Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Skip the canned cranberry sauce this holiday season and grab your Instant Pot instead! With this easy recipe for Instant Pot cranberry sauce, you can whip up a delicious side dish with just five ingredients and a few minutes of your time. Just dump the ingredients in the pressure cooker, set it and forget it!
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What Do I Need to Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce?
Once you see how simple it is to make fresh cranberry sauce in the Instant Pot, you'll never grab for the canned stuff again! And the best part about this simple recipe is that you can make it with this list of simple ingredients:
- Frozen cranberries
- Granulated sugar
- Orange juice
- Ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks
- Water
How Do I Make Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce?
Ready in just three steps, this simple Thanksgiving side dish couldn't be easier to make. Just follow these easy instructions and you'll have fresh cranberry sauce on the table in 15 minutes!
Step One: Combine the Ingredients
Add the frozen cranberries, sugar, orange juice, cinnamon and water to the pot of your pressure cooker. Stir to mix all the ingredients together.
Step Two: Pressure Cook the Cranberries
Place the lid on your Instant Pot and seal the valve on top. Set the pot to pressure cook on high for three minutes. When the cook time is up, allow a 10 minute natural release, then finish releasing the pressure with a quick release.
Step Three: Serve the Cranberries
When all pressure has been released, remove the lid and stir to mix all the ingredients together. The cranberries will have burst and the sauce will begin to thicken as it cools. Allow the berries to cool to room temperature before serving.
Should I Thaw Frozen Cranberries to Make Cranberry Sauce?
When you prepare your cranberry sauce in the Instant Pot, there's no need to thaw the cranberries before cooking. Since the berries cook at a high temperature in the pot, the frozen cranberries will cook through and soften in a short amount of time.
Can I Cook Fresh Cranberries in the Instant Pot?
Yes! You can use your pressure cooker to make cranberry sauce using fresh berries as well as frozen ones. Since fresh cranberries won't take as long to cook, you can reduce the pressure cooking time to 2 minutes when swapping them for frozen cranberries.
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe Ideas
Now that you have the basic recipe for homemade cranberry sauce on hand, you can start experimenting for your own Thanksgiving dinner. Try these substitution and addition ideas to create a delicious new take on this classic side dish.
- Adjust the sugar. Depending on how sweet or tart you like your cranberry sauce, you can adjust the sugar levels to your tastes. Start with a small amount of sugar and add more after cooking if needed until the desired sweetness is reached.
- Add some tartness. If you find that your cranberry sauce is too sweet after cooking, you can cut through the extra sugar with a little more orange juice. The acidity of the juice will help reduce the sweetness after the cranberries have been cooked.
- Try a different sweetener. Looking to reduce the sugar in the recipe? You can substitute a variety of sweeteners in place of granulated sugar. Use your favorite sugar free substitute. Or swap the sugar for a natural sweetener, like honey or maple syrup.
- Mix in more fruit. Add even more flavor to your cranberry sauce by mixing in different types of fruit before cooking. You can toss in fresh or frozen blueberries, diced apples, or pears for a sweet addition to the classic dish.
- Mix in some alcohol. Another way to add a punch of flavor to your basic cranberry sauce is with a shot or two of alcohol. Grand Marnier or another orange flavored liquor is a great option, as well as a spiced rum, like Crown Royal.
How to Store Homemade Cranberry Sauce?
Cranberry sauce is one part of your Thanksgiving dinner that lasts a while after it's prepared. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay good for up to 10 days in the fridge.
You can also store your homemade cranberry sauce in the freezer for up to two months. When you're ready to enjoy your sauce, transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
Can I Make Cranberry Sauce Ahead of Time?
Prepping your Thanksgiving dinner ahead of time is a great way to make sure everything is ready to enjoy on the big day! And the good news is that you can prepare your Instant Pot cranberry sauce in advance to save you some prep work on Thanksgiving.
You can make the sauce up to two days in advance. Once the sauce is completely cool, transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge until you're ready eat it. Around one hour before serving, set it out on the counter to give it time to come to room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz frozen cranberries no need to thaw
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup orange juice freshly squeezed if possible
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Add frozen cranberries, sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, and water into the Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
- Close the lid and set the valve to sealing.
- Select Manual/Pressure Cook on high for 3 minutes.
- Allow a 10-minute natural release, then carefully quick release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and stir. The cranberries will have burst and the sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and let cool at room temperature before serving, or refrigerate until ready.
Notes
• Serve with roast turkey, ham, or chicken.
• Use as a spread on sandwiches or wraps with leftovers.
• Swirl into yogurt, oatmeal, or ice cream for a festive touch.
Storage:
• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
• Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
FAQs:
Can I use fresh cranberries instead? Yes, just reduce the cook time to 2 minutes.
Can I make this ahead? Yes, it’s even better after a day or two in the fridge.
What if it is too sweet? You can reduce the sugar further to ½ cup for a more tart flavor.
