Slow Cooker Orange Cranberry Sauce
Christmas is almost here and I am so excited! Between deployments and family emergencies, this is the first time in over 3 years that we’ll be spending Christmas at home as a family.
Last year my husband was deployed, I had a toddler and had another on the way so it was a little difficult for me. Luckily, my mom, sister, and nieces were able to visit us. I was so happy that they were driving up to Colorado for Christmas that I wanted to have a special meal planned.
More from The Kreative Life: Sesame Orange Ginger Chicken
My menu for Christmas was a basic menu (turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing…), but I wanted to make each dish a little special. I made homemade slow cooker cranberry sauce and it was delicious!
Now that my husband is back home (and since he didn’t get a chance to taste my new recipe) I wanted to make him my new slow cooker orange cranberry sauce recipe, but with a kreative twist of course.
The Slow Cooker Magic
Slow cookers are the unsung heroes of the kitchen, and for good reason. They take the stress out of meal preparation and allow flavors to meld and deepen over time. When it comes to my cranberry orange sauce recipe, using a slow cooker can be a game-changer. It ensures that the sauce cooks evenly and allows you to multitask while it simmers away.
Flavors in Harmony with Orange Cranberry Sauce
Slow cooker orange cranberry sauce brings together the bright tartness of cranberries with the zesty sweetness of oranges. This flavorful partnership creates a condiment that’s both tangy and sweet, making it a versatile addition to your holiday table. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld seamlessly, resulting in a sauce that’s rich, vibrant, and utterly delicious.
Simplicity and Convenience
One of the key advantages of slow cooker orange cranberry sauce is its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal hands-on effort, you can prepare a homemade sauce that surpasses anything store-bought. Plus, it can be made in advance, freeing up valuable stove space on the day of your big feast.
Slow cooker orange cranberry sauce is more than just a condiment; it’s a testament to the power of simplicity and the beauty of flavor fusion. Whether you’re serving it alongside roast turkey, spreading it on leftover turkey sandwiches, or using it as a topping for desserts, this sauce is a versatile and delightful addition to any holiday meal.
So, embrace the ease of the slow cooker and the vibrant flavors of cranberries and oranges, and let slow cooker orange cranberry sauce elevate your holiday feasts to a new level of deliciousness. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Orange Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Fresh Cranberries
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp. Nutmeg
- 1 Tsp. Orange Zest
- 1/2 Cup Fresh Orange Juice
- 1/4 Tsp. Orange Extract
Instructions
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Place cranberries in a colander under cold running water. Gently wash cranberries. Pour cranberries and water into the slow cooker. Turn slow cooker to high heat (may be cooked on low heat, but cooking time will be longer). Slowly stir in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, zest, juice, and extract. Allow cranberries to cook for 2 hours, occasionally stirring. Allow to cool before serving.
We just picked up a bag of cranberries at the store so I’ll share this recipe with my husband who loves to make the sauce. We don’t have orange extract so I hope that it won’t hurt to make it without.
Hi Marcia,
The orange extract won’t hurt the flavor too much because you still use orange juice. I hope you like it!
This sounds like a delicious dish for those who like cranberries. I’m glad your family is together this year, those other years must not have been the greatest. I could never imagine being away from both husband and family. You have more reason to celebrate this year.
Yes, it was truly a celebration! Thank you!
I do hope Christmas is more relaxing and less stressful for you this year! It’s nice to just stay at home with the family and spend time together. Loving your menu!
Thank you, Carol! It was a lot more relaxing!
I love cranberry sauce but I haven’t made it in the slow cooker before. I need to to try this – it sounds delicious!
You’ll love it, Coralie! The aroma in your home for hours will be absolutely amazing!
Every year, we spend Christmas day together with family members who live closeby. My eldest cousin will be the host this year and we are all looking forward to catching up with cousins, aunts, uncles and the newest additions to the family. Thank you for the recipe. I will print copies of it and share it with my cousins. 🙂
I hope you enjoy your family over the holidays, Annemarie! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
That looks delicious! What part of Colorado are you in? I’m in Loveland and looking to have meetups with other bloggers. Anyway, I love cranberry sauce, but everyone one on my husband’s side of the family hates it! I’ve missed this dish at family gatherings for years because I”m the only one that eats it. I say they have no idea what they are missing! 😉 I’m glad your husband is back home for the holidays. That can be so stressful and just sad when they are deployed.
Hi, Heather! They definitely have no idea what they’re missing, especially when fresh cranberries are used. Deployments are really hard during the holidays and hopefully we won’t have to go through anymore. I hope you enjoy your holidays!
Perfect for this time of year. I do love a good cranberry sauce. I didn’ t think to make one in a slow cooker.
I love how they taste in the slow cooker, plus I don’t have to constantly stir them or worry about them boiling over.