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Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce is very easy to make, even when it isn’t Thanksgiving! The flavor is bright, sweet, and a little tart. This pressure cooker cranberry sauce goes well with turkey, chicken, game birds, and pork. It is also delicious on a turkey sandwich!
Originally published on 10/8/2017
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Cranberry Sauce is one of the easiest Thanksgiving Instant Pot Recipes there is!
Nana used to make this cranberry sauce in her stove top pressure cooker back in the day. I always liked it.
Tips for Good Cranberry Sauce
• Try adding more spices like cloves or ginger (in very small amounts).
• Toss in some chopped apples to make a cran-apple sauce.
• Garnish servings with Walnuts or Pecans
• Save some for turkey sandwiches!
A Word About Sweetener
Nana’s recipe called for double the sugar that I use. I prefer a cranberry sauce that is much less sweet, I reduced the sugar by half, and that works for me.
• If you want a less-sweet cranberry sauce, reduce sugar by 1/2 cup or more (you can always add more after cooking).
• You can also use Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, or Honey in place of white sugar.
• If you add sweetener after cooking, do so while the sauce is still warm so it dissolves.
• If you want to use artificial sweetener, add it after pressure cooking.
The touch of orange is just right, and doesn’t take away from the wonderful fresh cranberry flavor.
If you want a straight cranberry sauce, you can leave out the orange and replace the juice with water. You could also use apple juice, for a different flavor.
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If you make this homemade pressure cooker Cranberry Sauce, please let me know. Just leave a comment with a star rating below.
I’d like to know how it worked for you!
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
- 3-quart or 6-quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz - 16 oz) pkg Cranberries, fresh or frozen
- ½ teaspoon Orange Zest (grated)
- ⅛ teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)
- ⅓ cup Orange Juice or water (it doesn't take much)
- 1 cup Sugar (If you like it more tart, back off the sugar by ½ cup)
Optional Ingredients
- Maple Syrup or Honey in place of sugar
- Use half Brown Sugar
- pinch Ginger
- pinch Cloves
- 1 cup Chopped Apples
Instructions
- Add the cranberries, zest, cinnamon, and juice. Then pour the cup of sugar over the berries, but do not stir.
- Close the lid and set steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button or dial, and the +/- to select 2 minutes (High pressure). When the cooking cycle finishes, turn the pot all the way off.
- The berry mixture is a bit foamy at this point, so let the pressure naturally release for at least 10 minutes so the foam can subside.
- Manually release the remaining pressure/steam in short bursts, until you are sure none of the sauce is going to spew out with the steam.
- When all of the pressure is out of the pot and the pin in the lid drops, open and stir the cranberry sauce very well. Taste the cranberry sauce and if you like it sweeter, add more sugar, 1 Tbsp at a time, stirring well.
- Transfer to a serving dish and chill. It will thicken as it cools.
Notes
- This recipe can be doubled. Keep the cook time the same.
- (Cook time does not include the few minutes it takes to bring pot to pressure, or natural release).
- If you like it more tart, back off the sugar by 1/2 cup or more.
- Taste the cranberry sauce after it has finished cooking, and if you like it sweeter, add more sugar, 1 Tbsp at a time, stirring well. Do this while the sauce is still warm so the sugar dissolves.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Resources to Make Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe
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Had a chance to make this recipe for not one, but two Thanksgivings this year! I subbed pure cane sugar for white, just out of preference for flavor, and it became an immediate staple. So thankful for the deliciousness and simplicity of this recipe, and thankful that you chose to share it with all of us! Blessings, Sandy! XO
Would you add the apples before or after pressure cooking?
Before
Does it work with blue berries?
Yes! Instant Pot Blueberry Jam
Made this for Thanksgiving this year, it was amazing!! So much better than store bought. This will be our go to recipe for years to come!!
I’m definitely making this, this year.
If I like to add Grand Marnier to my cranberry sauce, when would I do that with this recipe?
Yum! Add after pressure cooking while it is still warm, but not too hot.
I put a little bit of butter in the pot, stops foaming. Do that when doing jams.
Hi! I have the cranberries on the pot right now! I am wondering, can the cranberry sauce freeze for later use? Thanks!
Yes! I freeze it often for recipes and later use.
Thank you so much! I’m making more today!!!
I always all strawberry jello to mine while cooking it. Can I add it to the pressure cooker?
I see no reason not to, but you may need a little more water or OJ.
Could you use a food mill to make it the creamy cranberry sauce? My kids have texture/sensory issues and will only eat the smooth sauce.
That’s a good idea. You could do that or even use a food processor.
I just made it. Easy and turned out beautifully! Thanks so much for this recipe 😊
Thank you for this recipe. I’ve made my own cranberry sauce for years since I don’t like a lot of sugar in my food. I have always added a can or 2 of mandarin oranges and water instead not orange juice in mine. I also use cinnamon sticks instead of ground spice and remove them after it cooks. I then can reuse the cinnamon sticks after they’re rinsed and air dried.