• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Gift of Hospitality logo

  • Home
    • About
  • Recipes
  • Hospitality How-Tos
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
    • About
  • Recipes
  • Hospitality How-Tos
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Recipes » Fall Recipes » Apple Cranberry Sauce

    Apple Cranberry Sauce

    Published: Nov 20, 2018 · Modified: Nov 11, 2021 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe
    cranberry sauce in a purple glass dish sitting on a Thanksgiving table.
    cranberry sauce in a purple glass dish sitting on a Thanksgiving table.
    cranberry sauce in a purple glass dish sitting on a Thanksgiving table.

    This four ingredient cranberry sauce is fresh and flavorful, thanks to the orange zest! And it can be made ahead, saving you precious time. 

    Apple Cranberry Sauce in a glass dish on a colorful Thanksgiving table.

    You’ve had cran-apple juice, so how about a cran-apple sauce? This Apple Cranberry Sauce is the perfect mixture of sweet and tart, accented with orange zest for another burst of flavor.

    This is a seriously thick, sticks-to-the-spoon sauce. Best of all, it’s just 4 ingredients!

    People around the Thanksgiving table can be categorized one of two ways: team canned cranberry sauce and team fresh cranberry sauce. I fall resolutely into the latter. In my opinion, fresh cranberry sauce has so much more flavor, and it’s much more vibrant and fresh (duh) tasting.

    Apple Cranberry Sauce in a footed glass dish next to a bowl of mashed sweet potatoes.

    Ingredients

    • Fresh cranberries are the star of this recipe; you can also use frozen cranberries.
    • A single apple (I used Honeycrisp) adds sweetness and a nice texture.
    • Granulated sugar is a must for sweetening up the sauce.
    • Orange zest makes the cranberry flavor really pop.

    How to make apple cranberry sauce from scratch

    1. Start with a whole apple, and grate it using a box grater. I used Honeycrisp, but any sweet apple will do. Pink Lady would be delicious, too! Apples and cranberries are a natural pair.

    2. Place the grated apple into a saucepan with a package of fresh cranberries, the zest of one orange, and ⅔ cup of granulated sugar.

    3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce is thick, about 8–10 minutes.

    That’s it! The result is the perfect combination of fresh, sweet, tart, and bright. Allow the sauce to cool and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it.

    Apple Cranberry Sauce in a glass dish on a colorful Thanksgiving table.

    How to make cranberry sauce ahead

    Follow the instructions for making cranberry sauce, and then allow the sauce to cool. Transfer it to a storage container, place the lid on, and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.

    It can be made up to 3 days ahead so you don’t have to worry about it on Thanksgiving Day. I’d recommend letting it come to room temperature before serving.

    You can also freeze the sauce for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe airtight container.

    What to serve with cranberry sauce

    Cranberry sauce is perfect for enjoying with turkey, stuffing, and mashed sweet potatoes. Here’s a look at an easy Thanksgiving menu:

    Thanksgiving table with turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and gravy.

    Lemon Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

    Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Pecans

    Easy Vegetarian Sourdough Stuffing

    A salad would be a great addition to this menu. My mom makes this Church Lady Salad every year and it’s a hit.

    If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below, or tag me on Instagram or Pinterest. I love hearing from you!

    📖 Recipe

    Apple Cranberry Sauce in a glass dish on a colorful Thanksgiving table.

    Apple Cranberry Sauce

    Published by Kate
    Apple Cranberry Sauce is the perfect mix of sweet and tart. Choose your favorite sweet apple—I used Honeycrisp but Pink Lady would be nice, too!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 144 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 (12 oz) package cranberries
    • 1 large honeycrisp apple, peeled and grated on a box grater
    • Zest of one orange
    • ⅔ cup granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce is thick, about 8–10 minutes.
    • Let cool and refrigerate before serving. Can be made up to 3 days ahead.

    Notes

    To make the cranberry sauce ahead, follow the directions above and place the cooled sauce in a container with a lid. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Let come to room temperature before serving. 
    To freeze the cranberry sauce, transfer the cooked and cooled sauce to a freezer safe container with a lid. Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and let come to room temperature before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 144kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 3gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @giftofhospitality and let me know how you liked it!
    « Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Pecans
    Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodles »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    kate

    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome

    Kate from Gift of HospitalityI’m Kate. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time. Learn more here
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Spring Recipes

    scalloped potatoes and ham topped with cheese on a small white plate.

    Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

    slice of pistachio cake topped with pistachio frosting and chopped pistachios on a white plate.

    Pistachio Cake with Pudding Mix

    strawberry preserves on toast on a white plate.

    Easy Strawberry Preserves

    rhubarb sauce over ice cream in a glass parfait dish.

    Easy Rhubarb Sauce

    7 layer salad in a glass trifle dish.

    7 Layer Salad

    15 Rhubarb Desserts for Spring

    More Spring Recipes Here....

    Most Popular Recipes

    slice of sausage and egg casserole on a white plate.

    Overnight Sausage and Egg Casserole

    asian cabbage salad in a blue and white decorative bowl.

    Asian Cabbage Salad

    crock pot pork chops in sauce on a white oval platter.

    Crockpot Pork Chops with Mushroom Soup

    slice of ding dong cake in a cake pan with more ding dong cake in the pan.

    Easy Ding Dong Cake

    french toast casserole in a white casserole dish.

    Overnight French Toast Casserole

    ritz cracker sandwiches stacked on a white platter

    RITZ® Crackers Party Sandwiches

    Desserts of the Decades

    Get vintage dessert recipes from throughout the decades, straight to your inbox!

    Web Stories

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Work with me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright Gift of Hospitality © 2022