Apple cranberry compote - or apple cranberry sauce - is great for Thanksgiving and Christmas when you want something a little different than classic orange cranberry sauce. It also pairs beautifully with cheese and crackers for your holiday snack boards! It's lightly spiced, SO easy, and has just the right balance of tart and sweet. Incorporate cranberry compote into desserts and enjoy it for breakfast with biscuits, pancakes and waffles, and stirred into oatmeal.Yield: makes about 1½ cups
2mediumsweet apples, cored, peeled, and chopped - see Notes
8ouncescranberries, fresh or frozen - about 3 cups
½cuppure maple syrup
¼cupwater
1 ½teaspoonsground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground ginger
⅛teaspoonground cloves
1teaspoonvanilla extract, optional
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Stirring occasionally,cookfor 8 to 10 minutes or until the apples are tender and the sauce has thickened (takes a bit longer if using frozen cranberries). NOTE: If you prefer a thinner compote (vs a cranberry sauce consistency) turn off the heat once all of the cranberries have burst and the sauce is only slightly thickened.
Let the compote cool. Refrigerate until chilled to serve with desserts and as part of a cheese board. Or serve warm with holiday main dishes, breads, baked goods, and oatmeal.
Notes
Tip: if you prefer a thinner compote, cook time will be reduced by 2 to 3 minutes. So be sure to chop the apples into very small bite-size pieces so they become tender.Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Also keeps well in the freezer for several months.