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The Instant Pot cranberry sauce is not only quick and easy, but it is amazingly delicious too! Whether you’re whipping it up right before your Thanksgiving turkey dinner or canning it to make it shelf-stable (hello convenience! ), you’ll love this homemade cranberry sauce.
First, a little confession… I used to hate cranberry sauce. My mom would always buy it at Thanksgiving and the gelatinous concoction never interested me.
The funny thing about traditions is that even though I didn’t like it, I still bought the same can of cranberry sauce every year for my family!
One year I had forgotten to buy the canned stuff and decided to make my own. I also, of course, had limited ingredients to work with and limited time. I decided to combine a few online recipes and add my own flare, taking into account what I had to work with. This strategy of cooking doesn’t always pan out for me, but this time it created a family favorite!
I still remember the first bite. This was not the cranberry sauce of my childhood. This was SO much better!
This Instant Pot version is perfect to whip up on Thanksgiving as an easy side dish to turkey and mashed potatoes. It’s also great for pouring into a Mason jar and bringing to your your family gathering or any other holiday table. Trust me, your friends and family will be impressed because it’ll look like you spent a ton of time on this from-scratch fresh cranberry sauce!
The best part about this easy recipe is that it can be made ahead and canned for long-term storage. While pressure cooking the sauce it doesn’t take much time, it’s so convenient to have this proven show stopper on the shelf, ready to go. Plus, around November, cranberries are in season and at their best price. It’s a great time of the year to stock up and preserve them in this in this delicious cranberry sauce.
What is Instant Pot cranberry sauce?
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce is a simple recipe that combines cranberries, sugar, and spices in a pressure cooker to create a delicious and versatile condiment. It’s a popular dish often served alongside Thanksgiving turkey and other holiday meals.
Why You’ll love this recipe
- Perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays: This Instant Pot Cranberry sauce is a lifesaver for any Thanksgiving dinner or holiday meal. It’s super quick to throw together and goes perfectly with turkey and mashed potatoes.
- Easy to make with less sugar: You can tweak the amount of sugar to your liking. You can even swap out white sugar for pure maple syrup if you want. And if you’ve got any leftover cranberry sauce, just toss it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for later!
- It looks impressive, but It’s so simple: It’s crazy easy to make, but it always looks like you went all out. With barely any prep time and super short cook times, you’ll have an amazing delicacy that’s ready in no time. Your family and friends will think you went the extra mile with this one.
Tips for making the Instant Pot cranberry sauce recipe
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice and zest for a bright, fresh flavor that enhances the sauce.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 20–25 minutes to achieve the best consistency and flavor.
- Don’t forget to remove the orange zest and cinnamon stick after cooking for a cleaner taste and texture.
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
* You will also need an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker
How to make the best Instant Pot cranberry sauce
- Place all of the above ingredients in your instant pot, except for the vanilla. Stir well to combine.
- Lock the lid in place and turn the vent to sealing. Choose manual setting, high pressure, 4 min.
- Let the pressure release naturally. This should take 20-25 min.
- Remove orange zest and cinnamon. Mash or blend with an immersion blender until it is the desired consistency.
- Stir in vanilla. Let cool. Can be refrigerated 5-7 days.
How to Can Cranberry Sauce
- Pour the hot cranberry sauce into pint canning jars. Wipe the rims and add lids and bands.
- Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Increase this time according to your altitude.
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The Best Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce (+ how to can it)
Make the best Instant Pot cranberry sauce with this easy recipe, plus learn how to can it for long-lasting holiday flavor!
Ingredients
- 2 (12 oz.) bags of cranberries, or about 6 cups, fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (maple sugar is good too!)
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 (3 in). strips of orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place all of the above ingredients in your instant pot, except for the vanilla. Give everything a good stir to combine.
- Lock the lid in place and set the vent to the sealing position. Choose manual setting, high pressure, 4 min.
- Let the pressure release naturally. This should take 20–25 minutes.
- Remove orange zest and cinnamon. Mash or blend with an immersion blender until it is the desired consistency.
- Stir in vanilla. Let it cool. You can refrigerate it in an airtight container for 5-7 days.
How to can cranberry sauce
- Pour the hot cranberry sauce into pint canning jars. Wipe the rims and add lids and bands.
- Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Increase this time according to your altitude.
Notes
Tips for making the Instant Pot cranberry sauce recipe
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice and zest for a bright, fresh flavor that enhances the sauce.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 20–25 minutes to achieve the best consistency and flavor.
- Don’t forget to remove the orange zest and cinnamon stick after cooking for a cleaner taste and texture.
Why You'll love this recipe
Perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays
This Instant Pot Cranberry sauce is a lifesaver for any Thanksgiving dinner or holiday meal. It’s super quick to throw together and goes perfectly with turkey and mashed potatoes.
Easy to make with less sugar
You can tweak the amount of sugar to your liking. You can even swap out white sugar for pure maple syrup if you want. And if you’ve got any leftover cranberry sauce, just toss it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for later!
It looks impressive, but It's so simple
It's crazy easy to make, but it always looks like you went all out. With barely any prep time and super short cook times, you'll have an amazing delicacy that’s ready in no time. Your family and friends will think you went the extra mile with this one.
FAQs
Can I make this cranberry sauce ahead of the holiday season?
Totally! This easy Instant Pot cranberry sauce is perfect for making in advance. You can pop it in the fridge for about a week, or can it for long-term storage. It’s a lifesaver for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, so you can kick back and enjoy the festivities without any last-minute rushing.
How do I know when the pressure has released?
After cooking for 4 minutes, just let the multi-functional pressure cooker do its thing and release the remaining pressure naturally. This usually takes around 20 to 25 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the pressure valve drops down. Then, you can open the lid and give that sauce a good stir!
What are some fun ways to enjoy cranberry sauce?
You can enjoy cranberry sauce in so many tasty ways! To begin with, as a side dish, just spoon it onto a serving dish to go with your main course—it’s the perfect match. If you’re craving something sweet, pour it over vanilla ice cream or a slice of pound cake for an easy dessert. Feeling adventurous? Spread some on a sandwich or wrap for a fun, sweet, and tangy kick. Additionally, don’t forget about smoothies! Simply toss in a spoonful for a burst of flavor and nutrients.
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a 5-star review so that others can try it as well! Mention us @thefromscratchfarmhouse on Instagram so we can see your creations! You can also leave a comment below!
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