Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 11/11/2015

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Don’t settle for cranberry sauce from a can! This flavorful cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is super easy to make and can even be made a day or two in advance.

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: Homemade cranberry sauce is far superior in flavor than commercial sauce. It’s very easy to make and you can adapt the recipe as you like it.

How long it takes: 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: large saucepan
Servings: makes 4 cups

Table of Contents close

  • 1 Recipe Overview
  • 2 About this cinnamon apple cranberry sauce
  • 3 Ways You Can Change This Cranberry Sauce
  • 4 More Cranberry Recipes
  • 5 Storage Tips
  • 6 More Thanksgiving Recipes
  • 7 Get the Recipe: Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce may be one of my favorite things on the table at Thanksgiving. It doesn’t trump stuffing (obviously), but I really love its tart flavor alongside all the other rich, savory dishes.

Once I made homemade cranberry sauce, I won’t ever go back to the canned sauce. The flavors of this cinnamon apple cranberry sauce are bold, sweet, and sassy, just perfect to spoon over roasted turkey. And isn’t it gorgeous?

Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2)

About this cinnamon apple cranberry sauce

The sweetness of the apples perfectly complements the tart cranberries and the cinnamon gives the warm spiciness that goes so well with apples. This is a cooked sauce, not cranberry relish which is made with fresh cranberries that are ground up, not cooked.

There are only a few ingredients: fresh cranberries, apple cider or juice, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and allspice.

And this cranberry sauce is SO easy to make! All you do is throw everything together in a pan and cook it down until it is nice and thick. Watch out for splatters, stir often, and you’re all set.

Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (3)

Ways You Can Change This Cranberry Sauce

  • Use white sugar. I like brown sugar because it adds another layer of flavor but white sugar is just fine, too. If you’re looking to cut back on sugar, try one cup instead of 1 ½ cups. The sauce will be a bit more tart but I often make it that way because we like the tartness.
  • Substitute water. If you don’t happen to have apple cider or apple juice, water works well, too.
  • Omit the allspice. The recipe can be made with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon instead of the combination of spices.

More Cranberry Recipes

  • Orange cranberry sauce with cardamom
  • Cranberry sauce with roasted grapes, apples, and shallots
  • Cranberry clafoutis
  • Cranberry pecan pie
  • Cranberry coffee cake

Storage Tips

  • Refrigerate: Cover or store cranberry sauce in an airtight container. It will keep 7 to 14 days in the refrigerator. Sauce that has been left out on the counter more than 2 hours should probably be discarded.
  • Freeze: Cranberry sauce can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for at least a month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

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!

More Thanksgiving Recipes

Homemade Green Bean Casserole RecipeHerb Roasted Turkey BreastCrockpot Carrots with Cinnamon GlazeHomemade Pumpkin Pie

Browse All

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (8)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce

4.36 from 34 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

16 servings

Print Rate Recipe

Don't settle for cranberry sauce from a can! This flavorful cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is super easy to make and can even be made a day or two in advance!

Ingredients

  • 5 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed
  • ¾ cup apple cider (or apple juice)
  • 2 cups finely diced apples (about two medium apples) (2 medium apples)
  • 1 ½ cups tightly packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Sauce tends to spatter so choose a larger pan than you might think.

  • Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until apples and cranberries are soft and sauce is thickened.

  • Cool before serving. Refrigerate in a covered container until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Works best with a firmer apple like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp. Softer apples like Macintosh don’t hold their shape.
  • If desired, omit allspice and substitute an additional ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 7mg, Potassium: 81mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 28IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 0.3mg

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.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Jenifer says

    Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (16)
    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!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      So happy to hear that! Thanks for leaving a review, it means a lot!

      Reply

  2. Taylor See says

    Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (17)
    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.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      So glad you like this recipe! THank you for sharing your spin on it!

      Reply

Older Comments

Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

How do you spice up ocean spray cranberry sauce? ›

Incorporate botanicals. A drop or two of rosewater or orange blossom water, a pinch of dried lavender buds, a sprinkle of fresh minced mint, tarragon, or cilantro; some fresh ginger or galangal or lemongrass; use a judicious hand to bring these fresh flavors into your canned sauce.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce not thickening? ›

One possibility is that you may not have used enough sugar: Sugar helps the sauce firm up, so be sure to use the full amount called for in a recipe. Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency.

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

Do you have to do anything to canned cranberry sauce? ›

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

How do you make Ocean Spray cranberry juice taste better? ›

Originally Answered: How can I make cranberry juice taste better? Personally, I recommend doing what Ocean Spray does, and mixing in other juices. Grape and apple seem to work well. For a little kick, add Sprite or Sierra Mist instead.

What takes the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

Does homemade cranberry sauce thicken as it cools? ›

Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

How do you fix bland cranberry sauce? ›

Maple syrup, brown sugar and even honey can make your cranberry sauce more dynamic. And don't forget the spices! Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, citrus zest and star anise all work well with cranberries and can be added while the sauce cooks to infuse your sauce with flavor.

How do you fix cranberry sauce that didn't gel? ›

If you have followed these instructions, and for some reason the sauce still won't gel, add 1 envelope of unflavoured gelatin to the sauce and bring to a hard boil, stirring frequently.

Can you freeze leftover homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Yes, you can freeze homemade cranberry sauce—and it works well. It's best to store it in the freezer for up to 3 months; the taste may be affected due to its water content if frozen longer. Keep this in mind when putting away your leftover sauce and use it during this optimal period as part of an easy weeknight dinner.

Can dogs eat cranberries? ›

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

Should cranberry sauce be served warm or cold? ›

Typically served chilled, our recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead.

Does jellied cranberry sauce have any health benefits? ›

Health Benefits

Cranberries are also rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as the metabolism-boosting mineral manganese. And yes, you reap all these benefits whether the cranberry sauce on your holiday table is homemade or canned, jellied or whole-berry.

What is the best way to serve jellied cranberry sauce? ›

The traditional way of serving jellied cranberry sauce is sliced into rounds. With the column set on its side, slice into ¼-inch thick rounds and then arrange the slices on a serving platter. Serve the slices plain, garnished as desired, or read on for easy upgrades.

How do you jazz up store bought cranberry sauce? ›

Stir-in one (or more) of the following add-ins to one can of whole or jellied cranberry sauce:
  1. 2 Tbsp. of orange juice plus 1 tsp. of finely grated orange peel.
  2. ½ can of mandarin oranges.
  3. ½ cup pineapple.
  4. ½ tsp. cinnamon.
  5. ½ cup chopped dried apricots.
  6. ½ cup toasted pecans.
  7. 2 Tbsp. Zinfandel Wine.
Aug 11, 2022

How do you serve Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce? ›

The traditional way to serve canned cranberry sauce is to slice the cylinder into rounds and arrange them on a platter. Go a step further by adding a garnish like sugared rosemary or candied ginger. Or, cook the canned sauce with orange juice and zest for a citrusy take on a holiday standby.

What can I add to cranberry juice to make it taste better? ›

I sweetened my juice with honey which adds a sweet floral touch to the beverage. I also use a couple of freshly squeezed oranges which gives the juice a nice hint of citrus flavor. I'm sure apple juice or apple cider would work well too.

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