Simple Autumn Fruit Compote

Cranberry sauce is a must-have on my Thanksgiving table. While it can’t quite
compete with stuffing
(obviously!), I adore its tartness that complements rich, savory dishes. This
cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is a flavor explosion: bold, sweet, and tangy,
perfect for drizzling over roasted turkey. And isn’t it beautiful?

Once you experience homemade cranberry sauce, you’ll never go back to the
canned version. The apples’ sweetness perfectly balances the cranberries’
tartness, while the cinnamon adds a warm, spicy note that pairs beautifully
with the apples.

Homemade Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Simple ingredients. Cranberry sauce is incredibly easy to make. You’ll need fresh cranberries, apple cider or juice, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. That’s it!

Not a relish. This recipe is for a cooked sauce, unlike cranberry
relish, which is made with raw, ground cranberries and oranges. While
cranberry relish has its place, the ground orange peel can sometimes be
bitter. Cooked cranberry sauce offers a similar texture to canned sauce but
tastes infinitely better.

Easy to make. This apple cranberry sauce is a breeze to whip up.
Simply combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook until the sauce
thickens, which takes about 15 minutes. Watch out for splatters, stir
frequently, and you’re good to go. It’s actually quite satisfying to watch the
cranberries pop as they heat up!

Ingredient Notes

• Cranberries: Fresh cranberries are readily available during the
  holiday season, typically sold in 12 oz. (340g) bags, approximately 3 cups.
  This recipe needs 5 cups, so you’ll need a couple of bags. Frozen
  cranberries can be used as a substitute if fresh ones aren’t available.
• Apples: Choose firmer apples that hold their shape when cooked,
  such as Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp. Softer apples like Macintosh or
  Cortland will create a saucier consistency, which is also fine. Select
  whichever apple variety you prefer.
• Apple Cider: Apple juice is a suitable alternative, or even water
  in a pinch. If using apple cider, ensure it’s unfiltered apple juice and not
  hard apple cider, which contains alcohol.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a richer flavor to sweeten the
  tart cranberries compared to white sugar. Dark brown sugar provides the most
  intense flavor.
• Cinnamon: This warm spice beautifully complements the apples
  and cranberries, making your homemade sauce stand out.
• Allspice: Allspice is made from the dried berries of a pimento
  plant. It is not a combination of “all” spices as the name might suggest. If
  you don’t have allspice, you can simply add extra cinnamon.

How To Make Apple Cranberry Sauce

Prep. You’ll need a large saucepan, possibly larger than you
think. As the cranberries cook, they tend to pop, so it’s best to avoid
splattering. Rinse and sort the cranberries, discarding any shriveled or
soft ones. Dice the apples into small pieces, roughly the size of the
cranberries. Peeling the apples is optional. I usually leave them unpeeled,
but you can peel them if you prefer.

Cook. Combine the cranberries, apples, apple cider, sugar, and
spices in the saucepan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, stirring
frequently. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer the sauce until the fruit
has softened, and the sauce has thickened. Keep in mind that the sauce will
continue to thicken as it cools.

Cool. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully pour the
cranberry sauce into a heat-proof bowl. Let it cool. Apple cranberry sauce can
be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled. Read on for serving suggestions.

Possible Recipe Variations

• Use white sugar. While brown sugar adds depth, white sugar works
  perfectly well. To reduce the sugar, try using one cup instead of 1 ½ cups.
  The sauce will be slightly more tart, but many people enjoy the tanginess.
• Substitute water. If you don’t have apple cider or juice, water
  is a fine substitute.
• Omit the allspice. You can replace allspice with 1 teaspoon of
  cinnamon if you prefer.
• Cranberry Orange Sauce. For an orange-flavored sauce, try my
  cranberry orange sauce
  recipe. I often make both for my Thanksgiving feast.

Serving Suggestions

Thanksgiving meal: Apple cranberry sauce is a classic
Thanksgiving side. For an easy Thanksgiving meal, consider a
sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner
with turkey breast, stuffing, potatoes, and asparagus, all baked on one pan.
Another option is to
cook a turkey breast
in your Instant Pot for a flavorful, quick result! Keep reading for more
Thanksgiving recipes.

Breakfast: Stir apple cranberry sauce into your morning
oatmeal
or plain Greek yogurt. Add a dollop to your toast or
buttermilk pancakes.

Dessert: Top
homemade vanilla ice cream
with apple cranberry sauce. It’s also delicious on
pound cake or
vanilla pudding. You can also substitute apple cranberry sauce for fresh cranberries in this
cranberry coffee cake, simply swirl it into the batter.

More Cranberry Recipes

• Cranberry sauce with roasted grapes, apples, and shallots
• Cranberry clafoutis
• Cranberry pecan pie
• Cranberry coffee cake
• Cranberry gin & tonic

Storage Tips

Refrigerate: Store cranberry sauce in an airtight container in
the refrigerator. It will keep for 7 to 14 days. Discard sauce left at room
temperature for more than 2 hours.

Freeze: Freeze cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container for
at least a month. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.