Skip to main content

Cranberry Applesauce

A kid-approved, bright and flavorful take on traditional applesauce.
Cooking for a Crowd

Cooking for a Crowd

Use these recipe sheets to prepare for larger groups:

Kid friendly
Bowl of smooth apple and cranberry puree.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Makes: 6 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

8 medium apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup water
1 ½ cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice (optional)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh fruits under running water before preparing.
  3. In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Mash to a thickness you like with a potato masher or fork.. Serve warm or cold.
  5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • When frozen or fresh cranberries are not available, substitute canned cranberry sauce for the cranberries and brown sugar. Add 1 can (14 ounces) of cranberry sauce to the saucepan after the mixture has been simmering for about 15 minutes.
  • For a smooth texture, puree in batches in a regular blender, using the manufacturer's directions for pureeing hot liquids.
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Comments

Amazing recipe!  My whole family loved it!  I halved the recipe to not use up all our apples, but i should not have!  The girls raved and raved about it every bite and went for seconds.  ALSO, i did blend it to be extra smooth, especially for my picker eater as i knew that would up the chance she would eat it, and interestingly both girls kept mentioning it tased like clouds and that was one reason they loved it so much.  They told me to make it again and again.  We did happen to have a lemon, but next time i will for sure try without because to me i tasted a tad tart, but no one else had that taste....  THANKS for a GREAT kid approved recipe!

I love this recipe!  It is bright and fun, so it really appeals to kids.  It is a little tart and a little sweet, which makes it very tasty.

I made this recipe at home with frozen cranberries, added a few more apples and a couple pears. I did not add the brown sugar and the applesauce was still plenty sweet and delicious!

I made this recipe for a lunchroom tasting this week and the kids LOVED it! They all wanted seconds! Because I was making it for such a large quantity (350 students) I opted to use unsweetened applesauce and canned cranberry sauce. Based on the suggestion in the notes, I ommitted the sugar. The color was still beautiful and it tasted great warm or cold. I would definitely make this again!

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Apple Sandwiches
Crispy apple slices with peanut butter and raisin filling are shown on a plate.

Apple Sandwiches

Easy and tasty snack that’s fun and creative for kids to make.
Prepare:
10 Min
Makes:
2 Servings
Mashed Turnips and Potatoes
Bowl of seasoned and mashed potatoes and turnips.

Mashed Turnips and Potatoes

A creamy blend of root vegetables mashed and flavored with sour cream and garlic.
Prepare:
15 Min
Cook:
20 Min
Makes:
3 cups
Radish and Cucumber Salad
Platter of thinly sliced cucumbers and radishes with a seasoned yogurt sauce.

Radish and Cucumber Salad

Crisp cucumbers, earthy radishes, creamy yogurt, and flavorful garlic make this the perfect summer salad.
Prepare:
10 Min
Makes:
5 cups
Crispy Parmesan Baked Fish
Plate of breaded, flakey white fish with slices of lemon.

Crispy Parmesan Baked Fish

Light and healthy battered white fish with parmesan and herbs. This a great recipe to add more fish to your meals.
Prepare:
20 Min
Cook:
15 Min
Makes:
8 Servings
Celery Stir-Fry
Photo of Celery Stir-Fry

Celery Stir-Fry

This flavorful side dish of tender celery is a quick and simple addition to any meal.
Prepare:
10 Min
Cook:
15 Min
Makes:
4 cups
Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie
Photo of Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie

Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie

Enjoy a fresh taste of spring any time of year with this smoothie.
Prepare:
20 Min
Makes:
6 cups