Do you need a show-stopping side dish to bring for Thanksgiving or Christmas? This cranberry sauce is the answer. Before homemade cranberry sauce, I assumed cranberry sauce was suppose to taste like gelatinous can-shapped sauce. I only ever used the canned version if the turkey was a bit dry. However, I discovered this recipe and now I look forward to the cranberry sauce the most during holiday time. It tastes amazing on turkey, dressing (stuffing) and on sandwiches the next day.
My father-in-law calls this cranberry sauce more of a chutney with its cinnamon and nutmeg additions. My oldest son is super excited when he can smell me making this recipe. He eats mostly cranberry sauce with a bit of turkey on top.
My boys are not huge turkey fans, until my husband bought the Char-Broil The Big Easy Oil-Less Turkey Fryer . It is quick, easy and makes an amazingly juicy turkey. My husband uses it for other meat year round, so it not a one-trick-pony.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 orange
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1 cup dried mixed fruit (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Peel and puree orange.
- Peel and chop apple and pear.
- In saucepan over medium heat, add water and sugar. Boil until sugar is dissolved.
- Reduce temperature to simmer. Add cranberries, orange, apple, pear, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and optional dried fruit.
- Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Cranberries should burst.
- Remove from heat, cool to room temperature.
Notes:
- This cranberry sauce was inspired by a recipe found on allrecipes.com
- An apple-pear makes a great substitute for the pear.
- Optionally, you can add nuts like pecans.
Enjoy my absolute favorite holiday side-dish! What dish do you look forward to most at the holidays?