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November 4, 2019

15-Minute Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce (naturally sweetened!)

The best healthy orange cranberry sauce made with fresh orange juice, naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup or honey and bursting with cranberries. This homemade cranberry sauce is delicious, tangy and a MUST at your Thanksgiving table! Make it ahead of time or freeze it for later to add to your fav recipes.

Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
20 min

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orange cranberry sauce in a bowl

I had never experienced homemade cranberry sauce until a few years ago. The only cranberry sauce that sat on our non-traditional Thanksgiving table was the jellied overly sweet canned version from Ocean Spray. Truthfully, that cranberry sauce was only there because Mom loved it.

A few years ago she started experimenting with a healthier version made with orange juice and maple syrup. I was hesitant at first, but Mom encouraged me to try a little of her beautiful maroon cranberries. I scooped the orange cranberry sauce onto a baked sweet potato with a little roasted turkey breast on the side. Two bites in, and I was in LOVE! The cranberries weren’t overly sweet, they were a little tart, but oh so perfect in every way.

For the next week, I enjoyed the leftover homemade healthy cranberry sauce in smoothies, on butternut squash patties, on top of my sweet potato pancakes, on my yogurt and on cottage cheese. I’m telling you, the options are endless.

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cranberries for cranberry sauce in a pot

What’s in this healthy cranberry sauce?

This homemade, healthy cranberry sauce is made with just 5 simple ingredients but is bursting with sweet and tart flavors. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Cranberries: feel free to use frozen or fresh cranberries in the sauce for ease.
  • Sweetener: we’re naturally sweetening this cranberry sauce with pure maple syrup or honey instead of using any white sugar or brown sugar.
  • Orange juice: some fresh orange juice (for actual orange, not a carton!) give the sauce a wonderful, bright flavor.
  • Vanilla extract: the vanilla pair perfectly with the fruits.
  • Optional: a splash of bourbon, brandy, amaretto or scotch whiskey really deepens the flavor and takes it to the next level.

healthy orange cranberry sauce in a pot with a spoon

Homemade cranberry sauce in 5 easy steps

This cranberry sauce recipe only takes 15 minutes to make and is ridiculously easy to make. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Mix the sauce ingredients. Add cranberries, orange juice, pure maple syrup (or honey), vanilla and whiskey, if using, to a small pot.
  2. Bring them to a boil. Place the pot over medium high heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Simmer the sauce. Once boiling, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low and allow cranberries to simmer for 10-15 minutes. You may notice a popping sound, which simply means the cranberries are bursting and getting nice and juicy.
  4. Thicken it up. After 10 minutes, remove the lid, and stir. The cranberry sauce may need a few more minutes to simmer in order for the sauce to thicken.
  5. Garnish and serve. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with orange zest, then serve!

healthy orange cranberry sauce in a bowl on a board with a spoon

How to make cranberry sauce ahead of time

You can make this healthy cranberry sauce ahead of time and serve it later. Simply cook as instructed in the recipe, then allow to cool completely, place in an airtight container and serve when ready. I prefer to serve my cranberry sauce cold but you can also feel free to serve it at room temperature or heat it up over low heat in a small pot on the stove. This orange cranberry sauce recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance.

Store & freeze leftover cranberry sauce

  • To store: let the cranberry sauce come to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
  • To freeze: feel free to add your cooled cranberry sauce to an airtight bag or container and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Simply let it thaw in the fridge before serving.

healthy cranberry sauce in a bowl on a cutting board

Our favorite ways to serve cranberry sauce

  • Of course, top your Thanksgiving turkey, ham, or chicken
  • Add it to delicious turkey sandwiches using leftover Thanksgiving turkey
  • Use it as a topping for ice cream or cakes like angel food cake
  • Top homemade dinner rolls (don’t forget the butter, too!)

See how to make the healthy cranberry sauce

More Thanksgiving recipes you’ll love

Get all of our delicious Thanksgiving recipes here, and even more side dishes here!

I hope you love this homemade orange cranberry sauce! If you make anything from AK, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. I love seeing your creations and featuring followers!

15-Minute Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce (naturally sweetened!)

5 from 25 votes
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orange cranberry sauce in a bowl
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Serves6 servings
The best healthy orange cranberry sauce made with fresh orange juice, naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup or honey and bursting with cranberries. This homemade cranberry sauce is delicious, tangy and a MUST at your Thanksgiving table! Make it ahead of time or freeze it for later to add to your fav recipes.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or honey)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon whiskey, bourbon, brandy or scotch (optional)
  • zest from 1 orange

Instructions

  • Add cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract and bourbon in a small pot and place over medium high heat.
  • Once mixture begins to boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes or until the sauce becomes nice and thick, coating the back of a spoon. You may notice a popping sound; this is the cranberries bursting so don't worry.
  • After 10 minutes I recommend removing the lid and allowing cranberries to simmer a few minutes to thicken the sauce up. If you are using frozen cranberries, this may take a bit longer.
  • Once the sauce is thick, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve, then garnish with orange zest. Serves 6 (about 1/4 cup each). Feel free to double the recipe!

Recipe Notes

If you use frozen cranberries, you may need to remove the lid in the last 5 minutes of cooking to give the sauce time to really thicken up.
How to make cranberry sauce ahead of time: simply cook as instructed in the recipe, then allow to cool completely, place in an airtight container and serve when ready. I prefer to serve my cranberry sauce cold but you can also feel free to heat it up over low heat in a small pot on the stove. This orange cranberry sauce recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (based on 6)Calories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 0.3gFiber: 2.8gSugar: 24.2g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats

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orange cranberry sauce in a bowl

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