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Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

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This Instant Pot cranberry sauce has just a few ingredients and is much lower in sugar than traditional cranberry sauces. All because of another fruit – unsweetened applesauce!

An overhead shot of a glass bowl of Instant Pot cranberry sauce with a black metal spoon and linen cloth.

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Thanksgiving is next week (!!) – can you believe it? I’ve long made my apple cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, and while I love the combination of apples and cranberries, I wanted to make a couple tweaks to both ingredients and methods compared to my OG cran sauce:

  1. This cranberry sauce involves just simmering the cranberries in water. With my original recipe, the cranberries were simmered in apple juice or apple cider, which added more sweetness when the juice was reduced.
  2. This uses the Instant Pot!

Why the Instant Pot?

Cranberry sauce is kind of perfect for the Instant Pot. It allows the cranberries to get super tender pretty quickly, but most importantly? Especially on a busy cooking day like Thanksgiving where the stove top is prime real estate? This frees up the stove top for other dishes if you’re making it the day of.

A small glass bowl of cranberry sauce with the Instant Pot in the background.

How to make cranberry sauce in the Instant Pot

First things first: obviously you need an Instant Pot! I have an 8 quart Instant Pot that I love (the bigger size makes even things like a chicken or turkey breast or huge head of cabbage no problem!). For this recipe, a 6 quart Instant Pot would also work.

Then the only ingredients you need are fresh cranberries, water, applesauce, and brown sugar.

Add washed cranberries and water to the Instant Pot, close it and seal it, and then set it on a manual high pressure cycle for five minutes.

When the cycle is complete let it naturally release for 10-15 minutes. Vent the seal to ensure all pressure is out. When safe (when the red button pops down), open the Instant Pot.

Use a potato masher or fork to mash all of the softened cranberries. Pour in the applesauce and brown sugar and stir until all of the brown sugar is dissolved. Let cool prior to serving.

Why not just add all the ingredients at the beginning before cooking?

I never tested it that way, and here is why:

If there is not enough thin liquid or the liquid/ sauce is too thick (like a tomato sauce), it can trigger a burn message. The applesauce is a thicker consistency, and along with the brown sugar, help thicken the cranberry sauce.

My concern is that mixing the applesauce and brown sugar with the water will make the overall amount of liquid too thick and you wouldn’t have a successful cranberry sauce.

Ingredient substitutions/ sugar swaps

With such minimal ingredients, there really isn’t any need for substitutions. That said, I know different people prefer to use different types of sugar. Generally, any sweetener will work. I find liquid sweeteners (like honey and maple syrup) make the final cranberry sauce texture ever so slightly thinner. Cane sugar or light or dark brown sugar will work.

I find coconut sugar to not lend the same level of sweetness as cane or brown sugar, but if you prefer a more tart cranberry sauce, go that route.

Just remember – when it comes to sugar, ultimately it’s not the type that matters most, but the amount.

Now what about stevia? Personally, I’m not usually the biggest fan of stevia-sweetened products (with the exception of Lily’s Chocolate!), but if that’s your thing, give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

Will cranberry sauce thicken as it cools?

Yes! Don’t be alarmed if your cranberry sauce seems a little on the thin side after stirring in all your ingredients. As it cools it will thicken.

An instant pot on a marble surface full of cranberry sauce.

Can I make this on the stove if I don’t have an Instant Pot?

Yes. Bring the water and cranberries to a boil in a medium-large pot over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer about 15 minutes, or until cranberries are bursting. From there, you can mash any more intact pieces of cranberries if you desire, then stir in the applesauce and brown sugar. Remove from heat and let cool before serving or storing.

Can it be made in advance?

Totally! In fact, I find cranberry sauce to be one of the easiest things to make in advance for Thanksgiving. It helps, too, that you can keep it in the refrigerator or the freezer.

How long does cranberry sauce last?

  • REFRIGERATOR: homemade cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator up to one week.
  • FREEZER: homemade cranberry sauce can be frozen in an airtight container up to one month for best results.

How much cranberry sauce do you need per person on Thanksgiving?

While there will be some variability if your crowd is very pro-cranberry sauce or not, I find that planning a quarter cup of cranberry sauce per person is a good average. Some folks won’t like cranberry sauce, and others will use a heavy hand with the cranberry sauce spoon, but stick with a quarter cup per person and you’ll likely make out just fine!

How should I serve it?

While you may see some pretty presentations with cranberry sauce poured over sliced turkey on beautiful platters, I prefer to simply serve the cranberry sauce in a small serving bowl with a serving spoon or a small ladle. This way each guest can choose if they want any, and how much.

What goes well with cranberry sauce?

Cranberry sauce is delicious on its own, but a few other ideas include:

  • With protein (i.e. with turkey on Thanksgiving day, or as a glaze on baked chicken or salmon)
  • As a “jam” on a roll or biscuit
  • Stirred into oatmeal or yogurt
  • On toast

Be sure to check back later this week for a post on ways to utilize leftover cranberry sauce!

A close up spoonful of cranberry sauce.

Can this Instant Pot cranberry sauce be canned?

I would advise against it. Canning requires precision with pH balance for food safety and I do not know if this recipe is appropriate for safe canning.

Is this cranberry sauce healthy?

Healthy is incredibly subjective, but generally while I wouldn’t necessarily say this is “clean” and “healthy”, I think my Instant Pot cranberry sauce is a healthier option than more traditional cranberry sauces. While it still contains sugar, overall it has more fruit, more micronutrients, and less added sugar. It’s definitely my top pick for a bit healthier cranberry sauce that doesn’t sacrifice taste!

Get more healthier, classic Thanksgiving recipes:

  • Greek yogurt mashed potatoes
  • Gluten-free stuffing with sausage
  • Cinnamon glazed carrots
  • Maple dijon brussels sprouts

Like this recipe? Be sure to pin it to Pinterest and share with your friends and fam on Facebook and Instagram! Live well!

An overhead shot of a glass bowl of Instant Pot cranberry sauce with a black metal spoon and linen cloth.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Course: Sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 56 kcal
Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, LDN

Easy with just four ingredients, this Instant Pot cranberry sauce has much less added sugar compared to traditional cranberry sauce with the addition of unsweetened applesauce!

free from: wheat/ gluten, dairy, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts

Print

Ingredients

  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

  1. Wash cranberries and remove any stems or bad berries. Place cranberries and water in the Instant Pot. Lock and set the Instant Pot lid.

  2. Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Once cycle is complete, allow for a 10-15 minute natural release of pressure.

  3. Remove lid. Stir in applesauce and brown sugar until sugar is dissolved.

  4. Transfer to a serving dish or storage container and let cool before serving. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

Recipe Notes

One serving is a 1/4 cup.

See blog post for stove top method and information on refrigerator and freezer storage and how long it will last.

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 56 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 5mg0%
Potassium 51mg1%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 23IU0%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Pinterest Image of Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Dairy-Free, Dips, Egg-Free, Fish-Free, Gluten-Free, Instant Pot, One-Pot, Peanut-Free, Recipes, Sauce, Shellfish-Free, Side Dish, Soy-Free, Tree Nut-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian applesauce, brown sugar, cranberries

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Instagram post 2191692295128346990_1185690489 Hey guys! Head's up, I'm taking some time off social media. 2019 has been a doozy, and 2020 is looking pretty wild, too (in a good way!). I'm deleting social media apps off my phone and am excited to be more intentional with my limited time and priorities. And of course, to be more present with the people I love most in my favorite holiday season!
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It's what you do consistently the majority of the time that matters - not one day.
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You can still go in with a plan. Plan to eat a balanced breakfast (and depending on what time you eat, lunch, too). Know what you enjoy and what you don't, and plan to truly savor and enjoy the special foods you love.
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And more importantly? Enjoy the day. Keep it simple. Enjoy time with the ones you're with. Get outside and be active - go for a walk after dinner to see if any holiday lights are out yet, toss a football around before dinner, take the kids to a new playground, go on a morning hike, etc.
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Don't overthink it. Just enjoy it the best you can!
Instagram post 2185917913780994969_1185690489 Thanksgiving is a big food holiday, but remember - everyone is gathering to enjoy time together, including with you! Keep it simple, do what you can in advance, and take shortcuts where they make sense for you (i.e. store bought rolls).
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Instagram post 2185150409785949410_1185690489 Let's talk Thanksgiving FOOD SAFETY tips! Not a cool topic, I know, but (hopefully) the last thing you want to do on Thanksgiving is send your guests home with food poisoning!
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I've got a full blog post up expanding on all of these points, but here's the highlight reel:
1. Thaw your turkey safely! Safe = thawing in the fridge or in cool water. Not safe = thawing on the counter. Thawing times and other details in the post.
2. Don't wash the turkey. It actually spreads bacteria to more kitchen surfaces. The good news is, if you're used to washing your turkey, now you've got a little more time and ease on your hands!
3. Don't stuff the turkey. Okay, my great grandparents are rolling in their graves, but stuffing the bird creates risk of cross-contamination and makes the bird take longer to cook, which can also create a dry turkey.
4. You've GOT to use a food thermometer to ensure your turkey is all the way cooked through (internal temp should read 165F at the thickest part of the thigh) and to make sure food isn't hanging out in the temperature danger zone (40-140F), where bacteria grow the fastest.
5. The two hour rule! Don't leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.
6. Wash your hands both correctly (hot water and soap, thoroughly washing) and enough (SO much - see the list on the blog).
7. Ask guests about any food allergies, when possible. Involve them. Don't take it personally if they bring their own dishes to share. Food allergies are inconvenient, at best, and deadly, at worst. And while a guest with food allergies may feel annoying for you to deal with, it can be incredibly anxiety-inducing for someone to put their life in your hands, especially if you're not sensitive to the severity of the allergy. Lots of suggestions in the blog post!
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Check it out at https://nutritiontofit.com/thanksgiving-food-safety-tips/
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Comment with any questions, concerns, or your own best safety tips!
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I made a simple maple spiced roasted butternut squash in my "Eat Your Veggies" e-book that is simple enough to meal prep for salads or yogurt bowls for the week, but delicious enough for your Thanksgiving table. Grab your free e-book copy at the link in my @nutritiontofit bio or at https://nutritiontofit.com/eatyourveggies/.
Instagram post 2182418173722529657_1185690489 What are your favorite ways to practice or show gratitude?
Instagram post 2180973939614097418_1185690489 This NEW Instant Pot cranberry sauce has got it all:
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1. It's simple (three ingredients plus water).
2. Lower in sugar than 90% of cranberry sauce recipes (but still delicious!).
3. Made in the Instant Pot to clear up room on the stove top.
4. Can be made in advance if you like as low stress Thanksgiving as possible!
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Head to the post for answers to ALL your cranberry sauce questions, fridge/ freeze storage time, the recipe, and yes, a tutorial on how to make on the stove top if you don't have an Instant Pot. :)
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https://nutritiontofit.com/instant-pot-cranberry-sauce/
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