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–+ servings
Orange Maple Cranberry Sauce - This easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe is sweetened with pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar. Orange and cinnamon lend subtle seasonal flavor without taking over. Make now and freeze for Thanksgiving!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Cranberry Orange Sauce

Sweetened with pure maple syrup and flavored with orange zest and juice, this easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe is a wonderful addition to the holiday table! Orange and cinnamon add subtle seasonal flavors that make the cranberries shine.
Yield: 12

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cranberries 1 [12-ounce] bag; fresh or frozen
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup + more if needed
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice from two or three medium oranges
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick 5-inch or two 3-inch

Instructions

  • Rinse the cranberries. Discard any mushy or underripe berries and stems. 
  • Place a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and add the cranberries, 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, orange zest, orange juice, water, and cinnamon stick. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue boiling over medium heat until the berries burst and break down, forming a sauce, 15-20 minutes. 
  • Taste for sweetness. If it's too tart, add more syrup - a tablespoon at a time - until the sauce tastes sweet enough for you. 
  • Remove from the heat and let cool. Spoon into your serving container to serve or store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 3-4 days. You can also freeze your cranberry sauce for up to 2 months - I do this every Thanksgiving! Just place the sauce in an airtight container or zipper freezer bag and transfer to the freezer. Move to the fridge to thaw about 24-48 hours before the big meal.

Notes

Storage/make-ahead:

Make it now, freeze it for later. That's the very best thing about homemade cranberry sauce - other than the fact that it tastes incredible, of course!
Just cook it up, let it cool, and put it in an airtight container or storage bag. Store for up to 5 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 3 months (make sure you have a freezer safe container). To thaw, put it in the fridge overnight and it'll be thawed by morning.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1g, Calories: 41kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.004g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 62mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 38IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 0.1mg