Cranberry sauce is a must-have Thanksgiving side dish. While many people like bottled cranberry sauce, I prefer homemade cranberry sauce. This dish is acidic, sweet, and packed with seasonal flavor.
You may prepare homemade cranberry sauce in the oven, slow cooker, or on the stovetop, but my favorite method is to smoke it.
You can use the oven for other things, but it also provides a great layer of smokey flavor that really elevates the meal.For starters, it frees up room in your kitchen.
Contents
- How to make Smokey Cranberry BBQ Sauce
- Other options to liven up your smoked cranberry sauce
- What to serve with smoked cranberry sauce?
- More barbecue sauce ideas
- FAQs
- Can I smoke my BBQ sauce?
- Do you put BBQ sauce on before smoking?
- How to jazz up cranberry sauce?
- What is secret BBQ sauce?
- Can you smoke sauce in a smoker?
- Can I use my BBQ to smoke?
- Can you put BBQ sauce on meat while smoking?
- Do you put BBQ sauce on ribs before or after smoking?
- How do you prepare a BBQ for smoking?
- What takes the bitterness out of cranberry sauce?
How to make Smokey Cranberry BBQ Sauce
1. Prep your ingredients
This dish could not be simpler to prepare. You just need five ingredients.
- Cranberries You cant beat fresh
- Orange juice
- Lemon juice
- Brown sugar
- Water
I prefer to use light brown sugar for the sugar. Some individuals prefer maple syrup, while others prefer white sugar or a blend of white and brown sugar. The sweetness from the brown sugar is ideal for this dish, in my opinion.
I suggest freshly squeezing the juice from your fruit. Although you may use store-bought orange and lemon juice, there is something special about freshly squeezed citrus juice.
I normally make a bigger batch with two bags of cranberries. If you’re just feeding a few people, simply reduce all of the ingredients in half and the dish will still turn out perfectly!
2. Put it together
For this recipe, I prefer to use a disposable metal tray, particularly because it is a Thanksgiving meal. You’ll already have a mound of dishes to deal with after dinner, so I like to spare myself a little more effort by using a disposable tray, but it’s all up to you!
Squeeze the orange and lemon juices over the top and pour in the water.
Sprinkle the brown sugar all over the top.
Give it a good stir to make sure all of the cranberries are covered, and it’s ready to go on the smoker.
3. Fire up your smoker
Heat your smoker to 300F.
For this dish, I used my Camp Chef Woodwind 24, but you could also use a pellet smoker, a classic wood-burning pit, or even a gas grill if that’s what you have.
I chose Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets in Pecan flavor since I wanted a lighter profile wood that wouldn’t overshadow the meal with smoke. Pecan, apple, and cherry are all excellent choices.
Place the metal tray on the grates of your smoker after it has reached temperature and cook for 3 to 4 hours.
When the cranberries begin to burst and the liquid begins to thicken, it is ready to serve!
Simply simmer it for a little longer if you want a richer cranberry sauce.
If you like a thinner cranberry sauce, err on the side of caution and keep the cooking time closer to 3 hours. After the 3-hour mark, check on it every 30 minutes or so until it gets the required consistency.
4. Serving
Homemade cranberry sauce may be served hot or cold, depending on personal choice.
If you want to serve it cold, move it to a serving dish, cover it, and refrigerate it for two hours or up to four days.
Other options to liven up your smoked cranberry sauce
This recipe is for a really simple cranberry sauce, which makes it a fantastic blank canvas for your imagination!
There are many methods to add a bit additional flavor to the dish:
- For a fuller taste, replace one cup of the water with one cup of bourbon.
- For a citrus boost, add 2 teaspoons lemon zest.
- For a sweeter version of the dish, add 2 tablespoons maple syrup.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg for an additional seasonal spice taste.
- Add some chopped pecans for additional crunch and texture.
- For more sweetness and a smoother taste profile, add a spoonful of vanilla extract.
What to serve with smoked cranberry sauce?
Serve your homemade cranberry sauce with your favorite Thanksgiving meals, of course!
Here are a couple of our recipes to help you finish your Thanksgiving meal:
- Smoked Turkey Legs
- Smoked Spatchcock Turkey
- Cranberry Walnut Pasta Salad
- Celery and Parmesan Salad
- Smoked Sausage Stuffing
More barbecue sauce ideas
- Regional bbq sauce recipes
- Creamy Hot Sauce
- Pomegranate Sauce: Perfect On Grilled Meat
