Name: Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 12 oz fresh cranberries ((1 bag) ); 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup); 1/4 cup orange juice (pereferrably fresh queezed); 1/4 cup water; 1 orange (zested); 1/8 tsp cinnamon

This healthy, naturally sweetened cranberry sauce recipe is perfectly sweet, perfectly tart, and the perfect holiday side dish accompaniment.

I read somewhere that the average caloric intake for one Thanksgiving meal could be compared to eating 5 Big Macs in a single meal!

I plan to enjoy my Thanksgiving to the fullest! A few healthy adjustments made to traditional side holiday dish recipes without sacrificing flavor?....sounds like a win to me!

HEALTHY RECIPE DETAILS

Canned cranberry sauce is chock full of high fructose corn syrup, and classic homemade cranberry sauce recipes are loaded with sugar, like A LOT of sugar...Most recipes call for a whole cup of sugar. And, while they’re delicious, this is an easy recipe to dial back the sugar content and opt for natural ingredients.

HOW TO NATURALLY SWEETEN CRANBERRY SAUCE

This cranberry sauce recipe uses fresh cranberries, is naturally sweetened with honey (or maple syrup), and fresh-squeezed orange juice with just a hint of cinnamon. This is one of the easiest side dishes you will make...and it’s pretty much foolproof.

QUICK & EASY

This recipe is QUICK and EASY!

If you're short on time or spending hours cooking in the kitchen isn't your idea of fun, this is the side dish you'll want to volunteer to bring to your holiday get-together.

Raw ingredients used in cranberry sauce.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE

ADD- In a medium saucepan, combine orange juice, water, honey, and cranberries. Bring to a simmer. I find the popping sound cranberries make when opening up so satisfying!... I'm not weird, you're weird :).

STIR- Stir occasionally and wait for cranberry sauce to thicken and come together for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon and orange zest.

TASTE- More honey can be added as desired to adjust the sweetness of your cranberry sauce.

CAN I USE FROZEN CRANBERRIES?

Yes! I'm notorious for overbuying supplies when hosting a dinner. An oversupply of cranberries can be easily be frozen for 10-12 months. Using frozen berries will take a few minutes longer to simmer, but otherwise, the process will be the same.

ARE CRANBERRIES HEALTHY?

Cranberries are actually in the same family as blueberries and are native to North America. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Manganese, Vitamin E, Vitamin K1, and Copper. Some people consider cranberries to be a superfood because of their high nutrient and antioxidant content. Read more about the health benefits of cranberries here.

More Holiday Side Dishes:

Stuffed Sweet Potato Casserole

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad with Feta and Fresh Apples

📖 Recipe

Cranberry Sauce

Jessica Stroup

This homemade carnberry sauce is perfectly sweet, perfectly tart, and the perfect holiday side dish accompaniant.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 10

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings ¼ cup

Calories 76 kcal

Ingredients

1 12 oz fresh cranberries (1 bag)
½ cup honey or maple syrup
¼ cup orange juice pereferrably fresh queezed
¼ cup water
1 orange zested
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Rinse cranberries and pick out any that don't look good.
In a medium saucepan combine cranberries, orange juice, honey, and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Once cranberries have popped and the sauce has thickened, about 5-10 minutes, remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon and orange zest.
Let cool enough to taste. If the cranberry sauce is too tart add an additional tablespoon of honey.
Cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Cover and store in the refrigerator up to 7-10 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 52IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Cranberry Sauce, Naturally Sweetened

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutritional Disclaimer

The nutritional information provided here is approximate and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. We strive to give you accurate information, but many factors can cause this data to vary widely. For more information, please read our full Nutritional Disclaimer.