tender “pie crust”.
- Coarse Sparkling White Sugar | This optional topper is the pièce de résistance for this gorgeous Nantucket cranberry pie.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to make this easy Nantucket Pie
Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and grease a 10-inch pie plate with melted butter. You may also use a 10 inch cast iron or oven–safe skillet.
After washing and patting dry the cranberries, pour them in the baking dish. Doesn’t need to be perfect, just dump them in.
Sprinkle the berries with chopped nuts and brown sugar.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly. Then, add the sugar a little at a time and beat until light, thick and creamy. If you’re using orange zest in your Christmas pie, add it now.
Stir in vanilla extract, almond extract, flour and salt.
Pour the batter over the cranberries evenly. Tap the baking dish to ensure the batter has worked its way through the berries.
Sprinkle the coarse sugar over the top of the crustless cranberry pie, or wait and sprinkle immediately after removing from the oven.
Pop it in the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Your toothpick will come out clean when it’s finished.
Serve your Nantucket Cranberry Pie with vanilla ice cream (and whipped cream if yo feel extra decadent). And it’s so pretty decorated with a few of these sugared cranberries.
Variations and Substitutions
- If desired, replace all or part of the brown sugar with regular white sugar or all-natural cane sugar.
- Instead of almond extract, use orange or lemon extract instead, or just extra vanilla extract.
- Make it a Cherry Cranberry Pie! Add fresh, pitted red cherries to the cranberries, try 1 heaping cup cranberries and 1 heaping cup cherries, frozen works great here! Or use blackberries, peaches, you name it!
- Nuts | This Christmas pie is delicious with walnuts, pecans, almonds; you could even try hazelnuts and pine nuts! Or omit the nuts altogether.
- Orange Cranberry Nantucket pie | While testing, I made one with orange zest and one without. Usually, I love all things cranberry orange (try this Cranberry Relish!), however; personally, I felt like it overpowered the cranberry pie. I sent both batches with my husband to work, and they were BOTH winners, so make it YOURS!
Gluten-Free Nantucket Pie
Replace the flour with GF all-purpose flour (my favorite). Oat or almond flour are also great substitutes in this cranberry nut pie.
High Altitude Cranberry Pie
- At a high altitude, reduce the sugar in the pie crust by 2 tablespoons. It’s easiest to measure it in the cup, then scoop out 2 tablespoons.
- Bake as directed, covering towards the end with foil, shiny side down if browning too quickly.
Fresh Tips
- If you’re baking in a 9” dish, add another 5-10 minutes of baking time.
- If the top is browning too quickly on your cranberry crustless pie, cover it with foil. This is a step to take near the end of the bake time.
- Coarse Sparkling sugar is beautiful on top! It resists melting in the oven’s heat and adds a touch of sparkle for your Christmas pie.
Frequently Asked Questions
The trick is to go slow and pour it in ribbons back and forth. Tapping the pan at the end also helps it spread evenly before baking.
If you have a nut allergy, try adding pumpkin seeds, rolled oats, or grape nuts for texture and flavor.
The consistency is closer to cake batter than rolled dough of a pie crust, but who am I to argue with all of Nantucket? They say it’s a pie, so that’s what it is in my house and my New England born and raised husband would agree!
YES! While cranberries are very tart, they do require some sugar. You may reduce the brown sugar to ¼ cup sprinkled over the cranberries, it will be a bit more tart, but still delicious! You can also try date sugar, or coconut sugar, or even a sugar substitute like Monkfruit to sweeten.
Storage Tips
Once cooled completely, store this pie covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days. It might lose some of its crispness on the top, but will still taste great.
Can I freeze Nantucket cranberry tart?
YES! Make this sweet-tart pie up to two or more weeks in advance, making holiday meal prep even easier!
Cool completely, wrap in two layers of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. When ready to serve, remove from freezer and allow to thaw overnight in fridge (or on counter) — may be rewarmed in the oven at 300° F (150° C) for 15-20 minutes or pop individual pieces in microwave.
Recommended Tools
- Pan(s) | Again, super versatile: Traditionally you make this in a 10” pie plate, but you can make it in 9” pie plate, or a 9” round cake pan, you could even make it in a 10″ cast iron skillet.
- But wait, there’s more! You can also make this in a 9 or 10” springform pan, just make sure your springform pan is leakproof, if it isn’t you are going to have a mess in your oven!
- Mixing Bowl & Spatula | Other than measuring cups, all you need is a good mixing bowl (one of my favorite brands!) and a sturdy spatula and maybe a solid knife to chop your nuts!
