When we bought our house in Sacramento it came with a large backyard full of trees. A few months later in November we got a sweet surprise, one of the trees was actually a pomegranate tree! Every year I have more pomegranates than we could possibly eat. So I have started incorporating pomegranate into my holiday cooking.

Pomegranates come into season around late October and November in California. Not only are pomegranates packed with sweet and tart flavor, they’re also filled with healthy nutrients. And let’s be honest, they are one of the classiest fruits and immediately make you feel fancy!

Gennifer Rose - 10 Ways to Add Fresh Pomegranate Into Your Holiday Cooking - Sliced Pomegranate

My 10 Favorite Holiday Pomegranate Recipes

Pomegranate Mini Tarts with Goat Cheese & Rosemary
Not only are these little tarts cute as a button, but they’re also a perfect blend of tart and creamy with a touch of herbs. I made the mini tarts shown in this blog post for Friendsgiving and they were a big hit! It doesn’t take too long to make and they really taste decadent. Pomegranate really pairs well with goat cheese, you could even just spread it on a cracker for a more casual option.
Charcuterie Boards
One of the biggest trends in foodie hosting is making spectacular and bountiful charcuterie boards. Adding pomegranate seeds to your board gives your guests the option to add some sweet and tartness to their plates. The seeds are easy finger foods that you can pop into your mouth, not to mention they add some color and interest to your board. Check out my guide to building the perfect charcuterie board and see how these little ruby gems to make it sparkle!
Cocktails and Mocktails
Sipping on sweet libations is what the holidays are all about. The freshly squeezed pomegranate juice adds a rich flavor and color to any beverage. Juice from pomegranates pairs well with cranberry, pears, lime, basil, and ginger ale. Find some recipe ideas on Pinterest.
Harvest Salad
The classic fall harvest salad takes advance of all the produce that is seasonally available in autumn. Typical harvest salads are made of fresh greens and topped with apples, pomegranate seeds, walnut or pecans, feta cheese, butternut squash, and a vinaigrette.
Pomegranate Orange Scones
Every year we plan a holiday brunch with freshly made scones. Adding pomegranate to the classic scone recipe makes for a great punch of flavor.
Pomegranate Jam & Jellies
You’re definitely going to need some pomegranate jam to accompany your scones! Popular jam combos are pomegranate with blueberries, cranberry, strawberry, cherry and raspberry.
Dessert Pomegranate Tarts and Pies
Baking all kinds of desserts is a classic holiday pastime (any fans of the Netflix show The Great British Baking Show?) After a holiday feast, serve up a freshly baked tart or pie sweetened with fresh pomegranate.
Pomegranate Guacamole
Guacamole is always a party favorite, and now you can really impress your guests with guacamole infused with pomegranate seeds. Sound weird? Trust us, give it a taste before you decide.
Dixie Salad with Pomegranate
A Dixie Salad is like a fruit salad meets a parfait, and is a popular side dish at holiday dinners. This salad is made of apples, pomegranate, pecans and cream. This recipe came about when only seasonal produce was available, and luckily they make wonderful flavor combos.
Pomegranate and Cranberry Sauce
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce! Add pomegranate for a new twist on the classic holiday sauce. Pinterest has many recipe ideas for a pomegranate and cranberry sauce duo.