With so many dishes to prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, it’s a relief when a recipe allows you to “set it and forget it” (and it doesn’t take up precious stove or oven space). Cranberry sauce is a staple of any Thanksgiving dinner, so it deserves some thought. But for the sake of your holiday sanity, look for shortcuts! That’s exactly what this slow cooker cranberry sauce can offer. It’s the from-scratch sauce that includes complexity from lime juice, orange zest, cinnamon sticks – and even a pinch of salt – but it’ll take up just five minutes of your precious prep time. Dump ingredients into your slow cooker, turn on the heat and stir when you think of it. Like a sweeter sauce? Add more honey or sweetener to taste before serving.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 32 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 granny smith apples cored and sliced
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- Dash of salt
Instructions
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In slow cooker, combine all ingredients. (Note: If using frozen cranberries, adjust recipe with information below.)
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Cook on high heat for 4-5 hours or low heat for 7-8 hours, stirring occasionally.
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Adjust sweetness to your liking. (Note: This recipe is tart.)
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Serve chilled or at room temperature.