As I mentioned yesterday, this was the first Thanksgiving that I cooked myself. And it was my first time making cranberry sauce. And we have lots of cranberry sauce left over. LOTS! So much, in fact, that I’ve (desperately) started trying to think of different ways to use leftover cranberry sauce. Sure, we could just eat it as is, but how much fun is that? (Answer: Not very.)
Cranberry-Glazed Brussels Sprouts: Roast some brussels sprouts and toss with a little bit of your leftover cranberry sauce. We had this over the weekend and it was a nice, easy side. (I’ve also done this with roasted winter squash too.)
Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwiches: Why not, right? And no, this doesn’t have to be a gross, sloppy mess. Check out this Turkey Cranberry Panini on Following in My Shoes. I had planned on making these with any leftover Field Roast that we had, but we didn’t end up having any left. Next year!
Cranberry Flavored Cream Cheese: Mix a little cranberry sauce into some plain cream cheese for a deliciously different bagel topping.
Cranberry Muffins: Stir some cranberry sauce into your favorite muffin or quick bread recipe.
Cranberry Orange Popsicles: Ever since buying a Zoku, I’m all about finding new and different ways to make popsicles. Mixing orange juice and cranberry sauce would make a sweet-yet-tart frozen treats. You could do this as a granita too.
Cranberry Syrup: Simmer the cranberry sauce on low heat and add some orange juice until it’s a syrup-y consistency. This is the perfect syrup to top pumpkin pancakes or gingerbread waffles.
Cranberry + Cheddar Grilled Cheese: Start with some sturdy bread and top with sharp cheddar and some of your leftover cranberry sauce. It’s a little messy, but it is so good!
Cranberry Apple Pie: Make your favorite apple pie recipe and add some cranberry sauce to the apple mixture before baking.
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cranberry Topping: I love baked sweet potatoes and topping them with a spoonful of cranberry sauce is so much tastier than adding butter or brown sugar.
What are your favorite ways to use leftover cranberry sauce?
47 Comments
emily
December 2, 2013 at 3:12 pmYour grilled cheese is a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce, but it’s so good I’m sure I will just go out and buy cranberry sauce to make it again in the future! Thanks for the brilliant idea.
I featured your cranberry cheddar grilled cheese in my most recent meal plan on my blog, thanks!
http://rainbowdelicious.com/meal-plan-fall-2013-week-11/
Kiersten
December 4, 2013 at 8:22 pmThanks for the shout out! 🙂
Roble
November 29, 2014 at 2:10 pmCranberry-Orange Vodka
Add vodka to taste (approx 2 cups) and peel of one orange to leftover cranberry sauce . Steep for 5 days in fridge. Strain and store in airtight decanter. Serve chilled or use in your favorite Cosmo recipe.
Kathy Strawson
December 25, 2016 at 1:03 pmMy favourite way to use yesterday’s cranberry sauce in on top of turkey fritters/pancakes with a bit of sour cream and cranberry sauce. You’re welcome.
Annette Wilson
November 29, 2018 at 7:50 amI love to mix cranberry sauce in plain greek yogurt and put it on my cooked steel-cut oats.
Meg
November 29, 2018 at 8:30 pmI’ve been in the same boat, and I’ve found that a meal of marinated baked tofu + steamed broccoli + cranberry sauce is the perfect dinner. There is just something magical about the flavor combination!