My Favorite Cranberry Orange Pecan Compote

Cooking is really what you love in your flavor wheel house. There is no right or wrong way to make a cranberry compote as far as flavor profiles. Occasionally I have read that people will add some jalapeño even for a change. The techniques will get you where you need to for the finished food but flavors?  That is really up to your tastebuds.

For more cranberry compote recipes click here. 

My Favorite Cranberry Orange Pecan Compote

peel orange with vegetable peeler for strips
but just the colorful part

My Favorite Cranberry Orange Pecan Compote

6 servings +

Ingredients

1 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar, white or light brown
3 - 1" wide strips of orange peel                                          

 





     

shelled pecans

14 oz fresh whole cranberries
2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans










Preparation

Into a saucepan bring orange juice and sugar to a boil.   Add the cranberries, orange peel, and simmer till the berries start popping and liquid thickens.  When ready to cool, thoroughly stir in the toasted pecans to spread evenly.  Leave the peel in or remove if you wish. The liquid will thicken more while cooling. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator until you need to serve. Serving suggestion: top with some grated orange rind and sprinkled chopped toasted pecans. This will be colorful and let the guests know exactly what's in the compote.

Apple Lovin' Cranberry Compote

Love the autumn and the newly harvested apples, cranberries, pumpkins and other fall-harvested ingredients.  This recipe combines apple, cranberries, and cinnamon with either apple juice or cider.
A lovely with chops, chicken, turkey or other poultry.  Don't be afraid to experiment when you cook, that's how new recipes are created.   For more cranberry compote recipes click here. 

whole cranberries ready to cook

Granny Smith Apples

Apple Lovin' Cranberry Compote

6 servings

Ingredients

1 cup apple juice or cider
1 cup sugar
1 medium to large granny smith apple                                              

Cinnamon sticks

14 oz fresh whole cranberries (or frozen not defrosted)
1 cinnamon stick

Preparation

Peel and chop the apple into roughly chopped chunks. These chunks will break down during cooking but smaller chop works best. It is fine to have some pieces larger so they show in the finished product.

Into a saucepan bring the juice or cider, cinnamon stick and sugar to a boil.  Add the cranberries, apples to pot and stir.  Simmer until the berries start popping and liquid thickens.  The apples will soften even more as the compote cools and the liquid will firm up while cooling completely. Remember to remove the cinnamon stick before serving.  Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator until serving.  This works very well with pork, chicken, turkey or duck.

 Cranberry Compote to gift

The Uncanny Smooth Style Jellied Cranberry Jelly

This is nicer than the usual canned cranberry jelly styled sauce from the can.  Will you miss the ridges from the can?  I know we don't!   It's really about flavor, flavor, flavor for my family!  This is so simple to make! It really is just my basic Very Berry Basic Whole Cranberry Compote that is strained to remove the pulp.

The Uncanny Smooth  Style Jellied Cranberry Jelly strained and decorated for giving

The Uncanny Smooth  Style Jellied Cranberry Jelly 

6 servings +

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
14 oz fresh whole cranberries

Whole Cranberries

Preparation

Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan . Add the cranberries and simmer till the berries start popping and the liquid thickens.  Before allowing to cool down, strain the sauce using a wire strainer set over a bowl. Work carefully because those hot sugary syrups really can give quite a nasty burn. Once most of the liquid is strained out, then use a sturdy spoon to mash down the berries and get the remaining juices.

wire mesh strainer

Don't forget to scrape the outside of the strainer to get all the fine pulp into the liquid in the bowl. The liquid will thicken more while cooling. Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator until you need to serve.