Easy Apple Cranberry Compote (Crock Pot or Stove Top)

I am sharing a very easy and delicious orange cranberry side dish recipe that is perfect served with a holiday turkey or baked ham.

Compote is a very easy 6 ingredient side dish you can serve during the holidays.

This recipe can be made in a crock pot or on the stovetop. I have made it both ways and it turns out great either way.

This recipe was originally shared on November 22, 2013 and has been updated with text and new photos on October 7, 2021.

Cranberry Compote Ingredients

This delicious cranberry side dish recipe is made with only 6 ingredients.

• 14 oz. can whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1 cup diced apple
• ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 1 tablespoon water

How to Make Apple Cranberry Compote

Cranberry orange compote with apples is very easy to make.

You combine the ingredients and cook them until the apple pieces are tender.

Once the apple has softened you thicken the compote with a mixture of cornstarch and water.

The compote will thicken almost immediately.

Remove the compote from the heat and allow to cool. Compote can be served warm or cold.

Cranberry Compote Stove Top Directions

1. Open the can of whole berry cranberry sauce and place it in a saucepan.
2. Add the diced apple, orange juice, orange zest and ground cinnamon to the pan.
3. Using a large spoon toss the ingredients to combine.
4. Heat the saucepan on medium until cranberry sauce has thinned.
5. Turn the heat up to medium high and cook until apples are tender.
6. Once the apple pieces are tender mix the cornstarch with the water and add to the pan. Bring to a boil, occasionally stirring until thickened.
7. Once thickened remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Cranberry Compote Crock Pot Directions

1. Combine the cranberry sauce, diced apple, orange juice, orange zest and ground cinnamon in a 4 or 6 quart slow cooker. Use a large spoon to stir the ingredients.
2. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Heat on high for 1 hour or low for two hours.
3. Slow cook until the apple pieces are tender.
4. When the apple is tender mix the cornstarch and water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the slow cooker and mix. Recover and heat on high until thickened.
5. Once thickened turn the slow cooker off and cool. Serve with dinner.

Recipe FAQS

Recipe Expert Tips

• whole berry cranberry sauce: You can substitute a can of regular cranberry sauce. You just won't have any cranberry pieces in the compote. It will still taste amazing.
• orange juice and zest: Freshly squeezed orange juice is needed. You will use the zest and the orange juice of fresh navel oranges for this recipe. The zest adds another layer of orange flavor you can only get when using orange zest.
• thickening the compote: corn starch is my favorite thickener. It does not add any flavor to the cranberry compote.
• cooling the compote: the compote should be served room temperature or cold. The hot compote will thicken more as it cools.

More holiday side dish recipes

More easy holiday side dish recipes you can make.

Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Easy Cranberry Compote (Crock Pot or Stove Top)

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face

Easy Crock Pot Apple Cranberry Compote is the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish recipe. Made on the stove top or in a slow cooker this sweet and tart apple, cranberry and orange side dish is very easy to make and only needs 6 ingredients to make.

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Prep Time 8 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 8 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 95 kcal

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 14 oz. can whole berry cranberry sauce
• ▢ 1 cup diced apple
• ▢ ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• ▢ 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 1 tablespoon water

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Instructions 

Stove Top Directions

• Open the can of whole berry cranberry sauce and place it in a saucepan.
• Add the diced apple, orange juice, orange zest and ground cinnamon to the pan.
• Using a large spoon toss the ingredients to combine.
• Heat the saucepan on medium until cranberry sauce has thinned.
• Turn the heat up to medium high and cook until apples are tender.
• Once the apple pieces are tender mix the cornstarch with the water and add to the pan. Bring to a boil, occasionally stirring until thickened.
• Once thickened remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Crock Pot Directions

• Combine the cranberry sauce, diced apple, orange juice, orange zest and ground cinnamon in a 4 or 6 quart slow cooker. Use a large spoon to stir the ingredients.
• Place the lid on the slow cooker. Heat on high for 1 hour or low for two hours.
• Slow cook until the apple pieces are tender.
• When the apple is tender mix the cornstarch and water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the slow cooker and mix. Recover and heat on high until thickened.
• Once thickened turn the slow cooker off and cool. Serve with dinner.

Video

Recipe Expert Tips

• whole berry cranberry sauce: You can substitute a can of regular cranberry sauce. You just won't have any cranberry pieces in the compote. It will still taste amazing.
• orange juice and zest: Freshly squeezed orange juice is needed. You will use the zest and the orange juice of fresh navel oranges for this recipe. The zest adds another layer of orange flavor you can only get when using orange zest.
• thickening the compote: corn starch is my favorite thickener. It does not add any flavor to the cranberry compote.
• cooling the compote: the compote should be served room temperature or cold. The hot compote will thicken more as it cools.
• leftovers: leftover compote can be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 15mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 64IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

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