I’m always looking for ways to use the berries I collect all summer and store in the freezer. This cranberry sauce combines frozen blackberries for a Thanksgiving side dish that has a little taste of summer and fall!
It wasn’t my original intention to bombard you with cranberries during this special Thanksgiving week, but I do love them. This past Saturday we were able to catch Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network. Not just any Throwdown, mind you, but the episode where he took on none other than the Pioneer Woman in a competition of Thanksgiving Feasts!
Did you happen to catch it? I thought it was so much fun!
In the episode, Bobby made a cranberry sauce that also included blackberries. Until I saw it, I had never really thought of adding another berry to my favorite Thanksgiving condiment. Orange or orange zest is always my go-to addition, but I thought the blackberry flavor was too brilliant to pass up.
This cranberry sauce could not be easier. I used demerara sugar to sweeten it and bumped up the amount a bit just because the variety of blackberries I used and the cranberries are tart. Once it thickened, I stirred in some vanilla to add a little something extra and then some cinnamon to spice it up. The pecans are optional of course, but they give the sauce a little something extra in appearance, taste and texture.
Blackberry Cranberry Sauce with Cinnamon
Makes: 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients
1 cup fresh or defrosted cranberries
1 cup fresh or defrosted blackberries
¾ cup demerara sugar
¼ cup water
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp pecans, chopped
Prep
Combine the berries in a saucepan and add the sugar and water. Cook on medium-high heat to a boil. Continue to boil hard for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently and then constantly as it thickens. (The sauce will thicken by boiling and also when it cools.)
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and cinnamon.
Allow to cool to the temperature you desire. I like my cranberry sauce warm. Transfer to the serving dish and top with pecans.
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That looks delicious! I loved the throwdown between Bobby and P-Dub. It makes me like both of them so much more.
I make cranberry sauce with apples. It’s so good!
Lori, the blackberry and cranberry sauce looks delicious, would love to have it with my turkey 🙂
Great combo of blackberries and cranberries, this sauce sounds really delicious!
The cranberry/blackberry sauce on Bobby’s show also caught my attention…bought some blackberries today. I’m going to give it a try. I’m always trying new cranberry recipes to try and lure the cranberry haters to my side…lol
Amanda – It was such a fun episode! Apples are a great idea. I haven’t tried that, but will have to now.
Juliana – Thanks! I love the tart, sweet, savory combo of cranberry sauce and turkey.
5 star – Thanks! I loved the idea and it turns out they go great together.
carol – I’m the same way. 🙂 I keep trying to convince everyone that cranberries aren’t so bad. Maybe if I make them like this or that they’ll become a fan. Ha, ha!
I did see the showdown and thought this was an inspired idea! It’s something a little different and a lot delicious!
This is the 2nd version of Bobby Flay’s cranberry sauce I’ve seen on blogs this week. Must have been one popular episode, and timely! Makes me want to make my own, even with no cranberry sauce holiday any time soon.
I saw the show and loved the idea of the blackberry in the cranberry sauce–such a great idea.
Happy Thanksgiving! 😉
Love the addition of the blackberries to the cranberry sauce, great berry choice, thanks for the idea.
I’m always looking for ways to change up the cranberry sauce & I think blackberries are a good addition