Have I mentioned this pie (cake) is super easy, like really easy — like anyone can make this cranberry cake, um, tart, er, pie! Here are a few pieces of equipment to make it even easier!
Don’t forget to browse through all of the great recipes from Cranberry week!
Best appetizers to serve with Nantucket pie
Make it a party and serve a few of our favorite Christmas appetizers! A few of our favorites are below.
Easy Turkey Cranberry Sliders Recipe (Baked)
These turkey sliders are ready in 45 minutes! With 15 minutes of prep, these leftover turkey sliders on sweet Hawaiian rolls, with cheese and cranberry sauce are great after Thanksgiving!
Best Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
This Cranberry Cream Cheese dip is not only easy, is perfect for the holiday season. 4-ingredients to this cheesy, sweet-tart, salty and savory hot dip. Using homemade or leftover cranberry sauce, this cream cheese cranberry dip will be raved about at your next party.
Charcuterie Cups – How to Pack a Perfect Charcuterie Board to Go
These individual charcuterie cups are everything you love about charcuterie boards but loads more fun! I'll show you how to pack a charcuterie board to go. These tasty single–serve treats are easy to make, portable, and perfect for gatherings large and small.
Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates
With tangy whipped goat cheese, savory bacon, and sweet dates, this is one goat cheese appetizer that absolutely can’t be beat. And with so much room to customize, you can make it entirely your own. Dip into this tantalizing first course with warm toasted bread and say hello to your go-to holiday appetizer from here on out!
Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)
Easy 3-Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs are tender and slow cooked in a tangy cranberry and barbecue sauce. Just dump the ingredients into your crockpot and heat!
Best drinks to serve with cranberry pie
Because a great drink can make the day! Be sure to browse all of my holiday drink recipes and see our favorites below.
Homemade Eggnog Latte Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with my rich, creamy Copycat Starbucks Eggnog Latte recipe. This homemade eggnog latte is so simple to make and so festive to drink! Enjoy this warm eggnog coffee drink before a crisp morning walk, or as a special treat on a chilly afternoon.
The Best Christmas Morning Chai Recipe (Dutch Bros)
This holiday season enjoy this copycat Dutch Bros Christmas Morning Chai recipe. A chai latte that is spicy and flavorful chai tea mixed with half and half and swirled with white chocolate syrup. Delicious hot or cold.
Easy Pomegranate Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe (Holiday Mule)
Make this holiday mule in minutes! Our pomegranate mule is a fresh, festive, and easy cocktail! With fresh pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, vodka and finished with spicy ginger beer. You might call it a Yule Mule!
Easy Cranberry Spritzer (by the glass or pitcher)
Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
This Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet-tart; bright, delicious and festive holiday cocktail! With easy make-ahead cranberry simple syrup.
More Christmas Dessert Recipes
Here are a few of our favorites and reader favorites too!
- Award Winning Key Lime Pie
- Easiest Oreo Pie Crust Recipe
- Amazing Mile High Mud Pie (Easy Ice Cream Cake)
- Thick & Chewy m & m Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp {Gluten-Free Option}
- Mini Chocolate French Silk Pies
- White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake (Instant Pot or Oven)
- Pumpkin Custard Pie Recipe (Costco Copycat)
I hope you loved this cranberry Nantucket pie — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Equipment
- Anchor Hocking 2 Quart Glass Batter Bowl
- Vasa Casa Ceramic Pie Pan – 10.6 Inches Round Pie Plate for Baking
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 2 cups cranberries heaping, fresh or frozen* do not thaw frozen
- ½ cup brown sugar packed light or dark brown (may reduce to ¼ cup) and may replace with sugar substitute or granulated sugar
- ½ cup walnuts chopped (or pecans), optional omit if preferred
- 2 large eggs room temp is best, if needed, submerge in a bowl of warm, not hot water 5-7 minutes.
- 1 cup granulated sugar less two tablespoons for high altitude
- 1 cup all-purpose flour sub with GF AP flour or Whole Wheat Flour or half and half
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract or increase vanilla extract if desired
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Zest from ½ to full orange optional
- Course sparkling white sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C) and brush a 9-10 inch pie plate or 9” round or square cake pan with 1 tablespoon of melted butter. (If baking in 9-inch bake additional 5-10 minutes)
- Layer washed and patted dry cranberries on bottom of pie plate, sprinkle with brown sugar and chopped nuts.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs until they are light and thick, gradually add the sugar, whisking well until thoroughly blended and the mixture is light and creamy, add if desired zest from one orange. Stir in flour, salt, vanilla and almond extracts and melted butter until combined.
