Easy Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

Hey friends, I'm holed up studying for exams again. (Tis the season…ugh) My sweet friend Erin once more graciously agreed to guest post for me. I'm excited to share her easy take on homemade cranberry sauce. It's one of my favorite Thanksgiving foods. I especially enjoy leftovers for breakfast with some plain greek yogurt and a little honey. Cranberries are in season now, so you can enjoy them beyond the Thanksgiving table. If you're wondering for other ways to use this delicious cranberry sauce, try out some of these: cranberry cornmeal waffles, cranberry gingerbread gelato, cranberry sauce parfaits, and vegan cranberry crumble bars.  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. The food, the family and the laughs all make the day what it is. 

My parents host Thanksgiving dinner every year. My brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins attend. This year, for the first time, I brought my boyfriend, Harry, to my family Thanksgiving. He is from New Jersey and with only 2 days off from work, the trip from NC was not feasible.

I was thrilled that he could join us, but I was also concerned that he would miss his own Mother’s house on this special holiday. I had to make sure we had his favorite dishes on the table so that he would feel as “at home” as possible. I asked him his favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal…homemade cranberry sauce.

OF COURSE cranberry sauce is the one thing that is not made from scratch at our Thanksgiving. In fact, I do not think anyone in my family had even tasted cranberry sauce that did not come straight out of a can.

I sprang into action researching recipes and figuring out how I would pull off making a recipe for the first time on Thanksgiving. I came across a few recipes, and nothing looked difficult. I COULD DO THIS! I decided upon a crockpot recipe, and modified it enough to make it 1) simple 2) delicious 3) not too messy (cranberries stain!)

Harry loved the sauce. Now we will have a new Thanksgiving dish on our table…goodbye canned cranberry sauce!

Easy Crockpot Cranberry sauce

 Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup water

1 tablespoon orange or lemon zest

The juice of 1 large orange or lemon

40-50 ounces cranberries

Directions:

Wash cranberries. Add everything to crockpot. Cook on high one hour. Stir vigorously smashing cranberries as you stir. Cook for one more hour on high. 

Remove lid and let cranberries continue cooking on low for 45 minutes.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. May be served at room temperature.

Happy Thanksgiving!