Forget the canned version, this whole berry cranberry orange sauce is a breeze to make and is bursting with the bright flavors of tart cranberries, zesty orange, and honey.
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I feel like cranberry sauce doesn't get enough love. This homemade cranberry sauce recipe blows canned cranberry sauce out of the water!
Making your own cranberry sauce is so simple and delicious that no one will miss the canned stuff. What I love about this recipe is that doesn't use refined sugars and high fructose corn syrup, and it's naturally sweetened with orange juice and honey. It only takes 4 simple ingredients and about 10 minutes to make. Since it is so easy to make this is the perfect dish to sign up to bring to a Friendsgiving!
Once the holiday season hits I get super excited thinking about Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner. Cranberry sauce and this gluten-free cornbread stuffing are my two favorite dishes at a holiday dinner. This cranberry sauce brings such a beautiful pop of color to a fairly beige holiday spread.
Ingredients
Substitutions
Cranberries- You can use frozen cranberries but you will need to let them simmer for a little longer, about 2 minutes longer, since they will release more liquid while cooking. You can find cranberries in the fresh produce section of your grocery store during the holiday season.
Honey- You can substitute honey for maple syrup or coconut sugar. You can make this recipe vegan by using maple syrup or coconut sugar. You could also use white sugar if you can't find coconut sugar.
Step by step
- Add the honey and orange juice to a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until the honey has dissolved.
- Add the fresh cranberries and orange zest to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Lower heat to medium-low and occasionally stir until most of the cranberries have popped.
- Let cool for 20-30 minutes then serve in a serving bowl.
Will homemade cranberry sauce thicken as it cools?
Yes! As the cranberry sauce cools it will thicken to a nice jelly-like consistency.
How do you make cranberry sauce less or more sweet?
To make cranberry sauce less sweet you can use less honey than the recipe calls for if you like your cranberry sauce sweeter, then you can use more honey.
Tips
- The best part of this cranberry sauce is that you can make it a day or two before your holiday get together making it one less thing you have to do the day of.
- The best/easiest way to zest the orange is with a microplane.
- You can buy fresh cranberries early and keep them in your fridge for up to four weeks. You can also freeze them for up to a year!
Add-ins and variations
You can add so many things to this recipe to take it to the next level and impress all your holiday guests. Here are some great add-ins you can try.
- Adding a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves adds a nice holiday spice.
- A splash of either bourbon, brandy, whiskey, scotch, or amaretto adds a nice rich flavor.
- Mix in chopped apples for extra sweetness and a nice texture which is a unique way to serve your cranberry sauce.
- Simmer fresh rosemary springs with your fresh berries for a savory herbal flavor.
- You can add jalapeno for a nice spicy kick.
How to use leftovers
If you have leftover sauce and don't know what to do with it, here are some awesome leftover ideas for you.
- Add some yogurt and top with granola
- Spread onto toast, biscuits, bagels, or English muffins
- Add to oatmeal or overnight oats
- Add a small cube of brie and a dollop of cranberry sauce to the inside of Crescent rolls and bake according to the package directions
- Add it to the top of vanilla ice cream.
- Top your pancakes or waffles
- Stir into cottage cheese
- Add it to a leftover turkey sandwich
- Blend into a smoothie
- Combine it with BBQ sauce for a tangy twist
- Add it to the top of a sweet potato casserole
Storing
Let the leftover cranberry sauce cool completely then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 14 days.
Freezing is a great way to store your sauce if you have a large batch or want to store it for an extended period of time. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag. Cranberry sauce can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To use frozen cranberry sauce, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating or comment! Your feedback is so important to me.
Recipe
Homemade Whole Berry Cranberry Orange Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup honey
- zest from one orange
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Sauce pan
Instructions
- Add the orange juice and honey to a saucepan and cook on low till honey has dissolved.
- Once the honey has dissolved, add the cranberries and orange zest.
- Bring to a boil then turn the heat to low and cook for 10-15 minutes (or until most of the cranberries have burst) stirring occasionally.
Notes
- The best part of this cranberry sauce is that you can make it a day or two before your holiday get together making it one less thing you have to do the day of.
- The best/easiest way to zest the orange is with a microplane.
- You can buy fresh cranberries early and keep them in your fridge for up to four weeks. You can also freeze them for up to a year!
- Adding a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves adds a nice holiday spice.
- A splash of either bourbon, brandy, whiskey, scotch, or amaretto adds a nice rich flavor.
- Mix in chopped apples for extra sweetness and a nice texture which is a unique way to serve your cranberry sauce.
- Simmer fresh rosemary springs with your fresh berries for a savory herbal flavor.
- You can add jalapeno for a nice spicy kick.
Nutrition
*nutrition information is an approximate
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