Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
Fresh, tart cranberries are cooked and blended with agave, brown sugar, red wine, and pomegranate juice to create a deliciously simple and smooth Red Wine Cranberry Sauce for your Thanksgiving feast.
Creating This Unique Cranberry Sauce Recipe
I normally make Cranberry Orange Relish — which is full of chunky cooked cranberries, golden raisins, and walnuts — for our Thanksgiving dinner. It has always been a huge hit with guests, family, and blog readers alike.
This year I wanted to test something a little simpler, and something that was silky smooth rather than chunky.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so unbelievably easy to make at home that you literally have no excuses for buying anything that comes in a can.
Unless you just prefer your cranberry sauce that way — no judgement! But, I hope you’ll give one of my recipes a try!
About this Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
- This recipe for Red Wine Cranberry Sauce is truly a sauce, not a thick relish or chutney. After cooking all of the ingredients together, I pureed the cranberry red wine mixture in my blender to create a silky, smooth and pourable (though still thick) sauce.
- If you chill it in the fridge it will gel up a little more and be a tad closer to the consistency of jelly. Warmed, it stays more sauce-like, but it is fantastic either way.
- Leftover cranberry sauce can be stored in the fridge for a few days or frozen up to three months. Use it atop meats, sandwiches, and more!
Red Wine Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
You’ll need the following basic ingredients to make cranberry sauce with wine:
- Cranberries
- Pomegranate juice
- Red wine
- Agave
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon and ginger
- Salt and black pepper
Tip: If you have leftover cranberries after preparing this recipe, you can easily freeze cranberries and use them at a later date! Head over to my How to Freeze Cranberries tutorial for all the details!
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
This recipe for Red Wine Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce is no exception in terms of simple recipes.
It might sound complex because it contains red wine and pomegranate, but it is actually incredibly simple to prepare. There isn’t any chopping of anything required.
You simply add all of the ingredients to a pot, bring to a boil, simmer for about 10 minutes and then puree. That’s it!
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
Cranberry Sauce Recipe Tips
- Make sure you cook the sauce ingredients until the berries pop.
- Stir the mixture periodically with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula while it boils so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- Place a towel on top of the blender while blending and use caution while blending hot ingredients. Alternatively, use an immersion blender if you prefer.
- Blend until the cranberries are completely pureed and the ingredients have a jam-like consistency.
Red Wine Cranberry Sauce FAQs
Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
What kind of wine should I use to make red wine cranberry sauce?
We prefer a dry red wine for this cranberry sauce recipe. I typically use Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Can I make red wine cranberry sauce in advance?
Yes! You can make this unique cranberry sauce up to three days before you plan on serving it. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container in the meantime.
Wondering if you can freeze cranberry sauce? Check out this how to freeze cranberry sauce tutorial.
Do I have to blend this cranberry sauce?
No! Feel free to leave it unblended if you prefer a chunky cranberry sauce.
Personally, we prefer this one blended since we have another recipe we use for cranberry sauce with whole cranberries. There is room for both on your holiday table – HAHA!
Can I make cranberry sauce in the slow cooker?
Yes, to make slow cooker cranberry sauce, follow these instructions:
- Combine the ingredients in the insert of your favorite slow cooker.
- Cook the cranberry sauce with the lid on and the temp set to high until the mixture starts bubbling.
- Then, place the lid ajar so the sauce can vent.
- Continue to cook for 4 hours or low for 8 hours, or until the cranberries have burst and the sauce is bubbly.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a blender.
- Holding the lid on the blender very securely, puree the mixture until completely smooth.
- Transfer to a serving dish.
Try this Recipe at Home!
Next time you’re looking for something different from your traditional cranberry sauce, add this Red Wine Cranberry Sauce to your Thanksgiving menu!
Did you love the depth of flavor this recipe has? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great recipe.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of this homemade cranberry sauce recipe!
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Recipes:
One of the best parts of making homemade cranberry sauce is that there is usually some leftover to make something else yummy with!
This Red Wine Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce is pretty darn good on their own just slathered onto a hot, buttery roll, but here are a few fun recipes you can make using any leftover cranberry sauce after your Thanksgiving celebrations.
If you polished off all the pie on Thanksgiving Day, but are craving something sweet go to with leftover, make these cute Bite Sized Cranberry Walnut Tarts
Instead of using whole, fresh cranberries, add thick cranberry sauce to Deep Dish Apple Cranberry with Oatmeal Pecan Crumb Topping
Stir some of this Red Wine Cranberry sauce into Maple Syrup to make Cranberry Orange Maple Syrup. It will be so good poured over pancakes and waffles for a post-Thanksgiving brunch.
Top a bowl of Overnight Apple Steel Cut Oats with a dollop or two.
Stir it into plain yogurt for a tangy, sweet flavor. Then, sprinkle granola and dried cranberries on top.
Make this Whipped Cranberry Butter. SO GOOD.
Add it to Leftover Turkey Sandwiches. Leftover turkey sandwiches are one of my favorites!
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How do you like to make cranberry sauce?
Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
Fresh, tart cranberries are cooked and blended with agave, brown sugar, red wine, and pomegranate juice create a deliciously simple and smooth Red Wine Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce for your Thanksgiving feast.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3/4 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1/2 cup agave
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar (depending on your sweetness preferences)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch ground ginger
- 5 grinds fresh peppercorns
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan, about 2 - 2 1/2 quart sized, and mix well.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, until the cranberries have burst.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a blender.
- Holding the lid on the blender very securely, puree the mixture until completely smooth.
- Transfer to a serving dish.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Combine the ingredients in the bowl of your favorite slow cooker.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook the cranberry sauce on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours, or until the cranberries have burst and the sauce is bubbly.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a blender.
- Holding the lid on the blender very securely, puree the mixture until completely smooth.
- Transfer to a serving dish.
Notes
This Red Wine Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce can be served hot or cold. The consistency is more sauce-like and pourable when warm. When chilled, the sauce is thicker and is best served with a spoon.
Make ahead: It can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 54Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 36mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 0g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
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