This apple cider cranberry sauce has everything you love about traditional homemade cranberry sauce, but with the addition of cozy spiced apple flavor thanks to both apples and apple cider. Thanksgiving and Christmas meals can be really stressful days for any home cook who’s trying to impress family and friends, but this cranberry apple cider sauce is so easy to make and it’s ready in just 30 minutes! If you’ve been using cranberry sauce from a can all this time, you’re going to have your mind blown at how the real deal is equal parts delicious and simple. You’ve gotta love a super low maintenance side dish recipe because your focus should be on the turkey, not on the cranberry sauce!
Ingredients for Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
You only need 8 simple and inexpensive ingredients to make homemade cranberry sauce with apples, so gather the following items:
Fresh cranberries Apples Light brown sugar OR granulated sugar Apple cider (NOT apple cider vinegar!) Orange zest Orange juice Allspice Cinnamon sticks
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Apple Cider
Tip: If you like cranberry sauce with a bit more texture, just leave it alone for 20 to 30 minutes or until the apples and cranberries have both softened and the cranberries burst naturally.
Recipes to Make Using Leftover Cranberry Sauce:
Cranberry Baked Brie — An EASY 15-minute appetizer that’s filled AND topped with richly spiced orange-scented cranberry sauce. Perfect for holiday entertaining! This baked cranberry brie is salty, tart-yet-sweet, and IRRESISTIBLE! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Cranberry Brie Bites — ❤️🤤 The perfect two-bite holiday appetizer recipe with melted brie cheese, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and fresh rosemary all nestled inside a buttery soft crust! Hawaiian Roll Turkey and Cheese Sliders — Juicy turkey, Swiss cheese, and cranberry sauce all nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls that are brushed with butter and topped with poppy seeds for the BEST turkey sliders! Baked Brie in Puff Pastry — Warm melted cheese, layered with cranberry sauce, and baked in flaky puff pastry is a crowd FAVORITE appetizer! Fast and EASY for you, IRRESISTIBLE for everyone else! Layered Christmas Jello Salad — A festive layered Jello dessert with cranberries, pineapple, cream cheese, pecans, and pretzels! A little bit creamy, crunchy, sweet, and a little salty.
