“Decked Out” Cranberry Sauce with Plums and Apples

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Chill Time: 30 minutes |Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes | Serves: 4

Homemade Cranberry Sauce filled with fresh cranberries, plums, apples, and pecans. Spiced with orange, cinnamon and star anise.

An updated “Decked Out Cranberry Sauce” was way overdue (the photos, too!). I slightly revamped the recipe and I absolutely love it! Adding more “bulky” ingredients allowed me to use only 1 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries. I didn’t steer away from the spices, though. I love them together in this holiday side dish way too much to desert them.

I omitted the celery. My oldest son pointed out that celery does not belong in cranberry sauce. My mom used to put it in hers, and I personally loved the crunch. I’ve added diced apples to somewhat “replace” that texture (and make my son happier)(Just kidding.)

Below is from the original post because it’s just too sweet, fun, and touching to leave out.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce filled with fresh cranberries, plums, apples, and pecans. Spiced with orange, cinnamon and star anise.

Thanksgiving… Does it bring images of perfectly roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?

As Americans, we know our Thanksgiving traditions and heritage are based on our history as to how this country was pioneered. However, did you know 17 countries celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving?

Friends that we’ve had since college, who God called to the mission field in Uganda, described to me adjustments and special memories of Thanksgiving in another country. American families would “gather every year and have a huge meal together.” Keeping with the Tennessee weather, their daughter would wear a sweater, no matter the Ugandan weather, “because it should be sweater-weather on Thanksgiving!” Substituting foods in Uganda was inevitable; chicken for a turkey or butternut squash for sweet potatoes, but some fellow missionaries would save back items like boxed stuffing or Jell-O No-Bake Cheesecake mixes (brought back from the states) just for this special occasion. My friend summed it beautifully and perfectly, “The heart of everyone coming together as a family away from our natural families and truly being thankful to our Lord for all that He has done,” was the best part of their Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy! 

Homemade Cranberry Sauce filled with fresh cranberries, plums, apples, and pecans. Spiced with orange, cinnamon and star anise.

"Decked Out" Cranberry Sauce with Plums and Apples

Pantry To Table
This updated version is a flavorful spin on traditional cranberry sauce.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cool Time: 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 304.29 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
  • 3 plums, pitted, and diced into 1/2" pieces, no need to peel
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 2/3
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • zest from 1 large orange, (1 heaping tablespoon)
  • 2 - 3 whole star anise, see Notes
  • 2 cinnamon sticks, see Notes
  • 3/4 cup apple, any variety, peeled and diced (I like about 1/4" pieces)
  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the cranberries, plums, orange juice, sugar, zest, star anise and cinnamon. Bring to a gentle boil.
  • Cook the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cranberries have (mostly) popped, the plums are mostly dissolved, and there is little liquid left in the pan.
  • Set the pan aside to cool for another 30 minutes.
  • Using tongs, fish out the star anise and cinnamon sticks and discard.
  • Stir in the apples and pecans.
  • Scrape the cranberry sauce into a serving bowl and serve at room temperature or cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • Cover and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 5 days.

Notes

Make sure the star anise and cinnamon sticks are from a new or fairly newly opened package. These spices, like all, will lose their potency over time and result in weak flavor infusion. Also, using whole star anise instead of small pieces makes finding them much easier in the sauce. 
The Cranberry Sauce can be prepared, completely cooled, placed in a very air-tight cand freezer-safe container and frozen for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts
"Decked Out" Cranberry Sauce with Plums and Apples
Amount per Serving
Calories
304.29
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
9.74
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.83
g
5
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2.91
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5.43
g
Sodium
 
2.43
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
281
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
56.63
g
19
%
Fiber
 
5.45
g
23
%
Sugar
 
46.39
g
52
%
Protein
 
2.26
g
5
%
Vitamin C
 
34.99
mg
42
%
Calcium
 
28.79
mg
3
%
Iron
 
0.85
mg
5
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword fresh cranberry sauce, fresh cranberry recipe, holiday side dish, Thanksgiving side dish, Christmas side dish, Friendsgiving side dish, holiday recipes, fresh cranberry side dish
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