Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce
Posted: 11/11/2015
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Don’t settle for cranberry sauce from a can – this flavorful cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is super simple to make and can even be made a day or two in advance!
I cannot, cannot, cannot believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It’s a little ridiculous, really. I mean, how is that even possible? Pretty soon it’s going to be summer again and then it will be fall again and I’ll be right back to whining about summer going too quickly.
What I meant to say is that I’ll be savoring every moment. And making cranberry sauce in July so I can share recipes with you guys.
Growing up, cranberry sauce was never my favorite thing on the table at Thanksgiving. It still doesn’t trump stuffing (obviously), but now I really love its tart flavor alongside all the other rich, savory dishes. This cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is complex and is the perfect thing to spoon over roasted turkey.
About this cinnamon apple cranberry sauce
This is SO easy to make, you guys! All you do is throw everything together in a pan and cook it down until it is nice and thick. Watch out for splatters and stir often and you’re all set.
The sweetness of the apples perfectly complements the tart cranberries and the cinnamon gives that warm spiciness that goes so well with apples. If you prefer cranberry sauce with orange instead of apple, try my orange cranberry sauce with cardamom.
PS: If you’re looking for an easy Thanksgiving dinner for four, try a sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner with turkey breast, stuffing, potatoes, and asparagus all baked on one pan. You’ll love it! Or cook a turkey breast (even if it’s frozen solid, I kid you not) in your Instant Pot. Perfectly done, flavorful, and fast!
PPS: How cute is my assistant?
Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes?
These recipes would be great for Christmas dinner, too.
- 20 Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Recipes
- 5 Ingredient Maple Dijon Ham
- Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Stuffing Recipe
- Two Ingredient Cranberry Salsa
- Green Bean Casserole (no canned soup!)
- Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
- Turkey Tenders with Cranberry Barbecue Dipping Sauce
- Sweet Potato Bread Pudding with Marshmallow Topping
- Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
- Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples and Cranberries
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Butternut Squash Mash with Smoked Paprika
- Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheddar Bake
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
cups
Don’t settle for cranberry sauce from a can – this flavorful cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is super simple to make and can even be made a day or two in advance!
Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh cranberries, washed and drained
- 3/4 cup apple cider (NOT apple cider vinegar)
- 2 cups small-diced apples (about two medium apples)
- 1 1/2 cups tightly packed brown sugar (light or dark, either is fine)
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot (choose an extra big one to prevent yourself from being a splatter-victim).
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium.
- Stir frequently and simmer for 15 minute or until apples and cranberries are soft and sauce is thickened.
- Cool before serving.
Notes
- Works best with a firmer apple like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp. Softer apples like Macintosh will turn into mush.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1/4 cup, Calories: 93kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Sodium: 6mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 21g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Jenifer says
Made this last year for the first time and it was amazing! Just came back to find….and save…this recipe for years to come. SOOO good and so easy to make. Thank you!
Rachel Gurk says
So happy to hear that! Thanks for leaving a review, it means a lot!
Taylor See says
This was an AWESOME base recipe, and thank you so much for this idea! I’ve done it now for two years in a row for thanksgiving (soon to be three!) with some small tweaks to create a more robust fall flavor and to add a touch of thickness (as written was just a little too tart/ thin in texture for my Southern family). If you ever try it with my personal touches, I hope you like them!
• 5 cups fresh cranberries, washed and drained
• 3/4 cup apple cider
• 1 cup apple (peeled and diced)
• 1 cup pear (peeled and diced)
• 2 cups tightly packed brown sugar (light or dark, either is fine)
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 to ½ TBSP of cardamom
• Pectin (follow label instructions until you get desired thickness)
*Serving is not super large. Two batches recommended for events/gatherings.
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you like this recipe! THank you for sharing your spin on it!