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Crockpot Apple Cranberry Sauce: Easy Thanksgiving Recipe

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This cozy crockpot apple cranberry sauce blends tart cranberries, sweet apples, warm spices, and citrus for a foolproof, crowd-pleasing holiday side. It’s hands-off, comforting, and perfect for Thanksgiving or any festive gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • 2 medium apples (about 7 oz each), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (or brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (or apple cider)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, stir in at the end)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, stir in at the end)
  • 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional, stir in at the end)

Instructions

  1. Peel, core, and dice the apples into 1/2-inch cubes. Toss with a splash of orange juice if prepping ahead.
  2. Add cranberries to the bottom of the crockpot. Top with diced apples.
  3. Sprinkle in sugar, orange zest, orange juice, water, cinnamon stick (or ground cinnamon), nutmeg, and salt.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-2.5 hours, until cranberries burst and apples are tender.
  5. Stir gently halfway through cooking.
  6. Check consistency: If too watery, cook uncovered for the last 20-30 minutes. If too thick, stir in a splash of water or juice.
  7. Remove cinnamon stick. Stir in vanilla extract if using. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
  8. Fold in nuts or dried fruit if desired.
  9. Transfer to serving bowl or jars. Cool to room temperature or chill before serving. Sauce will thicken as it cools.

Notes

Make ahead for deeper flavor; both fresh and frozen cranberries work. Adjust sweetness to taste. Stir in nuts or dried fruit at the end for texture. Sauce thickens as it cools and tastes even better the next day. For nut-free, omit nuts. For refined sugar-free, use honey or maple syrup. Can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, crockpot, slow cooker, Thanksgiving, holiday, apple, easy, gluten-free, dairy-free, fruit sauce, side dish

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/crockpot-apple-cranberry-sauce-easy-thanksgiving-recipe/