Holiday

Cranberry Sauce with Pear & Pomegranate

Please tell me you are willing to take a few minutes to make a fresh cranberry sauce. It is so worth it. Really. You can make it as sweet or tart as you want and all that is required is simmering some fruit and spices on the stove. I get it that some folks like the canned stuff. If that is part of your Thanksgiving tradition then go for it. If you want to try the real stuff, then I am here to encourage you to go for it. This sauce is bursting with fruity flavor & little pomegranate gems are sprinkled throughout.

 

Thanksgiving & holiday fresh cranberry sauce recipe.

I have been loving my daily virtual tours of everyone’s Thanksgiving feasts on the web. Each food & recipe blog I visit has a unique perspective and palate. It is a true joy to read so many vibrant posts. It makes me smile & very hungry too!

Thanksgiving & holiday cranberry sauce recipe for the home cook.

Cranberry sauce is an excellent way to highlight seasonal fruits. The last recipe I posted was a Sweet Potato, Bacon & Pomegranate Salad-the colors & flavor would add zest to any holiday meal. From cranberries to pears, apples & citrus, the choice is yours.

My Pear Spice Cake was recently featured on PBS Parents on a post called the Virtual Thanksgiving Dessert Table. That is a sweet compilation of goodies to inspire your holiday sweet tooth.

Homemade fresh cranberry sauce for holiday turkey side dish.

From casseroles to chutneys to the turkey, the inspiration is out there for the taking. We all have no excuses but to get in our kitchens to cook up something. Even if it is as simple as this cranberry sauce you see right here.

Thanksgiving & holiday cranberry sauce recipe for the home cook.

 

Click HERE for Recipe Details.

 

Variations

  • Add a handful of dried fruit or raisins while your cranberry sauce is cooking.
  • Top with some chopped toasted nuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts & walnuts would be great choices.
  • Add some chopped candied ginger at the end and sprinkle some on the top of your sauce before serving.
  • If you don’t have pear, apple pieces would be great too.
  • While cooking add a splash of bourbon for a boozy flavor boost.

Pomegranate on MarlaMeridith.com

Cranberry Sauce Recipe Links

SaveSave

~ Marla Meridith

Join the Conversation

54 thoughts on “Cranberry Sauce with Pear & Pomegranate

  1. This is a wonderful new take on cranberry sauce, and I particularly like the way you’ve balanced sweet and tart ingredients here without added sugar. I’ve never understood why people who have access to fresh cranberries would settle for canned sauce. Fresh cranberries take a just a couple of minutes to cook, taste so much better, and allow one to go as sweet or tart as one likes.

  2. This is the prettiest cranberry sauce ever! What a great blend of flavors, especially with the orange zest. Just wanted to let you know, I voted for your pic and posted about it on Facebook…I’m cheering you on, Marla! 🙂

    1. Faith: You are an absolute DOLL!! Thanks so much for your kind support on the CA Raisins contest. You are an awesome & valued friend 🙂 xo

      Barbara: I know – the canned thing just could not happen over here. Waaay too sweet for me & not a great mouth feel.

  3. Marla, this is genuis! What a lovely sauce, and I love the addition of pomegranate seeds (I have more than I know what to do with at the moment). I will definitely be trying this soon, perhaps with a pork tenderloin – Yum! Thanks for sharing this excellent recipe and these beautiful photos.

  4. That opening shot is absolutely stunning! I think if everyone realized how it easy it is to make cranberry sauce, there would never be a canned version to be seen again. This is a wonderful version.

    1. Naomi: Girl we all gotta go with what we love. I would say I would try to convert you, but what fun would that be. I would just mix some of my cranberry sauce into that can you are gonna roll out 🙂

      Christine: So funny that you said that about the popping sound of the cranberries as they cook. I love that too! I just don’t like when then splatter all over so I keep a loose lid over them. Yes, the pear & citrus with a touch of stevia is perfect for my tastebuds.

      Sonia: Thanks! That is my goal with my photos. A virtual feast of the senses.

      Georgia: This sauce would taste great with a pork tenderloin & you are so lucky to have an abundance of pomegranates right now!

      Grace: You have been a reader of my bloggy since the beginning. Thanks for your kind words about my photography. I have learned so much & hopefully will progress each day.

  5. Nice combination you have here! I am having some friends over today and I am roasting a turkey and making cranberry sauce. Mine has dates, orange zest/juice, balsamic, cinnamon.. can’t wait to gobble it up – guilt-free, of course, thanks to stevia! This time last year I don’t think I would have realized I could sweeten it with stevia, I’m so glad I know now.

    1. Cara: The dates in your cranberry sauce are an awesome addition. I must try that over here, they would go wonderful in the stuffing too. The balsamic in your sauce sounds good too. Stevia has changed my world. Now I can eat guilt-free sweets any time & actually feel good about it. Best of luck with your early Thanksgiving feast today.

  6. Oh, what an amazing place you have here! Gorgeous photos and the most delicious recipes. I can tell I am going to be spending lots of time here perusing many of your posts!

    I am so happy you stopped by my place and left your comment so I could come by to meet you.

    Kindly, ldh

  7. Never understood why anyone would eat jiggly wiggly cranberry “sauce” from a can when it’s so easy to make your own from fresh cranberries. Love the ginger in this recipe. Yummy! 🙂

  8. I love the combination of flavors in your cranberry sauce 🙂 Adaptations of favorites are always fantastic and I’m sure this one doesn’t disappoint. Adding it to my Thanksgiving line-up…thanks! 🙂

  9. I just love homemade cranberry sauce and yours sounds fantastic with the pomegranates. I made one very similar and think the fresh citrus in it really kicks it up a notch in freshness. Your photos are fabulous and your cranberry sauce will be the crowning jewel on the table.

    Have a great Thanksgiving.

  10. I made this tonight and it was a hit. I love experimenting with different variations on cranberry sauce and this was one of the best, for the cooked variety. I added a couple tablespoons of candied ginger. Thanks for the great recipe!

  11. Hello…

    I made this again this year!!! LOVE IT!! I think I’m going to try it with some pineapple next year!! I do love pomegranates!! Thanks for sharing 🙂