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Elderberry Cranberry Sauce

I am considered a millennial, or Generation Y. I share with most folks my age the horrifying memory of an unknown substance jiggling around in a fluted dish on the Thanksgiving table each year. This yearly occurring side dish somehow remained the same shape as the aluminum can it came out of. I remember watching in wonder as my older relatives seemed to take joy in consuming this substance. This food that was a trick; one that looked like Jello, but in fact did not taste like any Jello I knew.


I was not alone in despising this mystery dish at the Thanksgiving table, my cousins wanted no part of it either. Every year one of us might decide to try just a little dallop, or perhaps one of our parents would make us. The giggling among children would always ensue shortly after this non-Jello would reach one of our mouths. Followed by a sour pucker face that couldn't be disguised by laughs. Cranberry sauce - the evil side dish delight of Thanksgiving dinner for millennials.


Child scared of canned cranberry sauce.

It wasn't until I was an adult that a friend's family served me a homemade cranberry sauce. Guess what? It was delicious, I actually like cranberry sauce! And no aluminum can shape! Now, I am not knocking those of you that prefer your cranberry sauce be made for you and served right from the can. What I am saying though to you is this: if it's that good, why are you only eating it once a year? How come no canned cranberry sauce snack before bed, or for a summer BBQ? 😂


Today I want to share with you a way easily to make your own cranberry sauce from scratch and ditch that canned madness! You'll love it so much you will want to serve it regularly. We think the entire family will enjoy it as well. This recipe can be made with our Premium American Elderberry Juice, Elderberry Jelly or Elderberry Syrup. Pretty awesome, right?


Cranberry sauce with a bottle of River Hills Harvest Elderberry syrup, juice and jelly.

American Elderberry Cranberry Sauce - Made from scratch


You'll Need

  • 8 Cups of fresh or frozen cranberries

  • 2 Cups of water or 1 cup water + 1 cup orange juice

  • 2 Cups of sugar

  • 1/4-1/2 Cup of American Elderberry Jelly or Syrup or 1/4 cup of American Elderberry Juice

  • Optional additions

    • 1/2 Cup canned mandarin oranges or two whole peeled and sliced oranges

    • Nuts

    • Cinnamon

    • Maple syrup or honey if you desire more sweetness


  1. Start by adding your sugar and water (or water and orange juice) mixture to a pan, heat and stir until the sugar has been dissolved.

  2. Next lower your heat and add your cranberries into the pan.

    1. If you are using cinnamon sticks or spices you will want to add them in whole now but be sure to discard once the cranberry sauce is done

  3. Cook until cranberries start to burst open.

  4. Remove from heat and add your elderberry juice, jelly or syrup.

    1. Note that adding juice may thin out your mixture a bit, you may want to add more sugar to make a thicker sauce if you prefer it that way. Elderberry Jelly and Syrup will not change the consistency though.

  5. Stir in your optional additions like sweetener, oranges, nuts and powdered spices if you desire.

  6. Let cool or chill in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.


Bottle of River Hills Harvest American Elderberry Juice

Make it fruitful!


Are you still having a hard time convincing the kids cranberry sauce is a tasty side dish? Try mixing in some sliced strawberries or whole blueberries once you've cooked your sauce. Who says sweet potatoes are the only Thanksgiving dish that gets marshmallows? Add a few of those on top to 'sweeten' the deal or try a scoop of whipped cream.


Try serving the cranberry sauce inside of a half orange peel or a hollowed-out apple. I promise, it's more fun. 😍 Another fun way to enjoy cranberry sauce is once it's made, blend with some cream and freeze. Then cut it up as frozen cranberry treats to serve after dinner. Better yet, add a stick and call them popsicles!


I hope I have swayed your opinion on canned vs freshly made cranberry sauce, and I hope the whole family enjoys it this season! Are you looking for other ways to incorporate elderberry into your family meals? Click the blog posts listed below, each is made with one of our amazing, American grown elderberry products.




If you arrived here and don't know who we are, welcome! We are River Hills Harvest, an elderberry farm located in central, Missouri. We grow American elderberries and also purchase berries from other local farms to make our Premium American Elderberry Juice and other products. You can learn how to grow elderberries and get your plants from us or stay stocked up on our nutrient-dense elderberry juice. You can purchase our products here on our website or find them in local health food stores across the country.


River Hills Harvest elderberry juice.

I encourage you to visit our health page and see just why we are so crazy about these American grown elderberries! It's fall right now, so we have bare root elderberry plants now you can pre-order that will begin to ship out in November. Click HERE to see what plants we have available.


Until next time, cheers to your health!

Heather


Author of River Hills Harvest blog posts.

I am Heather Wilson, of the River Hills Harvest crew. By being part of the company, I am blessed to have access to American elderberries in all forms. I enjoy experimenting with new ways to incorporate them into my diet, as well as other natural plants, berries and more. I have a background in greenhouse management as well as floral design and am involved in the art community as an artist, when time allows. I enjoy playing guitar and writing songs. I also enjoy wandering in nature with no real purpose, because a purpose always presents itself. It’s a busy life, but one that I love and feel lucky to be a part of. 


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