Homemade Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Maple, Orange and Ginger
If you are looking for a stellar homemade fresh cranberry sauce recipe, then you’ve come to the right place. This bright and flavorful cranberry sauce strikes the perfect balance between tart and sweet. It is also quick and easy to make, and pairs incredibly well with a variety of meals! Also check out our favorite ways to use cranberry sauce. It's not just for the holidays!
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar (okay to substitute with white sugar if that is all you have)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 organic ripe orange, medium-large (both the juice and the zest)
- water - enough to make 1 cup of liquid total, including orange juice (for example, 2/3 cup of water and 1/3 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice)
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger (sub with 1/8 tsp ground ginger)
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick)
- optional: pinch of allspice
Instructions
- Wash the fresh cranberries. Discard and compost any smashed or bruised ones.
- Wash and zest the orange first, and then juice it.
- Add the fresh-squeezed orange juice to a liquid measuring cup, and then top it off with water until you reach one cup of liquid total.
- Combine all of the called-for ingredients in a saucepan on the stove.
- Bring the pot to a low boil, allow to boil for just a couple of minutes, and then reduce to medium-low heat to simmer. The cranberries will begin to pop and combine.
- Continue cooking on a medium-low heat without a lid for about 20 minutes, until around half of the cranberries have popped and reduced. (Note that the cranberry sauce will seem runny while it is still on the stove, but thickens significantly as it cools.)
- For an even thicker, smoother, jam-like cranberry sauce, continue to simmer and reduce the mixture for 5-10 minutes longer, popping more of the cranberries.
- Remove from heat, allow to cool, serve and enjoy!
- Use within 10-14 days when stored in the refrigerator, or freeze leftovers to enjoy for months to come.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!