Cranberry Applesauce
Hello! Are you ready for a new, and dare I say, better cranberry side option for all your holiday gatherings? This easy Instant Pot cranberry applesauce is a crowd pleaser, friends! The apple and cranberry marry together in the tastiest way. It’s just the perfect combo of tart and sweet. Instead of bringing the obligatory canned cranberry sauce that just gets skimmed past your holiday buffet… Yeah, I said it, but somebody had to, friends. Why not bring a side that can stand up and compete with all the other amazing dishes? This cranberry applesauce competes!
It’s easy!
So I am all about beautiful, delicious food that takes minimal effort. This recipe hits both notes! If you haven’t guessed by now, I am a huge fan of the Instant Pot! If you’re still not convinced it’s for you, check out my top 10 reasons everyone needs an Instant Pot post. Using the Instant Pot for this applesauce eliminates the need to stir and allows for a significantly shorter cooking time. Much like the traditional applesauce recipe I shared, I simplify and health-ify (it’s a word, right?) by leaving the peel on. The peel is packed full of nutrients, and let’s just be real, extremely tedious to remove. Skipping this step is a game changer! Same great taste for half the work! I also use my immersion blender to simplify the process. While it’s not a must for the recipe, it’s yet another way to streamline eliminating extra dirty dishes and time.
Cranberry Applesauce is make ahead.
I absolutely love being able to make food on my own timeline, and then bring it out when it’s needed. This recipe is both freezable and keeps in the fridge for at least a week. Holiday gatherings, Sunday family dinners, and, let’s face it, random Tuesday night meals are a lot to coordinate. So having a pre-prepped, healthy, delicious side stashed in the freezer or fridge to pull out is amazing.
The Prep:
You can always adjust your ingredients to taste or availability. To make your sauce, grab your apples, cranberries, an orange, a knife, and cinnamon. Core and quarter your apples filling the pot just below the max fill line using approximately one bag of apples. Next add your cranberries, juiced orange, and cinnamon. Cinnamon can be adjusted to taste. Set your pot to manual high for twelve minutes. After cooking, quick release your pressure (turn vent to release pressure). Add honey. If you prefer a little sweeter sauce, you can always add more. Likewise you can switch up the honey to your preferred sweetener of choice. Next use an immersion blender to blend your apples. To Freeze: simply place in a freezer safe container.
Ingredients
- 1 bag of Your Favorite Apples
- 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 Cups Cranberries (Fresh or Frozen)
- 1 Orange, juiced
- 1/4 Cup Honey
Instructions
- Quarter and Core your apples.
- Fill the pot just below the max fill line.
- Add 2 cups cranberries.
- Juice an orange into pot.
- Add 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
- Set your pot to manual high for twelve minutes.
- Cook.
- Once finished cooking, quick release your pressure (turn vent to release pressure).
- Add 1/4 cup honey (adjust to taste).
- Use an immersion blender to blend your apples.
- To Freeze: simply place in a freezer safe container.

Serve warm or cold as a snack or side. Enjoy!
If you like this recipe, check out my traditional Instant Pot applesauce recipe and whole wheat apple muffins.
For other crowd pleasing sides or party dishes, you may like: tomato basil noodles, roasted asparagus, 5 minute salsa, banana pepper salsa, or peach caprese salad.
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This is SO pretty! I’m no fan of the canned sauce but still love incorporating some cranberry flavor to the table!
Thanks! I think so, too! I am the same…love cranberries, just not the canned sauce!