Merlot Cranberry Sauce and Great Cranberry Sauce Recipes By You
**Thanks for voting this recipe into Foodbuzz Top 9 today! November 11,2011 **
The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving day is in 2 weeks so that means many of you have already started planning your dinner menus. A must have staple on the American Thanksgiving Day table is cranberry sauce. Tough it is a staple on many American tables in my family’s Mexican American fusion holiday table it was not to be found. Secretly I was always glad it never made an appearance. It wasn’t that I disliked cranberries, no it was they way I saw it come out of cans. To me it looked like the gelatinous globs that collect on top of soup stock with nothing but preservatives to get it to that state. No knock on those who enjoy it. Actually I’ve never even tasted those cans so I might very well change my mind. I don’t know. Have you guys tried it and what do you think of it ?
Last Thanksgiving when we decided to have a small dinner of our own we included cranberry sauce. The good thing about being in Europe is that those cans of cranberry sauce are not to be found,(Well at least not in my local shops.), so homemade was the only option. As I began doing research for a good basic recipe I came across so many great recipes. But in the end I just winged it and added as I went. So this is the simple and boozy cranberry sauce recipe I made. Hope you like it and please continue to the bottom for some amazing cranberry sauce recipes by members of our lovely community.
- ½ lb. (230 grams) frozen whole cranberries
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup Merlot
- ½ tsp. ground cinammon
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- pinch of ground cardamom
- 4 whole allspice
- 2 whole cloves
- Pour the water, wine and sugar into a pot. Stir and allow the sugar to melt completely, then add all of the spices and frozen cranberries. Stir ingredients well. Simmer over medium low heat, stirring occasionally. Simmer until the cranberries break down and the liquid thickens. Taste the sauce and adjust the sugar to the sweetness desired.
Fantastic Cranberry Sauce recipes from our community:
– Baked Brie Croissants with Cranberry Sauce by The Ardent Epicure
– Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce by Alejandra Ramos of Always Order Dessert
– Cranberry Cookbook & Jellied Cranberry Sauce by Chef Tom Cooks
– Homemade Cranberry Sauce by Shamrocks and Shenanigans
– Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce by Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
– Spiced-Tea Cranberry Sauce by Family Spice
– Ruby Chicken by Rindy Mae
– Cranberry Sauce with Merlot, Molasses and Toasted Walnuts by Creative Culinary
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*Do you have a great cranberry sauce recipe? Leave the link in the comments and I’ll add you to the list above.*
**Thanks for voting this recipe into Foodbuzz Top 9 today! November 11,2011 **
I’ve never really liked cranberry sauce either…maybe it has to do with the fact it comes out of cans, but this sauce looks mouth watering.
Thanks April! Perhaps you’ll be inspired to make your own this year.
I agree, I think the way cranberry sauce comes out of the can, ridges & all just freaks me out! So last year I decided to make my own cranberry sauce, it was so good but unfortunately I didn’t have my blog up yet so I don’t have a post on it. Your recipe sounds amazing, I have a dinner party coming up next Friday and I think I might have to try this out. :)
Hi Lacy, Hehe, your feelings are the same :) I hope you do try my recipe or any of the ones listed, let me know. If you post your own come back and post the link so I can add you.
Thanks for sharing !! :-) Your recipe sounds delicious.
Thank you Thomas!
That looks wonderful! I’m not a huge fan of cranberry sauce (I never had cranberries before coming to the States), but with a Merlot twist, maybe I can be converted :)
Hi Kiri, Yeah cranberries are not so popular here in Europe. It took me forever to even find juice when we first arrived. Perhaps the Melot will change your mind. If not just drink the left over wine, hehe!
I do have a big bottle of Merlot needing to be used (can’t drink it all) and this looks to be the perfect use for it. Very creative, creating a cranberry sauce with wine-but it sounds like a winner. I am imagining the flavor blend. Well done!
Thank you Tina! I hope you get good use out of that bottle of Merlot.
Delicious! Might I say, your food photography is nothing less than stunning. Both the quality of the food, the means by which it is presented, and the accompanying items are very elegantly arranged.
