Skip to main content

Cranberry Applesauce

A new way to enjoy applesauce that is bright, flavorful and kid-approved.
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.

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)

Lemony Garbanzo Bean Dip
Garbanzo bean dip garnished with cilantro and served with crackers.

Lemony Garbanzo Bean Dip

Quick easy homemade bean dip, perfect for a party appetizer or afterschool snack.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Refried Beans
Small bowl of mashed beans garnished with cilantro.

Refried Beans

Make your own flavorful and satisfying refried beans at home with this 15-minute recipe.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
1 cup
Vegetarian Tofu Enchiladas
Casserole dish with a tofu and vegetable mix topped with black olives and cilantro.

Vegetarian Tofu Enchiladas

Tofu provides protein while mushrooms provide texture and umami flavor in these easy enchiladas.
Prepare:
30 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 pieces
Carrot Pancakes
Photo of Carrot Pancakes

Carrot Pancakes

A fun and healthy twist on pancakes to enjoy at any meal.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
7 Pancakes
Pineapple Carrot Protein Smoothie
Glass filled with a thick orange smoothie.

Pineapple Carrot Protein Smoothie

Enjoy this high-protein smoothie for a quick meal or to re-fuel after exercise. Make it your own with different fruits and vegetables.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
1 ½ cups
Pinto Bean Dip
Bean dip topped with jalapeno peppers served with baby carrots.

Pinto Bean Dip

A quick and easy bean dip that comes together in 5 minutes.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 ¼ cups
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.