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Easy Cranberry Sauce

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This fresh homemade cranberry sauce has only 6 ingredients and is easy to make. It has a luscious chunky texture, delicious tangy flavor and is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and orange juice Healthier and tastier than store bought!

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce in a cut glass serving dish with a spoon.

I’ve been making homemade cranberry sauce since I’m a child. My mother grew up on a farm and loved everything fresh instead of from a can.

It’s easy to make and has a bright fresh taste. Over the years I’ve upgraded the recipe to a healthier version using maple syrup and orange juice to sweeten the cranberries instead of sugar.

I also add a little cinnamon and cardamon. Cardamom has a spicy, herbal, citrusy flavor that goes very well with cinnamon. The spices give the cranberries a warm, floral taste. The oils in cardamom are beneficial for digestion.  Cinnamon helps keep blood sugar in balance

Why I Love This Homemade Cranberry Sauce

  • Easy to Make: There are only 6 ingredients and can be prepared in just 15 minutes.
  • Naturally Sweetened: This is a healthier cranberry sauce sweetened with maple syrup and orange juice instead of sugar.
  • Flavorful: Orange juice and orange zest give it a sweet, tangy, bright taste. The cinnamon and cardamon make it really special.
  • Great Texture: It’s slightly thick with a chunky texture.
  • Adaptable Flavors: If you want a pure cranberry flavor use water instead of orange juice. Leave out the spices or choose any spices you like best, cloves or nutmeg are also good. If you want a little heat add ginger or jalapeรฑos.
  • Can Be Made In Advance: It will stay fresh for at least 5 days. Serve it cold or heat it up the day of your feast.
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce pot of cranberry sauce on stove with woman stirring it

Ingredients and Substitutions

Made with simple ingredients you can find in your supermarket. If possible get organic cranberries since they are often heavily sprayed.

  • Cranberries: Use organic fresh or frozen cranberries. You don’t need to defrost frozen cranberries. Don’t use dried cranberries.
  • Fresh Orange Juice:  I use orange juice to sweeten the cranberries and give it a nice citrusy taste. Squeeze 3/4 cup of juice from fresh oranges. Cranberries and oranges go very well together. Any orange juice without sugar will work. If you don’t like the citrus taste substitute water.
  • Maple Syrup: I like the mild sweet caramel flavor of maple syrup but honey will also work, it will have a slightly different flavor. I use 1/2 cup, but if you want a sweeter cranberry sauce use 3/4 cup. Taste once it’s cooked to decide if you want more sweetener.
  • Orange Zest: Before juicing the orange, grate the zest. Add the zest after removing from the heat. The zest will get bitter if cooked. Get an organic orange for the zest if possible.
  • Cinnamon and Cardamom The spices are optional but make the cranberry sauce more interesting. I use a whole cinnamon stick but ground cinnamon will also work. I like cardamom seeds or pods but ground cardamom is good too.

Steps To Make Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Fresh cranberry sauce is easy to make with only a few steps. It has a beautiful bright color. You may never buy canned again. These are the 3 simple steps:

Step 1: In a saucepan mix orange juice, maple syrup, cinnamon stick and cardamom. Heat on medium-high until it just begins to boil.

Step 2: Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce thickens, 10-15 minutes.

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce cranberries cooking in pot

Step 3: Turn the heat off and add orange zest. Taste for sweetness, add more if desired. Remove cinnamon stick and cardamom pods (if using). Let sit for 30 minutes to thicken and serve. If making in advance chill in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce in pot after cooked with orange zest on top

Storing

Since cranberry sauce stays fresh for 5 days, I make it a few days before Thanksgiving. Then there is less to do on the big day. Store covered in the refrigerator. You can warm it on the stove or serve chilled.

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce close up on a spoon

Serving Suggestions

Cranberry sauce is so easy to make you can enjoy it with a variety of dishes, not just for Thanksgiving. Here are a few suggestions:

Enjoy this easy homemade cranberry sauce. It ‘s healthier and tastier than store bought with a luscious chunky texture, delicious tangy flavor and sweetened with maple syrup.

More Thanksgiving Recipes

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce in a cut glass container

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Easy Cranberry Sauce

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5 from 1 review

This easy cranberry sauce is healthier and tastier than store bought. It’s has a luscious chunky texture, delicious tangy flavor and is sweetened with maple syrup.

  • Author: Ingrid DeHart
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cupsย fresh cranberries (12 ounces) (organic if possible)
  • 3/4 cupย fresh orange juice
  • 1/23/4ย cup pureย maple syrup
  • 1ย cinnamonย stick or 1/4 teaspoon ground
  • 6ย cardamom seeds or pods or 1/4 teaspoon ground
  • 1 Tablespoon orange zest, from 1 orange (organic if possible)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the cranberries.
  2. In a saucepan mix orange juice, 1/2 cup maple syrup, cinnamon stick and cardamom. Heat on medium-high until it just begins to boil
  3. Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce thickens, 10-15 minutes.
  4. Turn the heat off and add orange zest. Taste for sweetness, add more if desired.ย 
  5. Fish out the ย cinnamon, and discard. If using cardamom pods discard those too. You donโ€™t have to find the cardamom seeds theyโ€™re small.
  6. Let sit for 30 minutes to thicken and serve.ย 
  7. Sauce can be served warm after sitting for 30 minutes without chilling.
  8. If making in advance, transfer to a storing or serving dish and place it in the fridge to chill. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
  9. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up 5 days.
  10. Heat up or serve cold.ย 

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