6 Uses for Leftover Cranberry Sauce

It's that time of year when cranberry sauce seems to land on everyone's table. Up until a few years ago, we always had tons of leftover cranberry sauce, and I had no clue what to "do" with it.

Since then, I've discovered how easy it is to make your own cranberry sauce, and have found multiple uses for any leftovers.

Add it to tuna salad
Cranberry sauce, with or without cranberries, makes a great addition to perk up an otherwise drab tuna salad. Add a teaspoon or two at a time, mix, and taste. Add as much, or little, as you'd like.

Add it to turkey salad
One of the many ways we use leftover turkey is to slice it very fine, and make "turkey salad." It's a delicious addition that will perk up the taste of your sandwich.

Use as a sandwich dip
We love to make our own panini sandwiches, and use cranberry sauce as a dip on the side. Make your favorite panini sandwich.

Place some leftover cranberry sauce into a small saucepan. Using low heat, stir until it's warm, being careful that it doesn't burn. Pour the warmed cranberry sauce into a small bowl or container, or even put it on the side of your plate. Dip your panini sandwich into this for an extra treat.

Blend it with cream cheese
Drain off the liquid and keep any pieces of the cranberry itself. Let cream cheese soften to room temperature. Mix the cranberry pieces into the cream cheese. You can roll this mixture into crushed nuts, and make a cream cheese ball, or just form it into a log. Either way, cover it tightly with plastic wrap so the cream cheese doesn't dry out before you use it.

This makes a delicious spread for bagels, crackers, or anything else you that calls for cream cheese.

Feeding wildlife
Rinse off the sauce portion, and feed the cranberries to the local wildlife. Take a needle, thread it with regular thread, and string the pieces of cranberry to hang in a tree.

Or, visit a local park with your family. Look for signs of wildlife, whether that's squirrels, ducks, geese or any other creatures. Toss the rinsed cranberry pieces to the animals.

Freeze and eat it later
If you get tired of eating cranberry sauce and want a break, put small amounts into a zip lock bag and freeze it. We make a larger batch, and then put about 1/3 of a cup into each bag and freeze it so we'll always have fresh cranberry sauce on hand.

Now that you've got great ideas of what to do with leftover cranberry sauce, try a hand at making your own. It really is that much better than store bought, and it's easy, too!

Here is a fantastic recipe by fellow Content Producer, EMohrman, with information on how to make your own cranberry sauce. You'll love it and you'll be glad you made your own.