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This fruity slow cooker cranberry sauce is so good! Pull out your Crockpot and try it for an easy Thanksgiving side dish recipe.
It’s cranberry season here in Massachusetts, and homemade cranberry sauce is a popular dish on our holiday dinner table.
This month’s Recipe Redux challenge invites members to create new slow cooker recipes. If you’re hosting a crowd for Thanksgiving, you’ll appreciate keeping the stove top free by making this slow cooker cranberry sauce.
The flavors of cranberry and orange go so well together, and the apple helps to thicken the sauce because it naturally contains pectin. I use maple syrup to sweeten this sauce. Honey would work well, too.
Some people in my extended family prefer canned cranberry sauce, but several of us love this chunky homemade version. The leftovers are the best part!
Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 2 medium oranges
- 1 medium apple (1/2 lb)
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Rinse the cranberries and place them in the slow cooker.
- Squeeze the juice out of one orange and add the juice to the slow cooker. (This is about 1/4 cup of juice.)
- Remove the peel from the second orange and chop the fruit into bite-sized pieces. Add them to the slow cooker.
- Peel the apple and remove the core. Chop the apple into bite-sized pieces and add them to the slow cooker.
- Add the maple syrup to the fruit and stir.
- Turn on the slow cooker to “Low” and cook until the fruit is very tender. For me, this takes about 2 hours, but your slow cooker might take more or less time. Keep an eye on it.
- Mash the fruit so there are no large chunks remaining. I use a potato masher, but you could also use a large spoon or fork (just don’t scratch the slow cooker).
- Turn the heat to high, and cook uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Serve the slow cooker cranberry sauce warm, or let the sauce cool and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Nutrition Estimate
Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce Price Breakdown
This recipe costs a total of $7.26 to make and it yields 2½ cups, for a cost of $.73 per ¼ cup serving. Homemade slow cooker cranberry sauce is a classic side dish for Thanksgiving, and this version is so easy to prepare.
Do you prefer cranberry sauce out of a can, or do you like the homemade stuff better?
Dabney says
I’ve made this recipe SO many times, it’s about time I left a review! This is so delicious and so simple. My family and friends ask me to bring it every year to Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving. Thanks for a wonderful recipe. The leftovers are awesome, I’ve even spread it on a biscuit as it’s a jam consistency 🙂
Vanessa Price says
This is such a good idea. Especially if you have a tiny little slow cooker. You just set it and forget it, and then amazing cranberry sauce for your holiday dinner!
D says
Could you use something other than maple syrup? We have a peanut allergy and sometimes maple syrup is made with peanut oil.
Annemarie says
Honey is a great alternative to maple syrup in this recipe.
Becca from It's Yummi! says
Your delicious looking cranberry sauce recipe has me wondering if I could get away with making the entire Thanksgiving dinner in slow cookers! Now that would be awesome!
Annemarie says
Now that’s an idea, Becca! Time to start amassing a collection of slow cookers. 🙂
Lindsey @ DishingUpHope says
Love this idea for Thanksgiving! Thank you for posting it!
Annemarie says
Thank you, Lindsey!
Serena Ball says
What a great idea for Thanksgiving prep…to use the slow cooker and not take up an extra burner on the stove! Smart to use apple as pectin.
Annemarie says
Thanks, Serena!