Cranberry Applesauce

Homemade cranberry applesauce made with apples, fresh cranberries, lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated March 27, 2023
Elise Bauer
Cranberry Applesauce
Elise Bauer

Every fall we await the arrival of fresh cranberries in the grocery aisles. "Have you seen them yet?" "Are they in?" We compare notes for cranberry sightings at the local stores.

When the cranberries do finally come in, we load up, so we have plenty of frozen cranberries to last us the year.

Then we start cooking with them.

Cranberry relish, cranberry sorbet, even cranberry salsa. We even have three different recipes for apple cranberry pie.

One of my father's favorite things to make is applesauce with cranberries added in for tartness, flavor, and color. We'll eat it for breakfast, as a side for pork, or with ice cream for dessert.

Also, not sure which type of apple to use? Check out our Guide to Apples for more information on apple varieties.

Cranberry Applesauce

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 6 to 8 servings
Yield 1 1/2 to 2 quarts

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 pounds peeled, cored, roughly chopped Granny Smith apples (or other good cooking apple such as Golden Delicious, Fuji, Jonathan, Mcintosh, or Gravenstein)

  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups frozen cranberries

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup white sugar

  • 1 cup water

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

  1. Simmer the ingredients together:

    Place all of the ingredients in a large (5-quart) pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer and cover. Cook 20 to 30 minutes, or until the apples can easily be mashed.

    cranberry-applesauce-method-1
    Elise Bauer
  2. Mash with potato masher:

    Remove from heat. Mash the apples and cranberries with a potato masher to the consistency you want.

    cranberry-applesauce-method-2a
    Elise Bauer

    Serve hot as a side to pork or turkey. Or serve hot or cold as a dessert with some vanilla ice cream.

    Store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. Or freeze for up to a year.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
215 Calories
0g Fat
52g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 215
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 139mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 7g 26%
Total Sugars 41g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 306mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.