Apple Cranberry Sauce

Skip the canned cranberry sauce and try this easy homemade Apple Cranberry Sauce. Perfect for this time of year or really any time of year!

Cranberries are very high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help decrease inflammation and decrease free radical damage to DNA.

Cranberries are very tart and traditional cranberry sauce often has lots of added sugar to offset that tartness. A serving of cranberry sauce from the can provides about 25 grams of total sugar with 24 of those coming from added sugar! In this recipe, maple syrup provides the sweetness. A serving of this Apple Cranberry Sauce provides 12 grams total sugar, half of what is in traditional sauce.

Serve this Apple Cranberry Sauce:

With turkey, ham or pork

Make a yogurt parfait - layer granola, yogurt and Apple Cranberry Sauce

Spoon over goat cheese for a party appetizer with crackers or gingersnaps

Apple Cranberry Sauce

12 oz bag fresh cranberries or 3 cups frozen cranberries

2 apples, cored and chopped (leave the skin on)

½ cup maple syrup or honey

½ cup water

1 cinnamon stick

½ cup chopped pecans

Combine cranberries, chopped apple, maple syrup, water and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries have popped and the mixture has thickened, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat, remove the cinnamon stick and stir in chopped pecans.

This will continue to thicken as it cools and will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.