Apple Cranberry Sauce
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This easy Crockpot Apple Cranberry Sauce is like homemade apple sauce but with a delightful holiday twist with the addition of cranberries. The combo helps smooth out the tartness that comes from the cranberries resulting in a delightful side dish to serve anytime during the holiday season!
Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe
- It’s made with kids in mind. While a traditional cranberry sauce is tart, the apples help sweeten this version up to make it more palatable.
- It’s a perfect side dish for a holiday meal or for any lunch or dinner during the cold months.
- Similar to Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce or Crockpot Apple Butter, it slow cooks for hours leaving your home smelling delightful.
- Serve it at a holiday meal with our Homemade Stuffing, Roasted Turkey Breast, and Dinner Rolls.
Ingredients
With only a handful of pantry ingredients necessary for this recipe, it’s very on-brand with what we love! Here is what you’ll need:
Ingredient Notes:
- Cranberries – Fresh or frozen work!
- Apples – I used Gala but, like our Crockpot Baked apple recipe, we recommend using McIntosh, Golden Delicious, or Jonathans too.
How to Make Apple Cranberry Sauce
Here is an overview of how to make it:
- Place all ingredients in the crock pot and stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- At the end of cooking, use a potato masher to smooth out the apples and cranberries into desired texture, stir thoroughly, and enjoy!
Make it in Advance
We are well aware that making dishes ahead for things like a Thanksgiving meal or when serving groups of people is a game-changer.
One of the beauties of this recipe is it can be made in advance and stashed in the fridge or freezer until you want to serve it.
Time Saving Tool
Peeling and chopping 10+ apples is quite the task. If you’re open to buying a little kitchen gadget, I’d recommend getting this apple peeler.
I know that it looks like some sort of torture device, but hear me out. You pop the apple on there, give it a crank, and the device not only peels the outside but slices and cores it as well.
How to Freeze Apple Cranberry Sauce
To Freeze: Cook sauce according to recipe instructions. Let cool completely. Once cool, put in freezer-safe bags or containers. Store in freezer for up to 3 months.
To Prepare: Thaw sauce overnight in refrigerator. You can also run the bag under cool water in the sink.
FAQs
Yes. Because this particular recipe is so large, I find it easier to do in the slow cooker but if you want to do it on the stove, add 3/4 cup water to a large stock pot. Add in all of the ingredients and cook over medium-low temperature for 10-20 minutes. Basically, until your fruit has softened enough to mush!
Yes, you can make this sauce super smooth by using an immersion blender. I’ve done it this way before as well.
What Goes Well with Apple Cranberry Sauce?
Don’t just lock yourself into making this around Thanksgiving. It would go great with all sorts of recipes! Here are some ideas
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Apple Cranberry Sauce
The delicious combination of cranberries and apples creates this incredibly yummy spin on regular applesauce.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen), rinsed
- 3–4 pounds of apples (about 10 apples), roughly peeled and chopped (I used Gala in this recipe)
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
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Instructions
Make It Now:
- Place all ingredients in the crock pot and stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- At the end of cooking, use an immersion blender or potato masher to smooth out the apples and cranberries into desired texture, stir thoroughly, and enjoy!
Freezer Meal Instructions:
To Freeze: Cook sauce according to recipe instructions. Let cool completely. Once cool, put in freezer-safe bags or containers. Store in freezer for up to 3 months.
To Prepare: Thaw sauce overnight in refrigerator. You can also run the bag under cool water in the sink.
Notes/Tips
-
- Cranberries – Fresh or frozen work!
- Apples – I used Gala but like our Crockpot Baked apple recipe, we recommend using McIntosh, Golden Delicious, or Jonathans too.
- I recommend getting this apple peeler to save time.
I really like this recipe! It was easy, pretty, and a tasty way to work in cranberries. I also froze it ahead of time. Going to make it again!
So glad you enjoyed this both in look and flavor. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Made for the extended family for today’s Thanksgiving meal. Was a hit and kids liked it too!!
Thanks for the feedback and review, Deb. Glad your fam enjoyed it. I made it for my crew too and they loved it.
Is it ok to use agave necter instead of sugar?
Thank you
We haven’t tested that substitution, but a liquid sweetener may make this too runny. You can always experiment with a little and see, though!