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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

    Cranberry Sauce With Vanilla And Cinnamon

    Published: Nov 11, 2017 · Modified: Mar 8, 2021 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments

    This ultra flavorful gourmet cranberry sauce is made with fresh cranberries, wine, cinnamon, and vanilla. This recipe is one of my family's favorite holiday recipes! You can make this on the stovetop and even in your slow cooker. Canning is optional.

    bowl of homemade cranberry sauce with orange
    Make this mulled wine cranberry sauce for your holiday this year.

    I don't know what I like better about this mulled cranberry sauce: the scent of the cranberries simmering on the stove, or the cinnamon and vanilla 'notes' in the cooked sauce.

    This recipe is one of those recipes that makes the holidays really seem like the holidays. Trust me, it does not disappoint!

    What You’ll Love About This Recipe

    • Super easy: This recipe is so simple and easy. It takes about 10 minutes to prep and then there is just a long simmer time.
    • Make it ahead: You can make this sauce the day before your Thanksgiving dinner, or you can make it earlier because it keeps well in the fridge and the freezer.
    • Freezes well: This sauce freezes so well that you can even freeze it until next year if you have enough left over.
    the best cranberry sauce recipe
    This 'cran' is impressively beautiful and even more impressively flavored.

    Recipe Notes

    Cinnamon and vanilla add fantastic flavor to this homemade cranberry sauce. Not to mention, you'll use a full bottle of wine in this recipe.

    Recipe Ingredients

    To make the BEST cranberry sauce recipe, of course you'll need the best ingredients.

    • One bottle of red zinfandel wine: Make sure it's a drinkable red wine.
    • Cranberries: 24 ounces of fresh or frozen cranberries. This is approximately 2 cartons of fresh cranberries.
    • Dried cherries: You can also use dried cranberries here, especially if you already have them in the pantry.
    • Orange juice: Fresh squeezed orange juice and orange zest. You'll need approximately 2 oranges, depending on how juicy they are.
    • Vanilla bean: Look for whole vanilla beans either in the spice section or in the international cuisine aisle.
    • Cinnamon stick
    • Sugar
    • Just a pinch of salt

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    You barely need a recipe to make fresh cranberry sauce. Really, it's as simple as adding all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan and then cooking the sauce slowly. You can also use a slow cooker for this recipe.

    Stovetop Instructions for Cranberry Sauce

    1. Add all of the ingredients, except for the fresh cranberries, together in a saucepan over medium heat.
    2. Bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium and let the liquid simmer, stirring occasionally. In this step, you will be dissolving the sugar and reducing the wine by half.
    3. Once the sauce has been reduced, add the fresh cranberries. (You can use fresh or frozen cranberries.)
    4. Remove from heat and let the cranberries come to room temperature, about 10 to 12 minutes. Store this sauce in the fridge overnight before serving.
    Cranberry sauce with cranberry sauce ingredients

    How to make Cranberry Sauce in your Slow Cooker

    1. Add all of the ingredients, except for the fresh cranberries, together in your slow cooker. Cook for 2 hours on high heat. If you are in a hurry, you can also do this first step on the stovetop in about 20 minutes. Then transfer everything to the slow cooker.
    2. Once the sauce has been reduced, add the fresh cranberries. (You can use fresh or frozen cranberries.) Note: Making this sauce in the slow cooker may yield a sauce that is a little thinner than the stovetop version.
    3. Turn off the heat and remove the vanilla bean and the cinnamon stick. Let the sauce come to room temperature. Store the cooked sauce in the fridge overnight before serving.

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    Can you freeze homemade cranberry sauce?

    This leftover sauce freezes beautifully. Store it in an airtight container and freeze for next year's festivities. I do not recommend using plastic bags, but jars work beautifully!

    Is cranberry sauce served hot or cold?

    Cranberry sauce is served cold or at room temperature.

    What do you put cranberry sauce on?

    In the US, we eat cranberry sauce with turkey at Thanksgiving. In the UK, however, Cranberry relish is often served at Christmastime. Their version is also less sweet than the American version.

    On meat: Cranberry sauce is also great with grilled meats such as chicken or pork.

    As an appetizer: You can also serve it over cream cheese or brie, paired with your favorite crackers.

    More of our favorite Holiday Recipes

    • Homemade Dumpling Noodles
    • Green Bean Casserole — From Scratch
    • Sage and Apple Sourdough Stuffing
    • Spatchcock Turkey
    • Dinner Rolls
    • Pumpkin Pie
    • Pecan Pie

    Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes

    • Cranberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
    Cranberry and Cinnamon Sour Cream Coffee Cake with a Grand Marnier Glaze. Made in a bundt pan and set on a white cake pan.
    Cranberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

    Other Cranberry Recipes You Might Love

    • Orange Cranberry Old Fashioned — Cocktail Recipe
    • Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
    • Candied Orange and Cranberry Scones
    • Apricot Cranberry Oat Bars
    • Super Easy 5 Minute Cranberry Sauce
    • Left Over Cranberry Sauce Oat Muffins

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    Brandied Cranberry Sauce Recipe
    Favorite Saved!

    Slow-Cooked Mulled Cranberry Sauce Recipe

    Laura Reigel
    This mulled cranberry-orange sauce is a perfect complement to your holiday turkey. It's easy to make ahead of time. (The prep takes about 10 minutes...then you let it simmer. Your house will smell AMAZING!) This recipe makes approximately 6 cups.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Resting Time 12 hrs
    Total Time 13 hrs 10 mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 servings (¼ cup)
    Calories 89 kcal

    Equipment

    • slow cooker
    • medium saucepan

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 bottle red zinfandel wine
    • 24 oz fresh cranberries approximately 2 standard bags
    • ½ cup dried cherries or cranberries
    • 2 cups sugar
    • ¾ cup orange juice freshly squeezed, 1 to 2 oranges
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest grated, approximately one orange
    • 1 cinnamon sticks
    • 1 vanilla bean
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
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    Instructions
     

    • Combine all of the ingredients, except for the fresh cranberries, in a non-reactive 3 quart saucepan. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
    • Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer until volume is reduced by half.
    • Add the fresh cranberries. Continue to simmer until the berries change color and burst.
    • Remove the cranbery sauce from heat. Stir gently with a whisk to break up the berries.
    • Remove the cinnamon stick and the vanilla bean.
    • Let stand at room temperature until cool. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours to allow the flavors to blend.

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    How to make Cranberry Sauce in your Slow Cooker

    1. Add all of the ingredients, except for the fresh cranberries, to your slow cooker. Cook for 2 hours on high heat. If you are in a hurry, you can also do this first step on the stovetop in about 20 minutes and then transfer everything to the slow cooker.
    2. Once the sauce has been reduced, add the fresh cranberries. (You can use fresh or frozen cranberries.) Note: Making this sauce in the slow cooker may yield a sauce that is a little thinner than the stovetop version.
    3. Turn off the heat and remove the vanilla bean and the cinnamon stick. Let the sauce come to room temperature. Store your homemade cranberry sauce in the fridge overnight before serving.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 23gSodium: 49mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
    Keyword cranberry, cranberry sauce, thanksgiving recipe
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

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    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Hatfield

      November 20, 2019 at 6:29 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t wait to try this recipe for Thanksgiving... what a creative recipe!

      Reply

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