Crockpot cranberry sauce, small batch style! Make cranberry sauce right in your crockpot and save time and dishes! This one is loaded with cinnamon and orange juice--so good for Thanksgiving dinner for two, or also on a cheese board.
Welcome to the second-only recipe using a slow cooker on this site! You didn't miss my first one, Creme Brûlée in the Slow Cooker, did you? Because that would be sad.
So, I love this crockpot cranberry sauce for a few reasons. One: using the slow cooker is hands-off Turkey Day. Two: it's so dang easy, your drunk uncle could make it. Three: it has many uses!
I want to see this cranberry butter snuggling up next to your sliced turkey. I also want to see a pretty little pot of it on your Thanksgiving day appetizer cheese board. Make it once, use it twice!
I actually made a double batch of this crockpot cranberry sauce with two bags of cranberries because my neighbor dropped off some plum jelly and I wanted to give her a little mason jar full of love as a thank you.
Sometimes, the Dessert for Two world is lonely because my desserts don't make a ton of leftovers to share with everyone. Every now and then, I make a giant batch dessert recipe, and share with everyone. But most of the time, my mini desserts get eaten right out of the oven by me and mine.
All that to say: while sometimes I wish I had leftover dessert to share, I also don't want to be the reason anyone has to go to the gym.
I'm going to cut that short right there and catch myself before I start to ramble about how much I hate to exercise. We do not talk of such things like 'exercise' as Turkey Day approaches. We actually don't speak of things called 'calories' until well after the New Year. Well, well after.
Step-by-step:
Wash the cranberries and pour them in the slow cooker.
Next, get all fancy and peel all the zest off an orange, and add it to the slow cooker. Peel the orange and add it to the slow cooker, too. No need to chop it; it will break down while it cooks. Toss in a cinnamon stick, too.
Next, add 1 cup of water and 1 ½ cups of maple syrup. The flavor combo of maple, orange, cinnamon and cranberry is mind-blowing.
Stir, and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
When it's done, it will look like this:
Now grab that immersion blender thingie you had in the bottom drawer. (If you don't have one, transfer the contents to a blender.
Wait! Be sure to remove the orange peel and cinnamon stick first. Phew! That was close.
Now we puree it!
Then, drizzle it over sliced turkey, and scoop it up for your cheese tray.
Cranberry butter is a bit tangy, so it goes great with super rich triple-cream cheeses, like Brie and Taleggio. I'm eating it here with Goat Brie, also known as my new love in life. (Find it at Trader Joe's. Wait, don't. Or at least leave some for me!)
We have just a few more savory recipes for our small Thanksgiving, and then it's onto dessert, baby. Sorry I called you baby.
This cranberry butter has so many uses!A small Thanksgiving: Cranberry Butter
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 93Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 19gProtein: 0g
Brandy Scott says
I am sure you can, but what about subbing the syrup for sugar or Palm sugar, if you do not want the maple flavor?
Joanna says
Hi! How to prepare it if I don't have slowcooker?:(
Geri says
You can make it in a heavy pot. Alton Brown has a recipe similar to this called “Cranberry Dipping Sauce” which is done on the stovetop in a saucepan. You have to watch it carefully.
Vicki says
this stuff is fantastic! Just made my second batch of the season. Definitely addictive. I made the first batch on the stovetop in a Dutch oven and let it simmer for two hours. Today I used my rice cooker and set it on White Rice. At the end of that 45-minute cycle, I did Brown Rice (35 mins) and then let it simmer for another 15 or so to make sure it was thickened. Seems to be the right consistency, and it tastes fabulous. I used three cinnamon sticks for this batch.
Kathy says
???? love i t ....
Tammy says
Can i put it in jars and freeze it or does it have to be used within two weeks and not frozen.
Christina Lane says
I haven't tried to freeze it, but I'm sure it would work.
Sue says
can you substitute sugar for the syrup?
Christina Lane says
Yes :)
Kitty says
Yields 2 what?
Christina Lane says
2 pints, sorry :)
Catherine says
Sooo, I made this, and it wasn't a hit with the family. Any idea what I could use the batch for? I love it and don't want it to go to waste. :'(
Christina Lane says
awww, bummer, Catherine! Do you know why? Is it because it's naturally sweetened so it's not as sweet as commercial cranberry products? You could try adding more maple syrup to increase the sweetness and then stir it into yogurt?
Marion M says
What kind of Maple Syrup?
Christina Lane says
Grade B :)
Kendra says
I wonder if you could hot water bath this sauce and keep it shelf safe?