Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir

A delightful spin on classic cranberry sauce. Spiced cranberry sauce with ginger, Pinot Noir red wine, curry powder, and Chinese five-spice.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated February 16, 2021
Elise Bauer
Spicy Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir
Elise Bauer

Here is a delightful spin on a fall favorite—cranberry sauce. The cranberries are cooked in Pinot Noir and spiced with curry, ginger, fennel seeds, and other spices.

A Simply Recipes reader shared this Epicurious recipe with me, which so sounded intriguing, we just had to try it!

Spicy Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir
Elise Bauer

I reduced the sugar and the curry powder a bit and the cranberry sauce came out beautifully—sweet, but not too sweet, seeped in the flavor of a good Pinot Noir, and enlivened with a rich blend of spices.

I highly recommend it if you would like to stretch a bit beyond the standard cranberry sauce.

Featured Video

Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Yield 2 1/2 cups

Chinese 5-spice is a common spice mix for Chinese cooking. If you can't find it, we've included directions on how to make your own.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (about 8 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 2 cups Pinot Noir or other dry red wine
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • Large pinch of Chinese five-spice powder*

Method

  1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cranberries and fresh ginger; stir until cranberries begin to burst, 3-5 minutes.

  2. Add wine and sugar; boil until mixture is reduced to 2 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes.

  3. Add crystallized ginger, curry powder and five-spice powder.

    Serve sauce cold or warm.

    *How to make your own Chinese five-spice powder

    Chinese five-spice powder Ingredients:
    1 teaspoon peppercorns
    4 star anise
    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
    1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    1 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seeds

    Method:
    In a dry skillet, roast peppercorns by shaking the pan over low to medium heat until the aroma of the peppercorns is released (about three minutes). Grind the roasted peppercorns and 4 star anise in a blender or pepper mill. Mix in ground cloves, ground cinnamon, and ground fennel seeds. Grind the seasonings until very fine. Store in an airtight container.