Fall is in full color in and around the Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE). Our nine member inns are replete in the harvest hues of orange, red and gold. Throughout DINE country, guests are enjoying the beautiful scenery and foliage in the northern reaches and a bit of extended summer in the more southern regions along the Connecticut shore and Cape Cod. All over New England, our guests are treated to romantic fall getaways and the hospitality that sets DINE inns apart.
And with autumn comes new colors and flavors, plus recipes filled with pumpkin spice, apples and of course, cranberries. We’ve scoured our recipe files for the best cranberry recipes. These ideas will take you right through the holidays, with one of the holiday’s key ingredients – the bright and tart cranberry. We hope you’ll enjoy these recipes from DINE innkeepers.
Maple Cranberry Cookie Recipe from Rabbit Hill Inn
yields 2 dozen
Ingredients:
2 eggs (well beaten)
1/2 cup Crisco (melted)
1 Tbsp maple syrup (or maple extract if necessary)
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup apples (peeled, cored and chopped)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
add any other dried fruit or nut desired
Method
To begin: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover your cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
In large bowl, mix dry ingredients and set aside (flour, baking soda, baking powder)
In a separate bowl, pour beaten eggs. Add melted Crisco and maple syrup. Mix well.
Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Then fold in apples, cranberries, and any other dried fruits & nuts, as you desire.
Drop dough by teaspoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 -12 minutes. Cool on baking rack.
Note: Feel free to change it up from batch to batch. For extra zip – consider adding your favorite nut, or a drizzle of simple icing would be a great addition. These cookies disappear quickly, consider making double batches. Thankfully, these delicious cookies freeze very well.
Cranberry Waffles from Captain’s House Inn
(Serves 8)
Ingredients:
2 2/3 Cups All Purpose Flour
¼ Cup Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Sugar
4 Eggs, separated
1 Cup Milk
6 Tbsp Oil
2 Cup Fresh or Frozen Cranberries (well drained) coated with 2 Tbsp sugar
Method:
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar and set aside
In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites, just until stiff, moist peaks form. In another bowl, without washing the beaters, beat yolks lightly.
Stir in the milk and oil, blend well. Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients, beat until smooth. Fold in the beaten egg whites. Add sugared cranberries.
Bake in a pre-heated waffle pan.
Easy Cranberry Sauce from Chesterfield Inn
According to Judy Hueber, innkeeper at Chesterfield Inn, “Another of my favorites for the holidays is a cranberry relish that my friend Betsy taught me years ago. When you see how easy this is, and how delicious, you’ll never buy canned cranberry sauce again!”
Ingredients: All you need is:
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 jar orange marmalade
1/2 cup orange juice, and more if needed
Method
Put the cranberries in a saucepan, add the marmalade and orange juice.
Cook on low heat until the cranberries pop, and everything has melded together nicely.
Let cool. Refrigerate until needed. Keeps well in a covered refrigerated container.
Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies from Captain’s House Inn
Everything you love all in one cookie!
Ingredients:
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup butter
1/2 Cup shortening
2 1/2 Cups oatmeal
2 Cups flour
2 Teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons poppy seed
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 Cup shaved Belgium chocolate
1/2 Cup white chocolate chips
1 Cup Dried Cranberries
Method:
Cream sugar, brown sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs.
Mix in all other ingredients.
Scoop and flatten; bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
Red Fin Martini from Manor On Golden Pond
Ingredients
2 parts Finlandia vodka
1 part red Aliza passionfruit
Splash of cranberry juice
Splash of triple sec
Method
Combine all ingredients in a martini shaker and shake gently.
Serve in stemware straight up. Garnish with fresh raspberries or cranberries
Enjoy sitting by a fire. The perfect way to start or end a festive fall or holiday meal!
Of course any of these recipes and many more will be enjoyed even more in person during your next visit to DINE country. Be sure to skip the online booking engines and reserve your stay directly online or by calling your favorite DINE inn.
In New Hampshire: Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield
In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic
In Massachusetts: Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.
In Maine: Inn at English Meadows in Kennebunkport
In Vermont: Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton.