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    Home » Recipes » Holiday » Thanksgiving » Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger & 100+ Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

    LAST UPDATED: January 29, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: November 12, 2014 By Toni Dash 13 Comments

    Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger & 100+ Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This post has been made possible thanks to my ongoing partnership with Udi’s Gluten-Free, striving to share gluten-free lifestyle information to make everyday just a bit easier!
    Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger

    Thanksgiving can be a stressful holiday for everyone but certainly more so for those who are gluten-intolerant, or with any food restrictions. It’s a holiday about togetherness and being excluded via menu items can sting more than on other occasions. Early into our time of being gluten-free we experienced this and especially for my kids who were young at the time, being left out of delicious desserts was especially hard. It’s really not a feeling one can describe unless they’ve experienced it personally.

    Fortunately there are so many gluten-free options for all the favorite Thanksgiving dishes and the internet abounds with ideas if you are a hosting cook and don’t know where to start! I’ve learned over the years, just because I cook gluten-free does not mean I have to give up the creativity and sophisticated flavors I cherish in favorite recipes.

    Pears and Cranberries in vintage cheese box with fall foliage

    What I do struggle with however is space in my kitchen to make everything! Generally my husband is the main cook for this holiday and we work out a schedule for the kids and I to bob and weave around his preparation to whip up whatever we are assigned to prepare for the meal. This fall I have committed to share at least one new slow cooker recipe a week on Boulder Locavore feeling there is nothing more convenient than piling mouth-watering ingredients into a slow cooker to fill the house with gorgeous aromas and have dinner pop out without my intervention.

    Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger in a silver bowl

    It struck me that a slow cooker could be a great space saver in Thanksgiving preparation too. One of my favorite things to make is the Cranberry Sauce. Though simple, I love the opportunity to change up the flavors of the sweet-tart relish to create something new each year. I grew up on the canned cranberry gelee, and though loving the texture and the telltale ridges on the sides of the plated cranberry tube, making cranberry sauce fresh is definitely the way to go.

    This year I made Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger and it’s perfection! Everything is prepped in about 10 minutes, thrown into a slow cooker and done in three hours. I love the flavors of cranberry, pear, fresh ginger, lime and orange. It’s only slightly sweetened with sugar allowing the orange juice and ripe pear to naturally sweeten the tart cranberries.

    Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger with antique bowl

    Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger

    Slow Cooker Cranberry-Pear Sauce with Ginger

    There is no easier side dish than fresh Cranberry Sauce, whether it be for Thanksgiving or any cool weather occasion. This recipe is made all the most easy by use of a slow cooker. Five minutes of prep and three hours of cooking without intervention! A blending of fall flavors makes this recipe layered, sweet and tart. A perfect compliment to any meal!
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 (2 cups)
    Calories: 60kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 12 ounce (1 bag) fresh Cranberries
    • ½ cup Orange Juice
    • 1 small ripe Pear , peeled, cored and chopped
    • 1 tablespoon Port wine
    • Zest of ½ lime
    • 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh Ginger Root
    • 3 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon ground Cardamom

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook on High for 3 hours. Cranberries will be partially popped and the sauce will have begun to thicken.
    • Allow to cool to room temperature before serving (it will continue to thicken). I can be made smooth by processing through a blender or with an immersion blender if desired. Also additional sweetener may be added (honey suggested) if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 14.4mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    In case you are craving some gluten-free Thanksgiving inspiration, I’ve included some links to irresistible recipes both gluten-free and gluten-eating diners will love. With well over 100 options, I feel sure you’ll find something you’ll love!

    collage of Thanksgiving food

    Boulder Locavore’s 25+ Best Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes from last year

    Some new Boulder Locavore favorites:  

     Pumpkin Polenta with Maple-Bacon Gravy

    Mini Pumpkin Pie Cheesecakes in Mason Jars

    White Wine Ginger Thyme Brined Roast Turkey

    Eating Well:  Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

    Food and Wine:  Ultimate Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

    Saveur: Gluten-Free Recipes for Thanksgiving

    roasted turkey on platter with title

    « White Wine Ginger Thyme Brined Roast Turkey
    Slow Cooker Pennsylvania Dutch Spiced Apple Butter »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephanie Manley says

      November 14, 2018 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      I have got to try this, I love the addition of pears.

      Reply
    2. Sandy says

      November 09, 2018 at 6:51 am

      5 stars
      Love the “kick” of ginger!

      Reply
    3. Ben Rayl says

      November 09, 2018 at 5:54 am

      5 stars
      This sauce is perfection!

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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