Instant Pot Cranberry Applesauce Recipe

Cranberry sauce can be a delicious complement for turkey and other poultry, but cranberries also pack a significant antioxidant punch. According to recipe developer and wellness coach Miriam Hahn, there is one potentially serious drawback. Depending on how it is prepared — and especially if it comes in a can — cranberry sauce can be quite high in sugar. Fortunately, this cranberry applesauce recipe from Hahn circumvents that issue by eschewing added sugar in favor of apples and apple juice. But while that is, indeed, a strong selling point, there is something else that makes this recipe special: It only takes 15 minutes to cook in an Instant Pot.

This recipe is not just a substitute for canned cranberry sauce. According to Hahn, it's "also really good to eat with breakfast or brunch, in place of plain applesauce." And it's one reason why she keeps frozen cranberries in her freezer year-round!

For this recipe, you'll need fresh or frozen cranberries and lemon juice. You'll also need some large apples. Hahn suggests using Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala, but you're welcome to use another variety if you prefer. Just be aware that Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala are on the sweeter side, although each also has a measure of tartness in its flavor profile. If tartness is what you prefer, something like a Granny Smith, combined with the tartness of the cranberries and lemon in this recipe, will deliver a more pronounced pucker.

In addition, you'll need cinnamon for a little sweet heat, plus more for serving. If you'd like, you can even garnish individual servings of this cranberry applesauce with a cinnamon stick.

Start by peeling the apples. (Note that a vegetable peeler is often more precise than a knife.) Quick trivia: Did you know that apple peels contain more nutrients than the flesh? It's true.  

Next, chop the apples. An easy way to do this is to slice off the top and bottom of the apples to create a flat surface. Then, cut close to the core on all four sides. Discard the core, and chop the four pieces into smaller pieces. They don't have to look any particular way because they're going straight into the Instant Pot.

Place the apples, cranberries, apple juice, cinnamon, and lemon juice into your Instant Pot. Cover, making sure the nozzle is set to Sealing, select Pressure Cook, and cook for five minutes. Note: The Instant Pot takes about 15 minutes to reach full pressure, at which point the five minute timer will appear on the display and begin counting down.

When the timer goes off, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 10 minutes. Next, carefully open the lid, standing back so that you don't get hit by any remaining steam that releases from the pot at this point. When the steam fully dissipates, mash the contents of the pot with a potato masher or immersion blender to blend the sauce into whatever texture you prefer.  

Transfer to a serving bowl or individual ramekins, and top with more cinnamon. If desired, top each serving with a cinnamon stick.