Side Dishes

November 22, 2021

Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce

Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce turns a typically minor-player at the holiday table into a shining star! Tart cranberries, fruity red wine, warm spices and bright citrus blend perfectly in this delicious cranberry sauce. 

I’ve made some variation of this cranberry sauce for years. Once I grew up and grew out of the jellied cranberry sauce in a can, I discovered whole-berry cranberry sauce, and it wasn’t long before I learned how easy it is to make yourself. And if you make cranberry sauce yourself, you get to play with the flavors, like adding spices and citrus, and wine! It also helped that these days, holiday gatherings are all adults in my family. Adult palettes are a little more sophisticated, and the holiday cranberry sauce evolved as we all did. 

I hope this will be a last-minute addition to your holiday table this year! Cranberry sauce is one of the first things I make during Thanksgiving week, because it can be made ahead and easily stored for a couple days in the refrigerator. I like to bring it to room temperature before serving. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds. And if you have leftovers, don’t worry! I have a creative use for leftover cranberry sauce coming to you soon!

Ingredients assembled for Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce
Assemble your ingredients.

Cranberry sauce ingredients in a pot on the stove
Combine everything in a medium sauce pan on the stove, and simmer until reduced and thickened.

Finished cranberry sauce served in a red, heart-shaped cast iron pot
Serve cranberry sauce warm or at room temperature.

Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce

Mulled Wine Cranberry Sauce turns a typically minor-player at the holiday table into a shining star! Tart cranberries, fruity red wine, warm spices and bright citrus blend perfectly in this delicious cranberry sauce.

Author:

Kira Freed - The Joyful Plateful

Prep:

5

min

cook:

25

min

total:

30

min

Ingredients

12 oz. fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained

1 cup fruity red wine - merlot, cabernet, malbec all work well

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

Zest and juice of 1 navel orange

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cloves 

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and reduce heat to medium-low. 
  2. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, until cranberries have burst, and the sauce is reduced and thickened. 
  3. Serve warm or at room temperature. Or, make up to several days in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve. 
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