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Home » Recipes » Vegetables and Side Dishes

Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

Published: Nov 7, 2022 by Bowl Me Over · 3 Comments

Sweet, tart and crunchy homemade Cranberry Sauce is a staple on the holiday table!
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This easy recipe for Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce is simple and delicious! Sweet and tart and easy to make it is 100 times better than the canned stuff!

Another classic side dish for the holidays is Steamed Brussels Sprouts. You'll love the flavor and this is a simple recipe, it takes just minutes to make!

Cranberry sauce cooking in pan with wooden spoon.
Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe   
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions 
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's
  • Tips
  • Storage
  • Related recipes
  • Serve with 
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Recipe backstory

Why you'll love this recipe   

✔️ Yummy fruit flavors.

✔️ It's an easy cranberry sauce recipe!

✔️ It's a must on your Thanksgiving table and for Christmas dinner!

Ingredients

For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • fresh cranberries
  • a sweet apple and a fresh orange
  • apricots
  • brown sugar
  • white sugar
  • salt
Cooking the Cranberry Sauce!
Cooking the homemade sauce!

Instructions 

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. In a medium saucepan add all of the ingredients; tart cranberries, grated apple, orange - zest & juice, the apricots, brown & white sugar, water and a pinch of salt.
  2. Turn heat to medium and stir to combine. Cook until the cranberries burst - the mixture will thicken dramatically. Stir often as all of the sugars will scorch if they get hot.
  3. Continue to cook and stir - 15-18 minutes and remove from heat.
  4. Allow to cool and refrigerate preferably overnight. Serve chilled

Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.   

This is one of the saucepans. The ceramic surface is fantastic, it's easy to use and really a product I highly recommend.

FAQ's

Is cranberry sauce healthy for you?

It's filled with healthy nutrients, beyond being mighty tasty!

What do you eat the cranberry sauce with?

Oh my goodness, where to we start? It's tasty with turkey and ham. Great with pork as well. It's a wonderful condiment and so versatile.

How do you melt cranberries?

Technically they don't u0022meltu0022, but as the cranberries cook along with the apple, orange and sugar the berries POP! (You'll actually hear them pop!) There's plenty of

What thickens cranberry sauce?

As the cranberries cook they release natural pectin which thickens the sauce.

Are fresh berries or frozen berries better?

You can use either.

Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry Sauce

Tips

If you use frozen cranberries they do not need to be defrosted.

When you zest the orange, zest the orange peel and not the white pith. It's easiest to zest an orange when it's whole, you do not remove the orange peel.

For the best texture remove the sauce from the heat once the berries start to pop. That way the sauce will have the best texture. Don't wait until all the berries pop.

If it doesn't set up after it cools, put it back on the stovetop for another 5 minutes. Heat it over medium heat and then allow it to cool again.

You can make this up to a week in advance.

Storage

Allow leftover cranberry sauce to cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

This can be made up to a week in advance. It can also be made ahead and frozen up to three months. This is a terrific make-ahead side dish!

Related recipes

If you're looking for more great holiday side dishes, here are some of my favorites!

  • Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash is a classic holiday side.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes - easy to make these are a must have on every holiday table.
  • Campbell's Green Bean Casserole Recipe - another must make!

Serve with 

Serve with Thanksgiving dinner, of course!

  • Serve with this delicious Holiday Turkey Recipe - delicious! This is fantastic with Glazed Ham as well.
  • Have leftover cranberry sauce. Make a turkey sandwich topped with a slather of homemade cranberry sauce.
  • This would be AMAZING over a wheel of baked brie. Topped with some brown sugar and pecans? Delish!!

Are you looking for more great thanksgiving recipes? There's a ton of great Thanksgiving Day Side Dishes here.

Cranberry sauce is delicious and good for you as well. Have leftovers? A big spoonful on your morning yogurt is mighty tasty!

What do you think - you ready to give it a go?

Cranberry sauce cooking in pan with wooden spoon.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Cranberry Sauce

Sweet, tart and crunchy homemade Cranberry Sauce is a staple on the holiday table!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time18 mins
Total Time28 mins
Course: Vegetables and Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 104kcal
Author: Deb Clark
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole cranberries
  • 1 red apple grated with a box grater - no need to remove the peel
  • 1 orange zested and juiced
  • ⅓ cup apricots chopped
  • ½ cup brown sugar packed
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ⅔ cup water
  • pinch salt

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • In a medium sauce pan combine cranberries, grated or diced apple, orange - zest & juice, the apricots, brown & white sugar, water and a pinch of salt. Turn heat to medium and stir to combine. Cook until the cranberries burst - the mixture will thicken dramatically - and stir often as all of the sugars can scorch if they get hot.
  • Continue to cook and stir - 15-18 minutes and remove from heat. Allow to cool and refrigerate preferably overnight. Serve chilled

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 14.4mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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Recipe backstory

When my folks were in town for Thanksgiving , Mom and I thought we’d give it a go and make some homemade sauce. We loved it so much, we made two batches!

Mom and I usually make a cranberry relish using a hand-crank'd old fashioned food processor but after trying this, we both decided we like the cooked version even more.

We used cranberries, an apple that we grated, some apricots and orange & sugar. Super simple, took just a few minutes to come together and I don't think I would ever buy sauce again! Sweet but tart and I know this will be great with your holiday meal and perfect on a turkey sandwiches the day after!

More Vegetables and Side Dish Recipes

  • Texas Roadhouse Butter Recipe
  • Quinoa Spinach Salad Recipe
  • Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes
  • Braised Swiss Chard 

About Bowl Me Over

Welcome to Bowl Me Over! My name is Debra and I send warm greetings from sunny California. I am a serious foodie – I’ve been known as the go-to girl in our family for years, catering weddings and anniversary parties. In the summer I help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl Me Over! Let's stay connected, you can email me at [email protected] and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lois

    April 12, 2018 at 10:36 am

    5 stars
    This has always been a favorite of our family. I love the sweat and sour taste it has. Won’t be a holiday dinner without it.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      April 12, 2018 at 6:49 pm

      Yes it is - the sauce is the perfect accompaniment when serving a rich holiday dinner!

      Reply

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