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You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Recipes / Instant Pot

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Published: Nov 24, 2019 · Modified: Mar 6, 2020 by Anna 10 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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This Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce is made with fresh or frozen cranberries, water, sugar and spices. This quick and easy homemade sauce saves time and frees your stove for other dishes.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce in a white serving bowl.
Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients:
  • How to make cranberry sauce in the Instant Pot?
  • Variations:
  • Recipe FAQs:
  • More Instant Pot holiday side dishes:
  • Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Why This Recipe Works

My Instant Pot never fails me, especially during the holidays. I am blown away that I can make quick cranberry sauce right in my pressure cooker! It's very easy. All you need to do is place everything in the Instant Pot and it will cook it in minutes!

You can make flavor variations with orange juice, spices or even make it sugar-free. Make it in advance and refrigerate until you are ready to serve it.

Serve this sauce with my Instant Pot Turkey Breast or Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham.

Ingredients:

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce ingredients on a white board.
  • cranberries: fresh or frozen;
  • water or orange juice: necessary for building up pressure;
  • sugar: to sweeten the sauce; brown sugar can be used as well;
  • vanilla extract: adds sweet vanilla flavor;
  • ground nutmeg: optional but complements the cranberries so well.

How to make cranberry sauce in the Instant Pot?

  • Add cranberries to the Instant Pot.
  • Add water and sugar. Do not stir.
  • Close the lid and pressure cook for 3 minutes.
  • Let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally.
  • Stir the sauce and let it cool completely.

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Making cranberry sauce in the Instant Pot.

Variations:

  • with orange: use ½ cup of water and ½ cup of orange juice in the recipe;
  • with more spices: add ¼ teaspoon of each ground cinnamon and ginger;
  • no sugar: use ¼ cup of honey or maple syrup.
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce inside the pressure cooker.

Recipe FAQs:

Can I double this recipe?

This recipe serves about 4 people or 2 adults and 2 to 3 children. If you are making dinner for more people or simply have folks that love cranberry sauce, you can easily double the recipe. Use double the amount of ingredients. The cooking time stays the same.

Can I make this sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make it up to 2 days ahead and store in the fridge, in a container with lid. It will thicken even more while it chills.

How to store this sauce?

I store my prepared cranberry sauce in a fridge, in a container with lid, for up to 4 days.

Cranberry Sauce in a white bowl next to Instant Pot.

More Instant Pot holiday side dishes:

  • Potatoes on a plate.
    Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
  • Mashed potatoes in a bowl with flower design.
    Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
  • Instant Pot Bacon Brussels Sprouts Recipe
  • Square image of sweet potatoes mashed in a white bowl next to the Instant Pot.
    Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

To learn more about the Instant Pot, check out my Guide for Beginners. If you experienced the “burn” message while using your IP, check out my Instant Pot Burn Message post to learn how to fix the issue and prevent it in the first place.

If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce in a white serving bowl.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Author: Anna
This Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce is made with fresh or frozen cranberries, water, sugar and spices. This quick and easy homemade sauce saves time and frees your stove for other dishes.
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
coming to pressure 9 minutes mins
Total Time 14 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 236 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions
 

  • Make sure the stainless steel insert is in your Instant Pot.
  • Place cranberries in the pot. Add water and stir.
  • Add sugar on top of cranberries and DO NOT stir.
  • Close the lid and switch the valve to sealing position. Newer IP models do it on their own.
  • Make sure the Instant Pot is set to cook on HIGH pressure.
  • Press "manual" or "pressure cook" setting. Set timer to 3 minutes.
  • The Instant Pot will beep and it will start coming to pressure, which can take up to 10 minutes.
  • The timer will start after a few seconds.
  • Once the timer is done, press "cancel/off" button. You can unplug your Instant Pot.
  • Let it release the pressure naturally. It will take about 10 minutes.
  • Carefully open the lid away from the face. Stir the sauce. It will look quite watery.
  • Add vanilla extract and cloves and stir.
  • Pour the sauce into a bowl and let it cool completely. It will thicken as it cools.

Notes

  • If you like your sauce chunky, cut down the cooking time to 1 minute.
  • I make this recipe for our family of 5 (two adults and 3 children). You can easily double the ingredients, cooking time stays the same.
  • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use the calorie counter you are familiar with.

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 72mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 53g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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Comments

    5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Alicia M White says

    December 09, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    5 stars
    My family prefers less chunky so using an immersion blender brings about the perfect consistency. This recipe is perfectly simple and delicious. We make it the day before so it has time to set up.

    Reply
  2. Erin says

    November 25, 2019 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    I never thought to make this in the Instant Pot, but it turns out perfectly. Love how hands off it is as well.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      November 26, 2019 at 12:10 am

      That's fantastic, Erin!

      Reply
  3. Matt Taylor says

    November 25, 2019 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    So many things you can make in an Instant Pot, I would have never have thought to make cranberry sauce in it as well! So awesome! 🙂

    Reply
    • Anna says

      November 26, 2019 at 12:11 am

      I know, right? It's so easy!

      Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    November 25, 2019 at 10:10 am

    5 stars
    I love fresh cranberry sauce! I've never made it in the instant pot before but it was super easy and the taste was perfection!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      November 26, 2019 at 12:11 am

      That's wonderful! Thank you, Stephanie!

      Reply
  5. Beth says

    November 25, 2019 at 8:39 am

    5 stars
    This will be such a time savor for me this week! No standing over the stove! Love that it's made in the instant pot!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      November 26, 2019 at 12:11 am

      Exactly! Thanks, Beth!

      Reply
  6. Krissy Allori says

    November 24, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    5 stars
    Quick, easy and delicious. What's not to love?

    Reply
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Hi! I'm Anna!

Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family-approved!

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