Description
This easy cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is a flavorful and simple homemade alternative to commercial cranberry sauces. Combining fresh cranberries, diced apples, and warm spices like cinnamon and allspice, this sauce has the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It is quick to prepare and can be made ahead, making it ideal for holiday meals or as a versatile condiment throughout the year.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and sorted
- ¾ cup apple cider or apple juice (or water)
- 2 cups finely diced apples (about 2 medium apples)
- 1 ½ cups tightly packed brown sugar, light or dark
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: Place the cranberries, apple cider or juice, diced apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground allspice into a large pot. Use a pot bigger than you might expect to prevent splattering as the cranberries begin to pop.
- Cook the sauce: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Cook until the apples and cranberries are soft and the sauce has thickened. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of juice or water to thin it out, as apple variety can affect texture.
- Cool and store: Remove the pot from the heat and allow the sauce to cool before serving. The sauce will thicken more as it cools. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
- Cranberries: A 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries is approximately 3 cups. For a smaller batch, use 3 cups cranberries, ½ cup apple cider, 1 ¼ cups chopped apples, 1 cup packed brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon allspice (or extra cinnamon).
- Apple selection: Firmer apples like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp work best to retain some texture. Softer apples such as Macintosh will become mushy.
- Sugar alternatives: White sugar can replace brown sugar. To reduce sweetness, lower sugar to 1 cup, which results in a tarter sauce.
- Spice variation: Omit allspice if desired and add an additional ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a simpler flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
