Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce in the Instant Pot is a perfect snack to have on hand for the little ones and big ones alike. It comes together so quickly, is a great way to use up leftover cranberries (fresh or frozen will work), and freezes well. A great little twist on a traditional apple sauce.
From using it instead of eggs in baking, adding a dollop on top of some yogurt, or simply eating it for a snack, homemade apple sauce is super versatile.
This twist on the original is based on my 4 ingredients slow cooker applesauce, but with the addition of some cranberries for a different flavor.
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Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce in the Instant Pot
Remember when I told you to freeze all those cheap cranberries after the Holiday season?
Well you will be super glad you listened, because now you can quickly and easily whip up a batch of this delightful Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce.
And if you have an Instant Pot you can do it in about 10 minutes from start to finish!
Don't worry, if you didn't buy up the cheap produce, you will still be able to find cranberries in the frozen section at your local store for a couple of dollars.
Ingredients For Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce
This recipe is super simple!
You will need:
- sweet apples: any variety will work, but as we are not using a sweetener in this recipe you should opt for a sweet apple variety. I like using pink ladies when they are in season. Honeycrisp would also work well. Why not try a combination of apple varieties!
- cranberries: you can use either fresh or frozen cranberries, it won't matter.
- lemon juice: try and use fresh lemon juice, however in a pickle you can always use the bottled stuff.
- ground cloves: if you aren't a fan of cloves you can always leave these out, however I find they add such a great flavor to the apple sauce, and pair well with the cranberries and apple flavors.
How To Use Homemade Apple Sauce
In recent years I have become such a huge fan of apple sauce, and I use it in ALL of my baking now.
It is the perfect sweetener, especially if you are totally over banana-flavored everything (I know I was when I first started subbing out refined sugars and didn't know of any other alternatives).
Plus it can also be used in place of eggs when you want to make something vegan - so it is super versatile and definitely comes in super handy.
Adding a little bit of extra flavor in this version with the addition of cranberries and cloves makes it perfect for making your fruit breads and muffins that little bit fancier as well.
Yum!
Try using your clove and cranberry apple sauce in one of these ways:
- Dolloped on top of some yogurt
- Dolloped on top of a chia pudding
- As an alternative to egg in your favorite baked goods
- Transferred to little reusable yogurt pouches and taken to school or work as a treat
I love hearing from you, so be sure to let me know if you give this Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce a try!
Oh and if you don't have an Instant Pot yet, then pop over to amazon and pick one up - it will change your life 😛
Recipe
Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce in the Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 4 lbs naturally sweet apples, cored and sliced with the peel left on (try a combination of apple varieties)
- 2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Pop all of the ingredients into the Instant Pot (or alternative pressure cooker)
- Cook on manual for 5 minutes, and then allow pressure to release naturally before venting and removing the lid
- If you have an immersion blender then blend right there in the pot, otherwise transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until you achieve the required consistency (I like mine to be super smooth).
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container or freeze
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Diana Jackson says
Can I double batch this and water bath can this?
Donna says
You can definitely double-batch it with no problems. I water bath canned this last year and it held up great, although I am a bit loathe to give advice on canning as I am not a master canner myself.
trish says
Love the sound of this but a little concerned over the amount of liquid. My new 8-qt instant pot specifies a minimum of 8 ounces of liquid in order to build up sufficient pressure. Any thoughts on this?
"7. This appliance cooks under pressure. Always ensure there is a minimum of 1 measuring cup of liquid for the cooker to pressurize. Improper use may result in scalding injuries. "
I haven't run across an instant pot recipe that only uses 1/4 cup of liquid. I am a newbie so am super cautious:(
Donna1 says
I have made this so so many times and have never had an issue. One the pot comes to pressure there is so much liquid in the apples that it just works. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable you could always double the fruit and add more liquid. I would probably go half lemon juice and half water so it didn't end up too tart. I of course have not tried it that way, so I can't vouch for how it would turn out, but I am guessing same flavor profile, just a little runnier. Good luck 🙂
Jenn says
I love my Instant Pot so much! I haven't experimented too much on my own though, so I love when I come across new recipes to use. This looks so good and I know my kids would love it too!
Donna1 says
It can be a bit daunting and I have definitely had a fair few failures in there 🙂 This was definitely a winner though, especially with the kids!!
Uma says
I want to buy instant pot! After seeing your recipe it made me more curious about instant pot! Lovely!
Donna1 says
They are such time savers on busy nights, we are totally hooked 🙂
Manju | Cooking Curries says
Cardamom and cloves are calling out my name, I can almost taste the apple sauce with the spices and the cranberries! Yum!
Donna1 says
They are the best!! Especially the smell, so good!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy says
This sauce sounds so good! Loving those flavors together...i need to get an istant pot!
Donna1 says
Oh you do!! They are life-changing on busy days 🙂
Nicole Dawson says
Love the cloves with cranberries! Sounds like a delicious way to amp up your applesauce.
Donna1 says
It definitely is, and the kids love it so thats always a plus 🙂
Linda @ Veganosity says
I love cranberry sauce, and it has to have cloves in it. Looks delicious.
Donna1 says
Yes to the cloves!! My husband is unequivocally opposed to cloves in anything, but with this it smelled so good even he couldn't say no 🙂
Mary Ellen | VNutrition says
When I see recipes like this I'm so annoyed I don't have an Instant Pot yet! This looks delicious and I love the flavor combo! It's so cute that your daughter loves anything pink right now, this must be the perfect treat for her. 🙂
Donna1 says
Haha you HAVE to take the plunge and get one - we are totally addicted and I use it every single day.Even my husband approves, and he hates when I come home with more kitchen gadgets 🙂 Oh she is the girlies girl, it is ridiculous!!!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says
Oooh! I love the idea of doing apple sauce in it! Totally doing it for the kids!
Donna1 says
Mine love it!! Plus I use it as a substitute for sugar in baking so it comes in handy to have a batch on hand 🙂
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
Love the color! And I'm always excited to find a new recipe I can make in the Instant Pot.
Donna1 says
Right!! The Instant Pot is seriously a fav for making quick and easy combos around here 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
What a joy! I just got my Instant Pot last week!
Donna1 says
Oh really? You are going to LOVE it!!! I seriously use mine every single day 🙂 Little bit obsessed over here!