This Cranberry maple butter spread is a wonderful way to preserve the flavors of cranberries and enjoy them throughout the year. If you want to can it, we’ll walk you through it step-by-step.
Comparison of cranberry butter
Wait a minute; there are two distinctly different recipes for cranberry butter? Yes, indeed, there are.
Cranberry butter and cranberry compound butter are delicious condiments that incorporate cranberries. However, they differ in terms of their texture, ingredients, recipes, and usage. Here’s a comparison between the two:
- Texture:
- Cranberry Butter: This spreadable condiment has a smooth and creamy texture, similar to fruit preserves or fruit butter, such as apple butter. It is made by cooking and pureeing cranberries into a spreadable consistency.
- Whipped Cranberry Butter: This compound butter has a solid or semi-solid texture, similar to regular butter. It is made by mixing cranberries and other ingredients with softened butter, then refrigerating or freezing it to solidify.
- Ingredients:
- Cranberry Butter: The main ingredients for cranberry butter spread are cranberries, sugar, and often some spices or flavorings. It may also include apple juice, orange juice, or water to aid in cooking the cranberries and achieving the desired consistency.
- Cranberry Compound Butter: Besides cranberries, cranberry compound butter incorporates softened butter as its primary ingredient. Add sugar, spices, herbs, or even citrus zest for enhanced flavor.
- Usage:
- Cranberry Butter: Use it as a sweet and tangy spread for bread, toast, scones, muffins, or other baked goods. You can use it as a filling or topping for cakes, cookies, or ice cream.
- Cranberry Compound Butter: Use this butter as a flavored butter for savory dishes. Melt it over grilled or roasted meats, steamed vegetables, or cooked pasta to add cranberry flavor. It is also delicious to spread on bread or rolls.
- Versatility:
- Cranberry Butter: Use cranberry butter as a sweet condiment or dessert topping due to its fruity and sweet flavor. It pairs well with breakfast items, baked goods, and desserts.
- Cranberry Compound Butter: This butter offers more versatility. Use it in both sweet and savory recipes. Its buttery texture and cranberry flavor make it suitable for enhancing the taste of various dishes.
Cranberry maple butter
What you need
- Cranberries: Frozen or Fresh cranberries will both work beautifully. Buy an extra bag around the winter holidays and freeze them so you can use them all year.
- Sweetener: Maple syrup, maple sugar, honey, or brown sugar to sweeten it and balance out the tartness of the cranberries. Adjust the sweetener to your liking.
- Orange juice and zest: Use freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Water- if needed, just to make 1 cup of liquid.
Optional spices
- Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds warmth and depth of flavor to the cranberry butter spread. It complements the tartness of the cranberries and enhances the overall taste.
- Ground Nutmeg: Nutmeg is a warm, aromatic spice that pairs well with cranberries. It adds a subtle earthy and nutty flavor to the spread.
- Ground Cloves: Cloves add a touch of spiciness and complexity to the cranberry butter spread. These contribute to the overall flavor and provide a hint of warmth.
How to make it
Step One
Grate the orange zest into a medium saucepan.
Step Two
Add the remaining ingredients. Heat over medium heat.
Step Three
Bring the cranberry mixture to a boil.
Step Four
Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until the cranberries burst.
Step Five
Puree the mixture with an immersion or stand blender or a food processor in batches, if needed.
Optional canning directions
Step One
Ladle the hot butter into hot jars, leaving ½ inch headspace.
Step Two
Remove the air bubbles using a bubble tool, plastic, or wooden chopstick.
Step Three
Wipe the jar rims with a damp paper towel or kitchen towel.
Step Four
Center the lid on the jars.
Screw on band fingertip tight.
Small-batch canning
Small-batch canning is easy, and you don’t need a special canning pot. You can do a few jars in a large deep pot. Ensure your jars are covered by at least 1-2 inches of water.
You need to add something to the bottom so the jar does not bounce around on the bottom of the pot. A clean kitchen towel or any other rack fitting into your pot will work well.
How to store it
Canning this fruit butter is optional. If you do, store it in a cool dark place for up to a year.
If you choose to not can it, store it in a jar or another airtight container for up to three months if it is not opened. Use opened jars within one month.
How to use it
Cranberry butter spread can be used in various ways to add a unique flavor to your meals and snacks. Here are a few ideas for its use:
- Spread on Toast: Cranberry maple butter is perfect for spreading on a slice of toast or a bagel, as with marmalades, jams, or jellies. Its tangy and sweet flavor pairs well with the crispness of the bread. Enjoy it plain, or combine it with cream cheese for an extra creamy and delicious spread.
- Top Pancakes and Waffles: Give your breakfast a delightful twist by adding a dollop of cranberry butter spread to your pancakes or waffles. It adds a burst of fruity flavor and enhances the overall taste of your breakfast.
- Mix in Yogurt or Oatmeal: Stir a spoonful of cranberry butter spread into your yogurt or oatmeal for a fruity and comforting twist. It adds a touch of sweet, tart flavor, making your breakfast or snack more enjoyable.
- Use as a Filling: Use cranberry butter spread to fill pastries, cakes, or cookies. Spread it between cake layers, swirl it into muffin batter, or use it as a filling for thumbprint cookies. Its vibrant flavor will elevate your baked goods.
- Glaze for Meats: Make a glaze for meats, particularly poultry like chicken or turkey. Mix it with citrus juice, soy sauce, or balsamic vinegar, and brush it onto the meat before baking or grilling. The sweet and tangy flavors of cranberry butter will add a delicious glaze and complement the savory taste of the food.
- Cheese Pairing: Cranberry butter spread pairs wonderfully with various types of cheese. Serve it alongside a cheese platter as a fruity accompaniment. It works well with soft cheeses like Brie, creamy cheeses like goat cheese, or even aged cheddar.
- Dessert Topping: Drizzle cranberry butter spread over ice cream, cheesecake, or pound cake for a delightful dessert topping. The tangy cranberry flavor will provide a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the dessert.
- Sandwiches: Spread some on your sandwich instead of mayonnaise. It’s especially delicious on leftover turkey sandwiches and chicken sandwiches.
- Gifts: This cranberry maple butter makes a delicious, unique Christmas or Thanksgiving gift for friends and family.
Remember to get creative and experiment with different combinations to find your favorite ways to use cranberry butter. Enjoy!
More cranberry recipes
- Cranberry Pepper Jelly
- Cranberry Sauce
- Dehydrated Cranberries
- Cranberry Vinegar
- Cranberry Meatballs
- Compound Butter
Helpful tools
Try this easy Cranberry Maple Butter for a surprisingly delicious condiment.
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📖 Recipe
Cranberry Maple Butter
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup maple sugar or substitute maple syrup
- 1 cup Juice from orange
- water
- orange zest
Instructions
- Grate orange directly into a medium saucepan.orange zest
- Add cranberries, maple sugar or maple syrup, plus the juice of one orange with enough water added to make one cup.1½ pounds fresh or frozen cranberries, ¾ cup maple sugar, 1 cup Juice from orange, water
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the berries pop and are soft.
- Remove it from the heat and puree it using an immersion blender, a stand blender or a food processor.
Optional Canning Instructions
- Heat jars. Ladle the butter into pint or half-pint jars, leaving a ¼-inch headspace.
- Remove the air bubbles with a bubble tool or a plastic or wooden chopstick.
- Wipe the rims of the jars with a damp paper towel or kitchen towel to clean off debris.
- Center lid. Screw on band fingertip tight.
- Process jars for 10 minutes.
See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky’s Amazon Store!Notes
- Spread on Toast: Cranberry butter is perfect for spreading on a slice of toast or a bagel, as with marmalades, jams, or jellies. Its tangy and sweet flavor pairs well with the crispness of the bread. Enjoy it plain, or combine it with cream cheese for an extra creamy and delicious spread.
- Top Pancakes and Waffles: Give your breakfast a delightful twist by adding a dollop of cranberry butter spread to your pancakes or waffles. It adds a burst of fruity flavor and enhances the overall taste of your breakfast.
- Mix in Yogurt or Oatmeal: Stir a spoonful of cranberry butter spread into your yogurt or oatmeal for a fruity and comforting twist. It adds a touch of sweet, tart flavor, making your breakfast or snack more enjoyable.
- Use as a Filling: Use cranberry butter spread to fill pastries, cakes, or cookies. Spread it between cake layers, swirl it into muffin batter, or use it as a filling for thumbprint cookies. Its vibrant flavor will elevate your baked goods.
- Glaze for Meats: Make a glaze for meats, particularly poultry like chicken or turkey. Mix it with citrus juice, soy sauce, or balsamic vinegar, and brush it onto the meat before baking or grilling. The sweet and tangy flavors of cranberry butter will add a delicious glaze and complement the savory taste of the food.
- Cheese Pairing: Cranberry butter spread pairs wonderfully with various types of cheese. Serve it alongside a cheese platter as a fruity accompaniment. It works well with soft cheeses like Brie, creamy cheeses like goat cheese, or even aged cheddar.
- Dessert Topping: Drizzle cranberry butter spread over ice cream, cheesecake, or pound cake for a delightful dessert topping. The tangy cranberry flavor will provide a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the dessert.
- Sandwiches: Spread some on your sandwich instead of mayonnaise. It’s especially delicious on leftover turkey sandwiches and chicken sandwiches.
- Gifts: This cranberry butter makes a delicious, unique Christmas or Thanksgiving gift for friends and family.
Nutrition
Originally published May 15, 2023.
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