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    Home » Garden To Table » Cranberries

    Cranberry Pear Sauce

    Published: Nov 10, 2021 · Updated: Nov 10, 2021 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!

    This easy cranberry pear sauce is made with fresh or frozen berries, pears, juice and Grand Marnier. Make it ahead of time and freeze!

    cranberry pear sauce in a serving bowl.

    Who else gets excited when fresh cranberries start to appear in the grocery store every year?

    To me, they’re a pop of welcome color and tart flavor to liven up the cold-weather blues.

    I find cranberries an attractive addition to all kinds of recipes! I add them to roasted acorn squash, I bake them into tarts, and I make them into tea and juice.

    But there’s one dish so predominant that it almost goes without saying I’m going to make it: cranberry sauce!

    Recently I’ve been experimenting with ways to make this dish seem even more seasonal for fall. My solution? Add pears!

    This cranberry pear sauce also features Grand Marnier, an orange liqueur that can take a recipe to the next level of deliciousness.

    When Are Cranberries in Season?

    You can generally find cranberries throughout the fall season, from around mid-September to mid-November.

    At the grocery store they’ll be packaged in bags in the produce section.

    The rest of the year, cranberries can only be found in the freezer section along with other fruits.

    If you buy cranberries fresh and don’t use them all right away, feel free to freeze them yourself! They’ll keep beautifully for months when frozen.

    Can I Use Less Sweetener?

    You can, of course, adjust the sweetener level to your preference.

    Just keep in mind that if you serve the sauce cold, it will taste less sweet than at room temperature. So you might want to taste for sweetness after the sauce cools down.

    Can I Use a Different Liquor or Liqueur?

    This recipe calls for Grand Marnier or any other type of orange-flavored liqueur.

    If you haven’t been able to track down the liqueur, you could opt for this bourbon cranberry sauce instead, which can also be made in the Instant Pot.

    Can I Make This Cranberry Pear Sauce Ahead of Time?

    Definitely! It keeps really well.

    Just check the recipe card for storage times in the refrigerator or freezer.

    How to Make Cranberry Pear Sauce

    Start by peeling and dicing the pears.

    Peeled and diced pears.
    Peel + Dice the Pears

    Next, add the pears and the cranberries to a large pot.

    Pears + cranberries in a pot.
    Add Pears + Cranberries to Pot

    Pour in the orange juice, Grand Marnier, and sugar. Then bring the mixture to a boil.

    Sugar + Juice added to fruit.
    Add the Juice + Sugar

    Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the cranberries start to burst.

    Cranberry sauce after cooking.
    Cranberry Sauce After Berries Burst

    Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool. Store the cranberry sauce in the refrigerator for at least two hours so it can thicken.

    Serve as a side along with other fall dishes like smoked oyster stuffing, bourbon sweet potato casserole, or honey balsamic brussels sprouts.

    Or freeze the sauce and enjoy it later in the year!

    cranberry pear sauce in a serving bowl.
    cranberry pear sauce in a serving bowl.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 2 votes

    Cranberry Pear Sauce

    This easy cranberry pear sauce is made with fresh or frozen berries, pears, juice and Grand Marnier. Make it ahead of time and freeze!
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Cook Time15 mins
    Minimum Chill Time:2 hrs
    Total Time2 hrs 15 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 16 people
    Calories: 59kcal
    Freezer Friendly?

    Yes

    Will It Keep?

    2 Weeks (Fridge), 2 Months (Freezer)

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 pears
    • 12 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen)
    • 1 cup orange juice Or use non-alcoholic apple cider (unfiltered apple juice)
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 ounce Grand Marnier Or use another orange-flavored liqueur

    Instructions

    • Peel, core and finely dice the pears.
      Peeled and diced pears.
    • Add the pears, cranberries, juice, sugar, and Grand Marnier to a large pot.
      Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the berries burst.
      Sugar + Juice added to fruit.
    • Remove from heat.
      Store in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  Sauce will thicken as it cools.
      cranberry pear sauce in a serving bowl.

    Notes

    Yields approx. 2 cups of sauce.  Serves 16 (2 TB per person)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 59kcal (3%) | Carbohydrates: 14g (5%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 76mg (2%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 11g (12%) | Vitamin A: 49IU (1%) | Vitamin C: 12mg (15%) | Calcium: 5mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
    « How to Freeze Peppers
    Pumpkin Stuffed French Toast »

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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