Spiced Cranberry Sauce

With a lovely blend of tart cranberries, sweetness and the warmth of baking spices, this spiced cranberry sauce is sure to make repeat appearances on your holiday table. It’s simple and straightforward to make it, and though it’s richly seasoned it doesn’t have a lot of competing flavors, which makes it a nice addition to a holiday meal where there are already a number of different flavors and textures going on. Enjoy it alongside a roast chicken, turkey or ham and spread it on sandwiches with leftovers the next day to layer in a little sweet, spiced cranberry flavor. Bonus? As it cooks it fills the kitchen with the most wonderful spiced fruit aroma.

Spiced Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

• Cranberries: Use either fresh or frozen cranberries to provide the tart, tangy flavor and bright red color that are characteristic of a fresh cranberry sauce.
• Sugar: Sweetens the sauce, balancing the tartness of the cranberries. Adjust the amount of sugar to your liking or substitute a different kind of sweetener, including honey, maple syrup or an artificial sweetener.
• Water: Helps to create a saucy consistency and prevents the sauce from becoming too thick.
• Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a warm, spicy flavor that complements the tartness of the cranberries.
• Allspice: Ground allspice pairs beautifully with cinnamon and adds a dynamic baking spice flavor that brings complexity to the cranberry sauce.
• Ground ginger: Adds a pleasant sharpness and a note of warm, peppery flavor.
• Ground cloves: A quintessential flavoring ingredient in holiday baking, including classic mince pies, clove provides a strong, menthol note to this cranberry sauce, so it’s best to be cautious when adding it!

Directions

Step 1: Simmer all the ingredients together

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In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until the berries pop and mixture is thickened, about 30 minutes. Cool. Transfer to a serving bowl; cover and refrigerate until chilled. Serve the cranberry sauce chilled with your favorite holiday dishes.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you prefer a cranberry sauce with an even smoother texture you can force the cooked sauce through a food mill to make it more uniform.

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Spiced Cranberry Sauce Variations

• Add some citrus: Cook this cranberry sauce, adding in a few ounces of orange juice and folding in orange zest to juice up spiced cranberry sauce with the aroma of fresh citrus. Cranberry and orange is one of our perennial favorite combinations.
• Go light on the spice: Reduce the quantities of the ground spices to your taste, so they’re more of a whispered addition to the flavor profile of the finished sauce.
• Add some fruit: Layer in more flavor by replacing some of the cranberries with an equal amount of diced, peeled apple or either fresh or frozen pitted cherries.

How to Store Spiced Cranberry Sauce

The best way to store leftover spiced cranberry sauce is to transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If the sauce becomes too thick as it cools (cranberries are high in natural pectin!), stir in a tablespoon or two of water to thin it out.

Can you freeze spiced cranberry sauce?

Yes, you can freeze spiced cranberry sauce. To freeze it, pour the sauce into freezer-safe containers sized according to the quantity you’re likely to use at one time, leaving some space at the top for expansion. Seal the containers tightly to prevent freezer burn. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer the frozen cranberry sauce to the refrigerator overnight.

Can I make this cranberry sauce with spices ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this spiced cranberry sauce recipe ahead of time and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. It will actually taste better if it’s chilled for a few days; the spice flavors will develop as it sits.

Spiced Cranberry Sauce Tips

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How do I know when the cranberry sauce is thickened?

The cranberry sauce is thickened when the berries have popped and the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. It will thicken further as it cools thanks to the natural pectin in the cranberries, so keep that in mind if you plan to serve it chilled!

What else can I do with cranberry sauce?

We often think of cranberry sauce as a sweet accompaniment to savory dishes, but this cranberry sauce with spices is just as delicious in sweet applications. Use it as a topping for pancakes, waffles, yogurt or ice cream. Swirl it into vanilla pound cake batter before baking it. You can also use it as a base for a salad dressing, whisking in some vinegar and olive oil.

What are some other ways to use cranberries?

Besides making cranberry sauce, cranberries can be used in a variety of recipes, including smoothies, muffins, quick breads and scones. Need more inspiration? Check out our favorite cranberry recipes.