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Skip the canned cranberry sauce and make your own! Once you prepare this ultimate cranberry sauce with apples and pears, you won't be going back to canned.
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What makes this dish special
Is it just me, or does cranberry sauce have a bad reputation? Most people only eat the sauce during Thanksgiving, but the table wouldn't be complete without it, just like not having stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, or dinner rolls. For the longest time, I used to make cranberry sauce just the way my mom taught me, from the can. Add some orange zest, and that was it. Over the years, I've converted to "fresh cranberry sauce" only, and let me tell you, the change is significant. After playing around with some flavors, I have created my favorite version, this ultimate cranberry sauce with apples and pears.
Even if you're one of those people who doesn't like cranberry sauce, you should give this ultimate cranberry sauce a try, you know, just because it's Thanksgiving. Plus, it's so easy to make that it doesn't hurt to have it on the table for anyone who might enjoy it.
Ingredients
- Apple juice: To add a bit of sweetness and balance the cranberries, use apple juice or apple cider for the cranberry sauce.
- Brown sugar: Used to sweeten the sauce and balance the tart cranberries.
- Cranberries: The tart fruit is the main ingredient in the sauce, adding acidity and texture to the sauce. You can use fresh or frozen cranberries.
- Cloves: Adds a warm spice note to the sauce. You can omit it if you don't like cloves.
- Fruit: For the apples and pears, you can use Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Anjou, Bartlett, or Gala apples. Use your favorite varieties for a personalized touch.
Substitutions and variations
- Add-ins: You can add other ingredients such as dried currants, pomegranate arils, or raisins.
- Juice: You can substitute apple juice with orange juice or pomegranate juice for a different flavor.
Recipe
The Ultimate Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Pears
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup apple juice
- 12 ounces cranberries
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup chopped peeled apple
- ½ cup chopped peeled pear
Instructions
- Combine apple juice and brown sugar in a medium saucepot. Bring to a simmer over medium and cook until the sugar has melted.
- Add cranberries, ground cloves, cinnamon sticks, chopped apples, and chopped pear to the pot. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue to cook for 10 minutes or until the fruits have softened. Remove from heat and let cool.
Notes
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Simmer ingredients
As easy as it is to scoop cranberry sauce out of the can, this recipe is just as easy. You're basically simmering all the ingredients together until the fruit becomes soft. Seriously, that's it.
Just make sure to peel the apples and pears before adding them to the sauce. If you don't peel the fruit, the texture of the sauce might be a little off-putting from the waxy skins.
The great thing about cranberry sauce is that it's so versatile. If you're not a fan of cloves or cinnamon, just take them out. Mix it up and add spices or fruits that you love!
I've made other variations of this cranberry sauce, adding ginger and orange, dates, and even figs. At the end of the day, however, this apple and pear version is my favorite.
I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving and enjoy this ultimate cranberry sauce with apples and pears!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use white sugar, maple syrup, or honey as alternatives, adjusting the quantity based on your preferred sweetness level.
Yes, you can freeze the cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
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