Hi Viviane, Thank you so much for your kind word :)
The sauce looks very tempting and lip smacking. Loved the colour :)
Thank you Nishi!
This is a great recipe and a great resource. Thank you! I grew up on homemade sauce so I am a huge fan. I will have to dig up our family recipe and check back with you. :)
Hi Kimberly, Thanks! Yeah would love for you to share it.
You guys don’t have cans, really? I don’t like it myself, but my mom did. I made Kim – Liv Life’s last year and I’m gonna make it again this year, I have to go find the link. It had orange and Grand Marnier in it, yummy.
-Gina-
Hi Gina, Well we have cans of lots of stuff but not cranberry sauce. (Sorry I had to be a smart ass, lol) Oh that sounds really good so yeah dig it up. Please :)
Hola amiga!! Thanks for stopping by, ah no worries..I am so behind on my blog reading too, lol
We also never had cranberies for Thanksgiving, we had tamales and pozole! Great recipe, I also made cranberry sauce recently with guajillo chiles. I will add link when it runs over at New Latina. Take care!
Hola Bonnie :) Looks like we both are, hehe. Ay, si!! Tamales de pavo were one of the best things about the holidays growing up. Your cranberry sauce sounds awesome. Great I’ll look for that. You’ve got my mouth watering :)
That sounds SO good!!! It’s going onto my Pinterest board immediately!
I don’t have a post of any sauce recipes, but I just posted a recipe for Ruby Chicken that uses cranberry sauce as the base. It’s so good and your version would be deeelicious with it! Here’s the link: http://rindymae.blogspot.com/2011/11/ruby-chicken.html
I also just posted a cake recipe using fresh cranberries that was super yummy.
And yes, I’m on a cranberry kick this month. :o)
Hi Mindy, Thanks :) That sounds really good and I’ll added above.
I love cranberry sauce!! Now I’m craving turkey and mashed potatoes…Thanksgiving dinner can’t come faster! This looks like a wonderful recipe for cranberry sauce :)
Hi Amalia, Thanks :)
Delicious! The first time I made cranberry sauce from scratch, it opened up a whole new world of flavors!
Hi Ann, Yes it really does open up a new world .
The North America families often serve cranberry sauce for their TG dinner but I never have any cranberry sauce at my law’s TG dinner. The only thing I have it when I eat out or buy a jar of cranberry sauce :)
Hehe :) Thanks Pepy.
Looks perfect and so pretty ….perfect way to kickstart festive mood
Thank you Priti!
The best thing about the Thanksgiving meal? Hands down, fresh cranberry sauce. Never ate the canned stuff and I never will! I have made many different versions, but this one is my favorite: Spiced-Tea Cranberry Sauce
http://www.familyspiceblog.com/2011/11/my-go-to-cranberry-sauce-spiced-tea.html
Pumpkin pie and tamales were my favorite part. Thanks for sharing the link and recipe. It’s looks scrumptious!
Growing up my family loved cranberry sauce and since my mom isn’t the most adventurous cook, canned was the way we had it. In fact my mom served the gelatin one you dislike the looks of and my mother in law prefers the whole cranberries. That said at my thanksgiving table I make homemade and for years would have to serve it with the canned versions as well. Now they have grown accostomed to the fresh.
Since I don’t have my recipe in front of me for exact measurements I can tell you it’s basic but delicious. It consists of sugar fresh orange juice and fresh cranberries and that’s all. We love it.
I enjoyed reading this post. Happy early thanksgiving!
Hi Vicki, It sounds delicious! Happy early TG to you too.
I’ve never made a cranberry sauce before, but this one looks tempting enough to give it a try :)
Beautiful photos, by the way!
Thank you Nadia :)
I am excited about making this for my family. This is worlds better than the canned variety.
Thanks Sandra and enjoy !
I love making my own cranberry sauce, and this looks like a such a great recipe! I love that it has merlot in it!
That’s great to hear Jill :) Yeah you can’t go wrong with a little wine in my opinion.
Congrats on making Top 9 with this beautiful sauce. I don’t know how I missed it, but I’ve been sick things have been slipping by me. I hope you have a nice weekend~~ Congrats again… the sauce looks amazing. : )
Hi Ramona, Thank you :) !
