Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce

This apple cider cranberry sauce is loaded with flavor from apple cider, diced apples, and cinnamon stick. With only 5 ingredients, it’s a snap to fix! I had some apple cider left over from making donuts, so this recipe was the perfect choice! Easy and chunky, the cranberry sauce takes less than 30 minutes to prep and cook. And it’s delicious!

How To Make Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce

1. Rinse the cranberries and pick them over, discarding bruised or damaged berries.
2. Peel, core, and chop the apple.
3. combine the cranberries, apple, sugar, cider, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan; give it a stir to combine the ingredients.
4. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
5. Reduce the heat to low and continue simmering for about 15 minutes, or until the sauce is thick and the apple chunks are tender.

How Do You Serve Cranberry Sauce?

Cranberry sauce goes with so many sides and main dishes. Here are a few ideas:

• Turkey – Serve it with a whole roast turkey meal or add it to leftover turkey dishes, such as a hot turkey sandwich, and turkey and brie quesadillas.
• Meatballs – Make these slow cooker cranberry meatballs for a party or gathering.
• Dressing – Serve cranberry sauce alongside classic bread stuffing.
• Chicken – Serve cranberry sauce with a roast chicken dinner.
• Sandwiches – Add some cranberry sauce to a turkey or chicken sandwich. These buttermilk fried chicken breast cutlets would be fantastick in a sandwich with cranberry sauce. Or make a cranberry mayonnaise spread with 1/2 cup of mayonnaise mixed with 2 to 4 tablespoons of leftover cranberry sauce.
• Desserts – Make an easy, tasty cranberry cream pie or a frozen cranberry salad.
• Quick Bread – This cranberry quick bread is made with whole cranberry sauce.

How To Store Leftover Cranberry Sauce

Leftover homemade cranberry sauce can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

The apple cider cranberry sauce freezes beautifully, too! Transfer it to a 2-cup airtight container (or several small serving-size containers) and label it with the name and date. Freeze the cranberry sauce for up to 3 months for best quality. You can defrost the cranberry sauce in the fridge overnight or submerge the container in cold water to thaw quickly.

Recipe Variations

• Add a touch of orange flavor with a few teaspoons of orange zest.
• Add 2 tablespoons of Calvados or apple brandy.
• Enhance the flavor with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• If the apple is quite tart, add an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.

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