Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Use your Instant Pot to make classic cranberry sauce that’s virtually set it and forget it. Cross one more thing off your holiday meal prep list!

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Next to a Bowl of Mashed Potatoes, a Bowl of Green Beans, and Table Napkin with Orange Slices and Cinnamon Sticks
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

I grew up on homemade cranberry sauce, and it is a highlight of my holiday meal. My mom would add cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and even star anise to her cranberry sauce. 

Making cranberry sauce in an Instant Pot makes homemade sauce a breeze, without the worry of burning, boiling, or losing precious space on the stovetop. This no-fuss recipe is the perfect way to cross off your to-do list before a big holiday like Thanksgiving. You can make this recipe up to 5 days ahead of time, so you can focus on the rest of your holiday meal instead.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

Natural or Quick Release?

This recipe requires a natural release of pressure. A quick release stops the cooking process quickly, so it’s best to use it when cooking dishes that you want to avoid overcooking. A natural release is perfect for dishes that have more liquid, like this cranberry sauce, where you want a well-cooked sauce. It’s a completely hands-off way of cooking cranberry sauce!

The Cranberries Thicken the Sauce

If you’ve ever wondered how cranberry sauce thickens without added thickeners a, it all comes down to pectin! Pectin is a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in many fruits and vegetables, and in high concentrations, it acts as a  gelling agent. Cranberries are naturally high in pectin, and as your sauce cools, it will thicken to a perfect consistency.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Next to a Bowl of Green Beans
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

Fresh or Frozen Cranberries

You can use fresh or frozen cranberries interchangeably in this recipe! If you can’t find fresh cranberries, substitute frozen and let sit at room temperature to thaw slightly before adding them to the instant pot. Alternatively, you can make this with frozen cranberries and add 1 minute to the cooking time. 

Make It Your Own

  • Prefer it sweeter? Increase the sugar to 1 cup.
  • Add your own spices, like 1/8 teaspoon cloves or nutmeg, for a twist on this recipe!
  • Try adding a peeled, chopped apple for a cranberry-apple concoction.
  • Experiment with maple syrup instead of sugar in this recipe, reducing the orange juice by half.
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Next to a Bowl of Green Beans and Table Napkin with Orange Slices and Cinnamon Sticks
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

More Recipes for Cranberry Lovers

Combine the ingredients:

Place the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, cinnamon stick, orange zest, and ginger in a 6-quart Instant Pot.

Cranberries, Cinnamon Stick, Ginger, and Orange Zest in an Instant Pot for Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

Program the pressure cooker:

Select the manual or pressure cook setting and program to cook at high pressure  for 4 minutes. Check that the pressure release valve is  sealed.

Release the pressure and cool the sauce:

When the cooker beeps, turn it off and let the pressure release naturally (this will take about 18-25 minutes). Remove the lid and let the sauce cool to room temperature. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Cranberry Sauce in Instant Pot
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

Serve:

Remove the cinnamon stick before enjoying. Mash it to break up the cranberries more, if you like.

Refrigerate the cranberry sauce in an airtight container for 5-7 days.

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Cranberry Sauce in Instant Pot
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Next to a Bowl of Green Beans and Table Napkin with Orange Slices and Cinnamon Sticks
Simply Recipes / Micah Siva