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    Home » Thanksgiving

    Homemade Apple Cranberry Sauce + Video

    Published: Nov 8, 2018 · Modified: Nov 16, 2020 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    247 shares
    • 1
    Jump to Recipe

    Forget about store-bought cranberry sauce. This homemade apple cranberry sauce will be a new family tradition for you! This cranberry sauce with apples is tangy, sweet, and unbelievably easy!

    We have so many delicious Thanksgiving recipes here including Persian spiced turkey, homemade stuffing and an easy turkey gravy recipe. Top it with this homemade apple cranberry sauce and you'll have a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner!

    Forget about store-bought cranberry sauce. This homemade apple cranberry sauce will be a new family tradition for you! This cranberry sauce with apples is tangy, sweet, and unbelievably easy! 

    Why this apple cranberry sauce recipe works

    The combination of cranberries, apple and orange juice makes this homemade cranberry apple sauce really tasty. Another tip that makes this sauce extremely delicious is to add the orange pulp to the sauce. The pulp does make a difference!

    I only added a third of a cup of maple syrup to the sauce but you can adjust the amount of maple syrup according to your taste and how sweet you want the sauce to be.

    Ingredients to make naturally sweetened cranberry sauce with apples

    To make this easy cranberry sauce with apples you need:

    • Cranberries
    • Apples
    • Oranges
    • Cranberry juice
    • Apple cider or apple juice
    • Maple syrup

    This cranberry apple sauce recipe is easy and very delicious.

    How to make apple cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving

    Simply put cranberries, chopped apples, juice of two oranges, cranberry juice, apple cider and maple syrup in a medium sauce pan or a pot over medium heat and bring it to a slow simmer. Stir occasionally and let it cook until the apples are a little soft and cranberries have popped.

    How to make cranberry sauce in slow cooker

    Making apple cranberry sauce in slow cooker is so easy and is great for Thanksgiving since you can even do it ahead of time or just in the morning and let it cook until Thanksgiving dinner. Place cranberries, apples, orange juice, maple syrup, apple cider and cranberry juice in the slow cooker and place on the lid. Cook on high for three hours.

    How to make cranberry sauce in Instant Pot

    If you want to be quick and efficient, instant pot cranberry sauce is a great option. Simple put all the ingredients for homemade cranberry sauce in the instant pot and secure the lid. Press "Pressure cook" or "Manual" and set the timer for 5 minutes. Once the 5 minutes cooking time is done, let the instant pot release pressure naturally for 5 minutes. Do a quick release and open the lid. Press "Saute" and let the cranberry sauce simmer until it reaches desired consistency and thickness.

    Apple cranberry sauce for turkey is perfect for Thanksgiving.

    How long can you keep cranberry sauce in the refrigerator?

    You can keep cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Usually there is some leftover cranberry sauce. Check this article out to see what to do with leftover cranberry sauce.

    Is apple cranberry sauce served hot or cold?

    You can serve cranberry sauce hot, warm, room temperature or cold. It completely depends on how you and your family likes the cranberry sauce to be. I usually like to serve it at room temperature.

    Cranberry apple sauce made with fresh cranberries and oranges is tasty.

    Homemade cranberry sauce is the best!

    One of the traditions that I'm starting in our family is my homemade cranberry apple sauce. Last year we were in Seattle with Kyle's parents for Thanksgiving and we had all of his relatives over, which was just amazing. Kyle's dad always does the turkey so I didn't want to mess with that, especially because we had almost 35 guests - so I offered to make cranberry sauce because, seriously, you just can't mess up cranberry sauce.

    Anyway, I made the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving last year and I did a very basic one, nothing fancy. I don't like to brag but some people did say it was the best cranberry sauce they've ever had. So this year, I'm giving my cranberry sauce a nice touch with some apples and it's going to be awesome!

