The BEST Fresh Cranberry Sauce
This easy and delicious homemade cranberry sauce is made with fresh apple, orange juice, and just a touch of brown sugar. It takes just 15 minutes to make and can even be made ahead of time.
Servings 8 people (quarter cup servings)
Calories 44kcal
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberries Rinse well.
- 1 Honeycrisp apple 1 large apple, or approximately 1½ cups chopped sweet apple
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop the apple into small pieces.
- Add chopped apple and water to a medium sauce pan.
- Cook apple for about 5 minutes, until softened.
- Add cranberries to the cooked apples and continue to cook.
- After about three minutes the cranberries will start to pop. When they start to soften and pop, mash cranberries and apples using a food masher.
- Add orange juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Optional: add 1 teaspoon of orange zest and one additional tablespoon of brown sugar, depending on preference.
Notes
Honeycrisp apple can be substituted with a different sweet apple. However, because they are usually much larger than other apples, you may need more than one apple if using an apple like Gala.
Larger apple pieces will take longer to cook.
If using frozen cranberries, cook time will be a little longer.
If you don't have orange juice, add a little more water and brown sugar.
Kids love leftover cranberry sauce served by itself, with crackers or pretzels, or as a side dish with dinner.
Leftover fresh cranberries can be frozen in a resealable freezer-safe bag to be used later.
Nutrition
Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg