Apple Cranberry Sauce

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 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
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
  • 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
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below!

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