Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Homemade cranberry sauce recipe full of fresh juicy berries and flavoured with spicy nutmeg. A great homemade Christmas gift and the perfect condiment for Christmas day dinner. A simple and delicious sauce that only takes 45 minutes to make and jar up.
Servings 10 Small jars
Calories 203kcal
Equipment
- large pan
- Masher
- Jam funnel and jam jars (if jarring)
Ingredients
- 600 g cranberries
- 400 g baking apples cored peeled and chopped
- 400 g light brown muscavado sugar
- Juice from ½ an orange
- 250 ml water
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Metric - US Customary
Instructions
- Peel and chop the apples and squeeze the juice out of half an orange.400 g baking apples, Juice from ½ an orange
- Place all the ingredients in one large pan, mix well and put on the hob on a medium heat.600 g cranberries, 400 g baking apples, 400 g light brown muscavado sugar, Juice from ½ an orange, 250 ml water, 1 ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Bring to the boil then allow to simmer gently.
- Simmer for 30 minutes or until apples are soft and cranberries have burst.
- After 30 minutes use a masher to help mush down any larger pieces of apple or un-burst berries. Continue to simmer, allowing the liquid to reduce, until you are happy with the consistency.
- Transfer the hot cranberry sauce to sterilised jars. Screw the lids on right away so a tight vacuum seal will form as the sauce cools.
- If you plan to eat the sauce that day or week then once the sauce has cooled, transfer to a dish or container, cover and keep the fridge until needed.
Notes
Cranberries: Use fresh cranberries.
Muscavado sugar: Muscovado sugar is a coarse, unrefined, dark brown sugar. It contains natural molasses and has a toffee-like taste, which balances out the tart cranberries. The next best alternative is dark brown sugar. However, this has less molasses and so a milder taste.
Apples: Use baking apples, which cook down into a smooth puree and so are the best option for a sauce.
Ground nutmeg: This is optional but I like to add this for a hint of festive spice.
Consistency: Cranberry sauce should have a jam like consistency. The sauce will thicken and become jam like as the cranberries are heated and release pectin. Be aware that as the sauce cools it will become thicker. Therefore, stop heating the sauce when it is still slightly thinner than you would like. Handling hot sterilised jars: For ease, use rubber gloves for handling hot jars and to ensure a tight grip when screwing on the lids. How do you sterilise jars? To sterilise the jars wash them thoroughly in soapy hot water, then rinse and place on a baking tray in the oven for 5 minutes at 150°C/300°F (until dry). Alternatively, put them through the dishwasher. How to seal the jars? Place hot cranberry sauce in hot sterilised jars (use a jam funnel for ease) and seal immediately by screwing on the lid. As the sauce cools a vacuum will form, pulling the lid in nice and tight. How to store? You can check the seal of the jars by pressing on the lid to make sure it doesn’t depress any further. Jars of cranberry sauce can then be stored in the cupboard for up to 6 months. If the lid does depress and a seal hasn’t formed you will need to use a water bath to ensure proper processing or alternatively store in the fridge for 4-6 weeks. Once opened, after proper sealing, refrigerate and eat within 1 month. Is cranberry sauce meant to be sweet or sour? Cranberry sauce is a balance between sweet from the sugar and tart from the cranberries. Tartness can be reduced by the addition of sweet juices such as apple or orange juice.
Consistency: Cranberry sauce should have a jam like consistency. The sauce will thicken and become jam like as the cranberries are heated and release pectin. Be aware that as the sauce cools it will become thicker. Therefore, stop heating the sauce when it is still slightly thinner than you would like. Handling hot sterilised jars: For ease, use rubber gloves for handling hot jars and to ensure a tight grip when screwing on the lids. How do you sterilise jars? To sterilise the jars wash them thoroughly in soapy hot water, then rinse and place on a baking tray in the oven for 5 minutes at 150°C/300°F (until dry). Alternatively, put them through the dishwasher. How to seal the jars? Place hot cranberry sauce in hot sterilised jars (use a jam funnel for ease) and seal immediately by screwing on the lid. As the sauce cools a vacuum will form, pulling the lid in nice and tight. How to store? You can check the seal of the jars by pressing on the lid to make sure it doesn’t depress any further. Jars of cranberry sauce can then be stored in the cupboard for up to 6 months. If the lid does depress and a seal hasn’t formed you will need to use a water bath to ensure proper processing or alternatively store in the fridge for 4-6 weeks. Once opened, after proper sealing, refrigerate and eat within 1 month. Is cranberry sauce meant to be sweet or sour? Cranberry sauce is a balance between sweet from the sugar and tart from the cranberries. Tartness can be reduced by the addition of sweet juices such as apple or orange juice.
Nutrition
Serving: 30g | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg