Easy Cranberry Syrup Recipe - A Red Spatula (2024)

Published: Oct 25, 2021 · Modified: Oct 26, 2023 by Amy Sandidge · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a great syrup with the flavors of fall and winter? This Easy Cranberry Syrup Recipe makes the best topping for pancakes, waffles, french toast, and anything else you can think of.

During the fall and early winter, fresh cranberries are abundant and perfect for adding to baked goods or turning into a delightful syrup!

I love to make a big batch in the fall and then store it so we can enjoy it throughout the year!

It's great served up with a big stack of sprouted oat pancakes or spelt pancakes. At Christmas, serve it up with these green pancakes for a stunning red and green holiday breakfast.

Use it to elevate any brunch table with cranberry syrup so your guests can drizzle it over whole wheat waffles or a bowl of cinnamon spice oatmeal.

If you enjoy this homemade cranberry syrup, you might also love this copycat IHOP pecan syrup.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• The flavors!! I designed this recipe with the perfect combo of cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The deep, rich cranberry flavor is everything sweet and cozy.
• So simple to make. It all comes together in 15-20 minutes. I love a recipe like this.
• FIVE ingredients are all you need.
• It holds well for a long time. Make a double batch and you are good to go for 2-3 weeks! It is really good if you are feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

• Fresh cranberries: I like to use fresh cranberries for the best flavor and it's the only way I've made it. In the fall, you can easily find a bag of cranberries in the produce section of just about any grocery store. Frozen cranberries will also work well too.
• Granulated sugar: If you don't want to use white sugar, you can also use honey or pure maple syrup if you like. Brown sugar would also be good with its molasses undertones.
• Cinnamon: Is there anything better than cranberries and cinnamon? It only takes a little cinnamon, but well worth it. You can also use a cinnamon stick to flavor the sauce while it is cooking. When you get ready to blend, just take it out and proceed from there.
• Nutmeg: Honestly, I will never leave the nutmeg out of fall and winter foods. It is a common spice in my kitchen!
• Cloves: Another great spice for the flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg.

How To Make Cranberry Syrup

This is a really easy syrup to make. If you have not ever made a fruit syrup, you will be hooked after this.

Add all your ingredients to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes. I like to cook it in a heavy saucepan, which is much better for even heat distribution.

As the syrup cooks, the cranberries will burst, the sugar will dissolve and the sauce will thicken just slightly.

Pour the sauce into a food processor or blender and blend until it is smooth. You can strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer to remove any chunks that are left or just leave it.

See Also

80 Best Amish RecipesBeans on Toast (The Proper British Way - Recipe by a Brit!)Kaiserschmarrn Recipe - (Austrian Shredded Pancake) - The Foreign ForkJoanna Gaines Has A Killer Recipe For Biscuits, And We've Got It

If it isn't thick enough, add it back to the saucepan and cook over lower heat until it is as thick as you want.

Let the syrup cool slightly or serve it warm. It is really good either way, I promise!

That is it!! I am telling you, this is one of those easy recipes you will make over and over.

This can be served hot or at room temperature. I love it both ways!

Variations

• Add some star anise in combination with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It would be delicious!
• Make cranberry orange syrup with one tablespoon of orange zest (orange peel) and one-half cup of orange juice.
• Lower sugar? It takes less than one cup of sugar for this recipe, but feel free to reduce it if you want. A syrup that is a little more tart is still really delicious!

How to Serve

My favorite thing is to pour syrup over my pancakes, but let's not relegate this delicious cranberry syrup to only one use.

While this is really good on breakfast goods like pancakes, waffles, and french toast, it's also great used in other ways too!

• Drizzle it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade vegan ice cream. Yes, it is as good as it sounds.
• Use it in your favorite cranberry co*cktail or cranberry mocktail. Add in your favorite liquor or make a mocktail by mixing it with some cream soda or even just sparkling water.
• Add it to a parfait with yogurt, granola, and this yummy syrup.

Any way you choose to serve this, it will be a party for your taste buds!!

Give it as a gift!

This homemade cranberry syrup makes a delightful food gift for the holidays!

Pour it into pretty glass bottles. Add a cute tag and ribbon and it is ready to go!

Use it to make up a gift basket and pair it with a jar of homemade pancake or waffle mix or some yogurt and homemade granola!

Homemade cranberry sauce makes a beautiful gift during the holiday season and your friends and family will adore the special touch.

Expert Tips

• How to store homemade syrup. The best way to store this is in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for at least 2 weeks. I prefer a sealed container to plastic wrap or tinfoil and it holds air out much better and helps it last longer.
• Use fresh cranberries. They have the freshest flavor and this recipe hasn't been tested using frozen or dried cranberries. I suspect that frozen will work but I think the flavor will be flat if you try to use dried.
• Serve it up warm or at room temperature over your favorite breakfast baked goods!
• Don't forget it's delicious served on lots more than just a stack of pancakes!

More Cranberry Recipes

• Breakfast