This Cranberry Applesauce Recipe blends sweet apples and tart cranberries into a vibrant, flavorful sauce that’s perfect for any meal!
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🥣 This sauce comes together in just 13 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or last-minute holiday preparations!
My 2 Best Tips For Making This Cranberry Applesauce Recipe
Apple Variety: Use a mix of sweet and tart apples like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji for the most complex and balanced flavor profile.
Frozen or Dried Cranberries: When using dried cranberries, make sure to rehydrate them in some water first. If you're using frozen cranberries, there's no need to thaw them before adding them to the pot. When using frozen or dried cranberries, you may need to cook the applesauce for a minute or two longer to ensure the cranberries are nice and soft.
If you like your applesauce with a little texture, just give it a light mash and leave some chunks in there. I like it this way! But if you’re more into a silky-smooth sauce, let it cool and give it a quick blend until it’s just right.
Keep an eye on the pot while it simmers as the cranberries will start to pop, and that’s exactly what you want! It means they’re breaking down and releasing all that tart, juicy flavor. Just stir every so often to help everything cook evenly and turn into a smooth sauce.
I never skip the lemon rind because it makes such a difference! It adds a bright, fresh flavor that keeps the sauce from tasting too heavy or too tart. Just that little bit of citrus really pulls everything together!
🩷 Melissa
Why You'll Love Cranberry Applesauce
- A twist on a classic. My recipe for cranberry applesauce is a yummy take on the traditional dish. The addition of cranberries makes it perfect for fall and winter, while the cinnamon, apple juice, and lemon give it a deliciously mouthwatering flavor.
- The perfect way to use seasonal fruit. There is usually an abundance of apples and cranberries in the stores come fall, and this is an ideal way to use them up! Or if you're lucky enough to have your own apple tree or cranberry bush, this is an amazing recipe to put them to good use.
- So quick to make. Literally, the hardest part is chopping your apples! The beauty of making cranberry applesauce is that once you've got your apples prepped, the cooking is practically done for you.
Ingredients For Cranberry Applesauce
- Fresh cranberries
- Apples
- Apple juice
- Lemon
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon sticks
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Cranberry Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounces fresh cranberries (one bag)
- 2 ½ pounds apples (peeled and diced)
- ½ cup apple juice
- rind from 1 lemon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the apples are softened, mashing periodically.
- Remove the lemon rind and cinnamon sticks.
- Let cool before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
How To Make Cranberry Applesauce
Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan.
Step 2: Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the apples are softened, mashing periodically.
Step 3: Remove the lemon rind and cinnamon sticks.
Step 4: Let cool before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Cranberry applesauce pairs amazingly with so many dishes, no matter if they are sweet or savory. I like to pile this applesauce with cranberries on top of my roasted pork tenderloin or as a side dish for some delicious smoked turkey breast and roasted veggies (ideal for seasonal celebrations!). And it's not just for dinner; cranberry applesauce is also great as a topping for ice cream or even on some hearty instant pot oatmeal or fluffy buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. So many possibilities!
Instant pots are great for making all sorts of sauces and jams, so of course, you can make cranberry applesauce in the instant pot! Add all of the ingredients to your instant pot, set it to cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then switch to vent to release the steam (please be careful, the steam will be hot!)Then follow the rest of the recipe as shown, and then you'll have instant pot cranberry applesauce!
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Alli
Great twist on a classic!