Cran-Apple Goodness!

    Canning seasonal fruits to use into the New Year and Winter is a great idea.  Cranberries are very versatile as well.  The fruit combo I made has many options in how you can use the fruit and its juice.  You can: Drink It. Eat It. Bake with It. Jam It. Sauce It. or Mix It into a cocktail or hot apple cider...exceptional as a Mock "Kiddie Cocktail" for the little ones.
 This is an easy recipe but, please note that waiting 3-5 weeks before using it as a 'drink' is the preferred waiting time...some can't wait and drink it right away! LOL  ~Enjoy! Diane 

Cran-Apple Goodness
(Cranberries & Apple Canned in a boiling water bath)

​Ingredients: 
1 (12 oz) bag of cranberries  

Syrup:
In a large saucepan add: 
1 diced organic Fuji Apple; washed, peeled, cored 
1-1/4 cups organic Apple juice
1 cup water 
1 tsp vanilla bean paste, whisked in 
3/4 cup white, granulated sugar

Directions: 
Bring syrup ingredients to a boil, add in the cranberries (wash and pick out any bad berries first) Boil for 3 minutes.  Reduce to a simmer; you will divide cranberries and apple equally into each pint jar using a slotted spoon. Top off each jar with remaining hot syrup to 1/2" head-space, remove air bubbles and bring head-space back to 1/2" by adding more hot syrup if needed.  

Process Pints or Quarts in a boiling water-bath for time specified to your altitude: 
20 minutes   0 - 1,000 ft    
25 minutes  1,001 - 3,000 ft    
30 minutes  3,001 - 6,000 ft      
35 minutes  Above 6,000
 
Yield:  4 pint jars

*Recipe Note: Let sit 4-6 weeks if wanting to drink as a juice. We mix Cran-Apple Goodness with Diet 7up or Ginger Ale for a wonderful drink. Great in a Holiday punch bowl too!!
 
Recipe adapted from: NCHFP Canning Cranberries and NCHFP Canning Apples 
Syrup and Photos by: Diane Baker for Canning and Cooking at Home