- Pour in ribbons evely over the cranberries and spread to even out. Place a thick oven mitt under the pie plate and tap a couple of times to distribute the batter over the cranberries. If using, sprinkle coarse sparkling sugar over the top.
- Bake the pie for 40-45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean, if browning too quickly, cover the top with a piece of foil. Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Notes
Variations
- Gluten-Free | Replace All-purpose flour with your favorite GF All-purpose flour, or use Oat or Almond flour.
- High Altitude Adjustments | Reduce sugar by 2 tablespoons (measure 1 cup, then use tablespoon to remove). Bake as directed.
- If baking in 9” inch pie plate or pan, adjust baking time to an additional 5-10 minutes, covering if needed with foil near the end.
Nutrition
Welcome to Cranberry Week!
This week we are celebrating all things cranberry! We have delicious recipes from across the country to celebrate all things cranberry!
#CranberryWeek is an annual blogging event that is hosted by Ashley from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Triple Chocolate Cranberry Brownies from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Cranberry Pecan Paneer Cheese Ball from Magical Ingredients
- Cranberry Relish from Devour Dinner
- Grilled Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios, Cranberries, & Parmesan from The Spiffy Cookie
- Cranberry Orange Scones from Jen Around the World
- Cranberry and Brie Wontons from The Freshman Cook
- Nantucket Cranberry Pie from The Fresh Cooky
- Cranberry Chicken Salad from Art of Natural Living
- Chocolate Cranberry Cookies from Daily Dish Recipes
- Cranberry Orange Mimosa from Family Around the Table
- Cranberry Salsa from Kate’s Recipe Box
Anjali
I can’t wait to make this pie for my family and friends on Christmas! It looks so delicious and I love how it highlights one of my favorite fall fruits (cranberries) too!
Thanks so much!
Gianne
The combination of tart cranberries and sweet pie crust is beyond delicious. It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion. You have to try it! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Right??! Thank you so much!
Kristine
This is such a fun dessert! I hadn’t made it before, but it was a huge hit! The flavors, the textures, delicious!
Thanks so much!
Sara Welch
Opted for this dessert over pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, and it was a sweet success! Looking forward to enjoyed this again for Christmas; my whole family loved it!
YAY!! I love hearing that! So easy too!
Shelby
Oh I’ve tried this before but never knew how to make it! It’s such a delightful treat. Perfect for the holidays, too. Yum!
Thank you, so glad you found it!
SM
I used almond flour and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. The finished pie seemed very greasy tasting. I looked at similar recipes and those just used regular sugar.I discarded the pie as the greasy texture was not edible/enjoyable.
Hello,
I’m sorry that it turned out greasy, and that you had to throw it away, I always dislike when someone tries my recipe and then ends up not liking it, especially wasting expensive ingredients.
I have seen both ways, using brown sugar and using white sugar on top of the cranberries, I personally like the brown sugar since it adds a little caramel note. Almond flour in itself has oils since it’s ground almonds, perhaps if you tried it again, Try with some gluten-free all purpose flour instead? Again, I am sorry you experienced this. It is a very dense, almost sugar cookie type crust, it is not really a cake texture.
Happy baking,
Kathleen
Radha
Oh my! This is SO YUM! This looks and sounds amazing! The flavors are amazing and would love to try it ASAP! YUM!
I think you will like it!
MSD
MS
I’m so excited to try this! I love cranberries and this look perfect for the holidays.
And I hope you love it!
Debi
This cake was delicious. My family described it as an upside down cranberry cake. The layers were so good on their own, and together, yum! Oh yeah, and a big scoop of whipped cream on it!
Julie Menghini
This was truly a unique recipe for me. We absolutely loved this beautiful dessert. It was perfect for Thanksgiving and I’ve got requests to make it again for Christmas!
YAY! That is great to hear, so glad it was well received!
Inger@Art of Natural Living
I love a dessert that turns out as pretty as it is tasty!
I know, the best of both worlds!
Jennifer Sikora
Man! That pie looks amazing! I’m definitely going to have to make this so I can taste it.
Yes you should Jennifer! Wink-Wink!!
Rebecca
Mmm my favorite part of this yummy pie was the crispy layer on top, and of course the fruitiness of the cranberries on the bottom! This is a great pie for thanksgiving!
Teri
Pie or cake, either way, your cake is delicious looking and beautiful!
Thank you Teri!
Hezzi-D
I almost sounds like a cranberry crisp and I’m here for it!
It’s like a hand-held version of a cranberry crisp!