I love this sound perfect for our table this year!
Thanks Claudia!
What a brilliant idea to put these two together!! I’m definitely bookmarking this recipe! Congrats on the Top 9!
Hi Laurie, Thank you :)
Love this, Nancy! Especially the addition of the wine. Looks absolutely DELISH! Congratulations on Top 9 today!! :)
Thank you Meagan!
I agree with you one hundred percent — the cranberries that come out of cans look rather unappetizing. I admit, I have tried it, as I like to try everything at least once, but I’m not a fan of the gelly-like texture. Too much goo.
I enjoy making my own cranberry sauce, usually with orange juice, but I’m excited to try your recipe with merlot instead. Looks delicious!
Thanks for sharing!! :)
Thank you Laurel. Orange juice in cranberry sauce sounds excellent.
D-i-v-i-n-e. Congratulations on earning TOP 9 & welcome back!
Hehe, thank you :)
My husband insists on the jellied sauce with the ridges and I like my cranberry sauce to resemble cranberries, so we always have two kinds :) This year I think this will be the one! Adding merlot is a brilliant touch – Congrats on the Top 9!
Hehe, sounds like something that my hubby and I would also disagree on :) If you indeed try it out let me know, I’d love to hear your feed back. Thank you sweetie :)
You’re recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing. In my family we had a recipe my grandmother perfected, but we call it cranberry salad and not sauce. So far I’m the only one who’s been able to recreate it, because it’s about the ingredients and process. We NEVER had the canned stuff served! While reading your entry about the canned variety I instantly flashed back to the first time I had Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. We were all sitting down to eat when my mother-in-law realized she had forgotten the cranberries. She came to the table with a bowl and can, opened the can, and plopped this disgusting looking red mass into the bowl. The sickening sound it made coming out, and the way it looked just like the shape of the can, was almost enough to make me hurl right there at the table! So now I make them my family’s cranberry salad every year!!
Hi Susan, Your story has me cracking up :) Your description of the sound made me shiver and giggle at the same time. How lucky for your family that you make fresh homemade and on top a family recipe. Have a great weekend!
My favorite also has Merlot…plus molasses and toasted walnuts. Like you, I grew up with that canned stuff I could not stand…but now look forward each year to trying something new.
http://www.creative-culinary.com/cranberry-sauce-with-merlot-molasses-toasted-walnuts
Hi Barbara, Your sauce sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing, have added you to the list.
Cranberry Applesauce Butter
This is a yummy rosy applesauce flavored with jellied cranberry sauce. It’s really simple but amazing !
1 stick butter, room temperature
2 cups applesauce from a jar/ can or homemade applesauce plain or spiced ( about 2 cups )
(if plain applesauce add cinnamon, nutmeg, some sugar, dash lemon juice to taste if desired )
1, 15 oz can jellied cranberry sauce
In a sauce pot over med low heat, melt the butter together with the applesauce and jellied cranberry sauce. Stir frequently combine and blend smooth.
Adjust sweetness and spices to desired taste
Serve either warm or well chilled
Hi JR,
Thanks for sharing, it sounds good.
Love fresh sour and bitter cranberries, and cranberry sauce..only thing that I don’t like is juice! Love your little twist here..it would be very festive holiday if this is served:)) Awesome photos as always!!!!
Hi Sandra, Really ? I love cranberry juice. Thanks !
I grew up with that cranberry sauce in a can, so I don’t mind it. I don’t prefer it, but I don’t mind it. I’d definitely take this Merlot Cranberry Sauce over the canned stuff any day though =)
Well I shouldn’t knock it until I try it. So one day for sure so that at least I can have a better formed opinion. Thanks!
Hey sweetie, congrats on Top9 :) You know, I actually do like the canned stuff…but I never said that ;) I do prefer freshly made of curse and I love yours! Merlot, I am trying to envision the lovely flavors and aroma…beautiful!
Oh, and thank you so much for adding my baked brie :)
Thank you Alisha! Hehe, it will be our little secret ;) I loved that recipe so much.
I know I’m late to the party here. But 4 whole allspice? Is that a mistake?