Name: Raspberry Balsamic Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 3 cups cranberries ((fresh or frozen)); 1 1/2 cups raspberries ((fresh)); 3 tsp raspberry balsamic vinegar

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Fresh raspberries and raspberry balsamic vinegar give a subtle twist on classic cranberry sauce to give us this delicious raspberry balsamic cranberry sauce.

I know, raspberry balsamic cranberry sauce...in September?

Here's the deal: Canadian Thanksgiving is October 13, which is about three weeks away.

In that time, I am going back to work, throwing Kai's first birthday party, and hosting Thanksgiving. So, I thought I would get the Thanksgiving recipes rolling a little sooner than normal!

And if you're American, I am reeeally early. Bookmark this one for November, it's a keeper!

Reasons you'll ♡ this raspberry balsamic cranberry sauce

it's super easy to prepare (under 15 minutes of effort!)
it's a fun way to switch up your cranberry sauce routine
the flavors are absolutely delicious together and it goes great with turkey

I take my cranberry sauce verrrry seriously. It has pretty well always been my job {even before I got all 'into' food}, to make the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, whenever we were having a turkey. I totally got off easy when I consider the amount of work it takes to cook the turkey 😉 {By the way: the BEST EVER turkey recipe, hands down, is this Dry Brined Turkey with Garlic Sage Butter}

And about the turkey: I won't even bother unless there is cranberry sauce involved. A big scoop of that sweet, tart, gooey sauce. I like my cranberry sauce with a little bit of turkey, please!

I can't even wrap my brain around the fact that they sell cranberry sauce in a can...people must buy it, because every year, it's back. It takes about 10 minutes to make cranberry sauce. I know, there's the turkey, stuffing, sides, dessert, etc etc etc. But it's the cranberry sauce!! {Tell me I'm not alone in my cranberry sauce passion, here!}

OK, stepping down from my crazy lady cranberry sauce rant.

I wanted to make my own cranberry sauce recipe, something a little different. But not too different, I didn't want to mess with a good thing. I almost went chipotle on it, but I have done a lot of chipotle recipes this summer.

Instead I went raspberry on it. Then a little balsamic on it. Both good decisions. This raspberry balsamic cranberry sauce is definitely not the same as the original, but still has the tart, sweet flavors that I love so much. There is a fresh raspberry twang to it, and a teeny little balsamic zing at the end. Twang and zing...am I making up words here?

~~One~~ Three more things: 1} it still only takes about 10 minutes to make, and 2} it is much prettier than those can-shapped wobbly things, and 3} your taste buds will think they've died and gone to heaven. And I'm done.

Tips & equipment for the perfect cranberry sauce

you'll need a medium sized pot; I used my 4L Paderno pot (similar to this one)
make this recipe up to 4 days ahead (store in an air tight container in the fridge)
Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes? Check out this Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce, these Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower and this Brussels Sprouts Gratin

raspberry balsamic cranberry sauce in blue bowl

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5 from 3 votes