I consider my Homemade Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce with Apple and a Hint of Cinnamon a ‘bonus recipe‘ in my series of 6 ‘make ahead’ recipes, all of which can be prepared – or prepped – a day or two ahead, which will help to make your busy life a bit easier! By preparing a few dishes each night for two nights, all you’ll need to do the day of The Big Feast is roast the turkey, make the gravy and cook the green beans.
Everything was very casual the night of the ‘taste testing’.
MENU
- Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives
- Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon, Nutmeg and a Dash of Bourbon
- Herb Stuffing with Baby Bella Mushrooms, Celery and Onion
++ Green Beans with Browned Butter and Sesame Seeds
- Turkey Breast (or Turkey) with White Wine, Oranges & + Savory Turkey Gravy
- Bonus Recipe – Homemade Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce with Apple and a Hint of Cinnamon
– – – –
I’m so pleased with how this cranberry sauce turned out. Adding a bit of apple mellows out the naturally tart taste of the cranberries. And, the addition of just two small pinches of cinnamon and some brown sugar adds a subtle something extra. (I’m heading down to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving & I’m taking this cranberry sauce to share. I’ll be helping out where I can while I’m there. Still – it’s so nice to be a guest!!)
There are times… luckily not often… when I get a recipe idea that turns out really bad. Such was the case recently. I had the idea of substituting some orange juice for the water when making homemade cranberry sauce. DON’T EVER TRY THAT !! It was so sour – and I learned long ago that you just can’t fix sour… no matter how much sugar you add. (Perhaps freshly squeezed orange juice would’ve worked…. what do you think?)
Ingredients and Method
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar ++ NOT packed down !!
- 1 cup water
- 1 bag (12 oz.) fresh cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped (peeled) apple ++ See photo below to give you an idea of what size chunks.
- 2 pinches cinnamon
- ++ You can add a few tablespoons of chopped walnuts, filberts or pecans etc. AFTER the cranberry sauce had been made.
Open a 12 oz. bag of cranberries – discard any bad ones. Set aside.
Peel and chop apple. You’ll need 1/3 cup. ++ No turkeys were abused during the making of this cranberry sauce. I did all the work myself, even though Mr. Turkey looks so very proud !
Bring 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar (not packed), and 1 cup water to a boil. Add cranberries, 1/3 cup chopped apple and 2 pinches cinnamon.
Lower heat a bit – continue to boil – stirring occasionally – for 10 minutes.
Pour the cranberry sauce into a bowl, cover – allow to cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. Talk about e.a.s.y. !!
Happy Holidays to All – Enjoy !
[…] Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Apple and a Touch of Cinnamon […]
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I brought this cranberry sauce down to the Philadelphia area for Thanksgiving – it was a big hit!! And my hostess was very pleased she didn’t have to make any homemade relish herself!
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Wow, looks yummy. I need to make this.
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What a great menu. I’ve made a cran-apple jam, but not a sauce. Must try this next year! Hope you had a great holiday.
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Thanks for ‘visiting’. I love your blog !!
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Great idea using apples in your sauce. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Philly! 🙂
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Very interesting about the oj. i have used orange zest before, and that works well. Myy favorite cranberry sauce is the raw one that’s simply oranges, cranberres, and sugar. It includes the orange peel!
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I love that type of cranberry sauce as well… I haven’t eaten it in the longest time. I think it’s time for me to make some!
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I’ve never made cranberry sauce myself, probably because I’m the only one who eats it so I generally buy myself a small can. Maybe making it in a small batch would be fun to try. Have a happy Thanksgiving & safe trip.
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Hi Diane – I know what you mean. My husband’s family are French Canadian and they do NOT eat cranberry sauce, even though the province of Quebec has become a big producer of cranberries. Thanks for you kind wishes & I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving full of love – and good food!!
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Cecile, thanks for thinking of me (us) by bringing your cranberry sauce which sounds wonderful. My plan was to make it this weekend but you are saving me the time/effort. Hopefully I will remember to add the wine and water to my roasting pan so you can make your fabulous gravy, again, this year. See you Thursday. xo tina
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If you like, I can make the ‘usual’ recipe for whole berry cranberry sauce if you think people might like that as well. About adding ‘wine and water’ to the pan when you’re roasting your turkey – I’ll just open a bottle of white wine when Bev & I are helping you … then I pour myself a glass and remind you to put ‘some’ in with the turkey!! ; o ) I’m looking forward to your FABULOUS Thanksgiving meal and seeing all of you sooo much !!
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No, I think your apple/cranberry sauce sounds great! Even though I have tried to eliminate the canned choice from the table, there are too many moaners. I have some die-hard canned “marked” cranberry sauce fans and anything other than that doesn’t cut it. So we will offer both choices for our guests. Thanks for the thought!
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