Pressure Cooker Cranberry Apple Sauce
Cranberry apple sauce made in an Instant Pot is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! Naturally sweetened, quick and easy to make, this Pressure Cooker Cranberry Apple Sauce recipe will play a star role at any holiday meal.
Hey everybody! This is Marci from the food side of TIDBITS, bringing you, what I consider, an essential to every holiday feast. But before we get to the delicious pressure cooker recipe of the day, I want to share the exciting news of our recently launched cookbook titled Master the Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook, on sale now and available for instant download.
My sister Cami and I have poured our hearts and souls into sharing our favorite recipes and making this available to you. Our cookbook comes in a 3 piece bundle with pressure cooking time charts, access to our Facebook group full of pressure cooking enthusiasts, and of course our ebook with over 80 recipes and how to guides!
Come and take a peek inside Master the Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook to see what is is included in this ebook and learn more about the TIDBITS team.
Now onto today’s cranberry apple sauce recipe, which is coming at you just in time for the Holiday season.
In my world, the only reason turkey is a star at any holiday table is because of the cranberry sauce that accompanies it. My grandma, bless her sweet soul, was famous for dry, bland turkey, but next to a blob of her famous, jello like, cranberry sauce (I didn’t know or care at the time that it came from a can), it was one of my favorite things to eat.
Making Cranberry Apple Sauce in an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is one of the most popular brands of electric pressure cookers. They are easy to use and your Instant Pot can help you create this delicious Cranberry Apple Sauce recipe!
I’ve since mastered the art of moist turkey making (slight exaggeration), but have now moved into the grown up world of chunky cranberry sauce. So I sought out to make a super easy, lightly sweetened version that wouldn’t splatter all over my stove top as it simmered. Insta Pot to the rescue!
With the combination of orange juice, apple cider, maple syrup, and a honey crisp apple, this cranberry sauce is a perfect balance of tart and sweet and is heavenly on turkey.
But since there’s always leftover cranberries (because apparently I’m the only one that eats turkey and cranberry sauce with a spoon like it’s soup), this sauce is just as amazing for toast and pancakes or stirred into homemade yogurt.
It’s delicious warm just after it’s cooked, but can also be refrigerated for a week or more. It also freezes beautifully if you really want to be on top of things! Enjoy!
Pressure Cooker Cranberry Apple Sauce Recipe
Pressure Cooker Cranberry Apple Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
- zest and juice of 1 large orange
- 1 honeycrisp apple, peeled and chopped
- ½ cup apple cider
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
Add all of the ingredients to the pressure cooker pot and stir well. Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes.
When cooking is complete, use a natural release for 5 minutes and then release any remaining pressure. If liquid sprays while releasing the pressure, quickly turn the valve to the sealed position and wait 5 more minutes.
Simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken. Sauce will thicken further as it cools. Serve warm or can also be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge. Freezes very well.
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I just made this to take to our friends’ home to share for our Thanksgiving feast. It is delicious! I always use canned cranberry sauce and had only made my own once about 30 years ago. I love the tart taste with just the subtle sweetness from the maple syrup. And putting it in the pressure cooker and walking away, no splatters – fantastic! Thanks for the great recipe!
Could I put this in jars and process it in my water bath canner so it’s easier to transport to my in-laws for Thanksgiving (they live 10 hours away)?
I’m sorry I don’t have any experience with canning. I did find this cranberry sauce for canning https://extension.usu.edu/utah/files-ou/Recipes-Cooking-Canning/Cranberries.pdf which you could cook in the pressure cooker and then can using the canning instructions. It does have a higher sugar to cranberry ratio.
What brand pressure cooker do you use?
Hi Vickie – here’s a link to my faq https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/faq/ explaining the pressure cookers I use.
PAGE 3 OF INSTANT POT USER MANUAL INSTRUCTS TO NOT COOK FOODS SUCH AS CRANBERRIES, APPLESAUCE, OATMEAL ETC…
HOW AM I TO KNOW THAT IT IS SAFE TO MAKE RECIPES WITH THESE FOODS, AND IF I DO USE THESE FOODS WILL I VOID MY WARRANTY?
Hi Brenda – the Instant Pot does list the warning, but then has recipes for similar things in the recipe booklet. Just be sure that you don’t fill the pressure cooker more than half full when cooking foods like these that foam and if the recipe recommends using a natural release be sure and do a natural release. https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/quick-pressure-release-or-natural-pressure-release/
I served this yesterday and everyone loved it! We added just a bit of cinnamon sugar, and even the people who didn’t care for cranberries asked for seconds!
Yay! I’m so glad. I had leftover cranberry sauce tonight on a turkey, brie, avocado sandwich with Sir Kensington mayo (best mayo in the world!). thanks for letting me know!
What would be the best way to double or triple this for a large group?
I’ve doubled it with zero problems and I suspect it would triple fine. There may be more foaming so it might need a longer natural release to allow that to settle.
Since I just got my pressure cooker, I’ll have to try this. I love chunky sauces and use the leftovers as a jam and topping – forget the turkey, just give me the cranberry sauce!
I buy extra bags of cranberries to freeze, just so I can make the sauce during the year.
Liz,
Small piece of turkey, big bowl of cranberry sauce to dip-that’s how I roll 🙂 I’ve got 6 bags of cranberries in my freezer right now. I hope you love it!
i guess that I’m biased when it comes to cranberries, but this is delicious. I did use raw organic local honey for sweetner because I have it on hand. Delicious!
You made it already?! I’ve never made it with honey but I had planned on trying it. I’m glad you liked it 🙂