As traditional as pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving, most people feel they need to have some Cranberry sauce on their tables as well. Please don’t tell me your recipe involves opening up a jar and dumping or sliding the jelly type into a bowl.
Fresh Cranberry sauce is super easy to make and well worth it. We usually eat our sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving with the extra cranberry sauce. It is a tart side dish that compliments Turkey so much.
SUPER EASY MAKE AHEAD CRANBERRY SAUCE
While it is easy to serve the canned variety, you will be amazed how easy homemade cranberry sauce is too.
I have tried several recipes in the past 12 years and I think I have finally settled on this one. The best part about it you can do it a week in advance and then just dump it into a bowl on Thanksgiving.
WHAT IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT IN THIS CRANBERRY SAUCE?
It is an unexpected flavor of the soaked apricots that make it a little different than your traditional cranberry sauce recipes. My kids actually look forward to it at the table and leftovers are not thrown away.
Can I double this homemade cranberry sauce recipe?
YES, double or even triple this recipe. This year I bought a 48 oz bag of cranberries at Costco, $5 I think.
Can I freeze this cranberry recipe?
Place your extra sauce in a ziploc bag and freeze the extra cranberry sauce for Christmas time.
What are some recipes that use Cranberry Sauce?
We love these Three Ingredient Appetizers For A Crowd (Cranberry Brie Bites) or Using Leftover Cranberry Sauce- Quick Pork Chop Recipes!
Back to the recipe. The best part of this recipe from Cooking Light, if you don’t want it spirited use orange juice instead.
Just be sure and start the process the day before you plan on making it. The apricots need to soak for 8 hrs. Easily doubled or tripled!! I actually did 1 and 1/2 recipes, I hope it is enough!
SPIRITED CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPE
Spirited Cranberry Sauce
Not your ordinary homemade low fat Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced dried apricots, about 3 ounces
- 1/4 cup sherry or orange juice, I used brandy before too
- 3/4 cup water
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 12-ounce package fresh or frozen cranberries
Instructions
- Combine apricots and sherry in a small bowl; cover and let stand 8 hours.
- Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Add apricot mixture, honey, and cranberries. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until slightly thick. Spoon mixture into a bowl; cover and chill.
Notes
Adapted from Cooking Light
Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving Calories 138Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 39mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 2gSugar 29gProtein 1g
All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.
I love cranberries! My other family members, not so much. I always make mine by hand. It is easy.
I’ve been making my own cranapple juice. It’s so easy: 4 apples, 1 cup of cranberries and 2 cups of water. No sugar needed.