Holiday Spanish Meatballs with Cranberry Glaze

Holiday Spanish meatballs with cranberry glaze are festive and vibrant. The tart-sweet glaze clings to spiced meatballs, making them sparkle on December tables. Perfect for tapas spreads, holiday buffets, or festive meals, this recipe balances tradition with seasonal flair.

Course Main Course

Cuisine European, Mediterranean, Spanish

Keyword Christmas albondigas, Cranberry glaze, Festive tapas, Holiday meatballs, Party meatballs, Seasonal recipe, Spanish holiday, Sweet savoury, Tangy glaze, Winter flavours

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Servings Servings

Calories 430

Author Spooning & Forking

Ingredients

300 g Minced beef
300 g Minced pork
1 Onion small, finely chopped
2 cloves Garlic minced
50 g Breadcrumbs
1 Egg medium
2 tbsp Milk full fat
1 tsp Smoked paprika
½ tsp Ground cinnamon
3 tbsp Olive oil
200 g Cranberries fresh or frozen
100 g Brown sugar light
125 ml Orange juice
100 ml White wine
1 Bay leaf
Sea salt to taste
Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
2 tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped

Instructions

Mix beef, pork, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper until combined. Shape into small meatballs and place on a tray.
Heat olive oil in a wide pan and brown the meatballs in batches until golden. Remove to a plate.
In the same pan, add cranberries, sugar, orange juice, red wine, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens into a glaze. Return the meatballs to the pan, turning to coat them evenly in the glaze. Simmer gently for 10 minutes until cooked through and glossy. Sprinkle parsley before serving.

Notes

The beef and pork combination is classic for tenderness and balance. Cinnamon is optional but recommended, giving a hint of festive spice without overpowering the paprika.

Fresh cranberries work best, though frozen are fine if thawed. The combination of sugar, orange juice, and wine creates a tangy glaze that thickens as it reduces. The bay leaf provides a subtle herbal background, rounding out the flavours.

Nutrition