    More Thanksgiving recipes:

    • Ross Geller's Thanksgiving Sandwich 
    • Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
    • Roasted Turkey Breast
    • Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
    • Crustless Pumpkin Pie
    • Sage Parmesan Garlic Buns

    Notes and tips to make Homemade apple cranberry sauce

    • To make this easy cranberry apple sauce you can also use frozen cranberries. Let them thaw in the fridge and continue with the recipe as instructed.
    • To make ginger apple cranberry sauce, add 1 teaspoon of grated ginger to the cranberry sauce while it's simmering.
    • For cinnamon apple cranberry sauce use one cinnamon stick in the sauce in the beginning with all the other ingredients.
    • If the cranberry sauce is too runny, simmer until it's thickened. This apple cranberry sauce will also thicken when it has cooled down.

    Serve cranberry apple sauce warm or at room temperature.

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Forget about store-bought, this homemade cranberry apple sauce will be a new family tradition for you! It's tangy, sweet, and unbelievably easy!

    Homemade Cranberry Apple Sauce

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Forget about store-bought, this homemade cranberry apple sauce will be a new family tradition for you! It's tangy, sweet, and unbelievably easy! 
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 168 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 lb cranberries
    • 2 apples chopped (I used one mcintosh and granny smith)
    • Juice of 2 oranges plus pulp
    • ½ cup cranberry juice
    • ½ cup apple cider
    • ⅓ cup maple syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Place all the ingredients in a pot, place over medium heat and cook for 20-25 minutes until cranberries pop and the sauce thickens.
    • Serve warm or cold.
    • Store in airtight containers.

    Video

    Notes

    • Cranberry sauce in slow cooker:
    Making apple cranberry sauce in slow cooker is so easy and is great for Thanksgiving since you can even do it ahead of time or just in the morning and let it cook until Thanksgiving dinner. Place cranberries, apples, orange juice, maple syrup, apple cider and cranberry juice in the slow cooker and place on the lid. Cook on high for three hours.
    • Cranberry sauce in Instant Pot:
    If you want to be quick and efficient, instant pot cranberry sauce is a great option. Simple put all the ingredients for homemade cranberry sauce in the instant pot and secure the lid. Press "Pressure cook" or "Manual" and set the timer for 5 minutes. Once the 5 minutes cooking time is done, let the instant pot release pressure naturally for 5 minutes. Do a quick release and open the lid. Press "Saute" and let the cranberry sauce simmer until it reaches desired consistency and thickness.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 270mgFiber: 8gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 133IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    247 shares
    • 1

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rebekah Park

      November 18, 2016 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      Hi! I can't wait to try this for thanksgiving! Question, is it the juice of 2 oranges PLUS another 1/2 cup of orange juice? Just making sure!

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        November 19, 2016 at 11:48 am

        5 stars
        Hi Rebekah! My apologies, that's actually 1/2 cup cranberry juice! Just corrected! 🙂

        Reply
        • Bekah

          November 20, 2016 at 9:58 am

          5 stars
          Thanks! Would that be unsweetened cranberry juice?

        • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

          November 20, 2016 at 1:29 pm

          5 stars
          Both unsweetened and sweetened would work, but definitely taste before serving and if it's not sweet enough, add more maple syrup 🙂

    2. Lia Petridi

      November 05, 2016 at 9:41 pm

      5 stars
      We can use of dry cranberries instead (#) fresh?

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        November 06, 2016 at 2:41 pm

        5 stars
        Hi Lia 🙂 You can use dried cranberries but in that case leave the maple syrup out as the cranberries are already sweet and add 1/2 cup water to help the cranberries plump. To have the similar consistency, you can add 2 tsp corn starch 🙂

        Reply
    3. Megan @ MegUnprocessed

      November 03, 2016 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      Looks vibrant and very appetizing!

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        November 04, 2016 at 10:50 am

        Thanks Megan!

        Reply
    4. Alice @ hip foodie mom

      November 02, 2016 at 4:05 pm

      Love it that you don't use sugar. Usually cranberry sauce has so much sugar. Can't wait to try this one!

      Reply
      • unicornsinthekitchen@gmail.com

        November 06, 2016 at 2:46 pm

        I hope you like it! I'm totally obsessed with maple syrup I use it all the time!

        Reply

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    247 shares