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Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
5 from 36 votes

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

This Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce features fresh cranberries cooked with maple syrup, brown sugar, and orange juice, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. The sauce balances tart and sweet flavors with warm spices, and some cranberries remain whole for texture, while others burst to create a thick, jam-like consistency. It's suitable for holiday meals or as a condiment to complement savory dishes.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 415 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 12 oz cranberries approximately 4 cups, fresh
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 3/8 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon cloves ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add water, orange juice, maple syrup, and sugar, to sauce pan and heat over medium. Whisk to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Rinse cranberries in a colander. Remove any that are bruised, and then shake off excess water.
  3. Add cranberries to the sauce pan and stir. Bring everything up to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low to bring it to a simmer.
  4. Add cinnamon stick, ginger, ground cloves, nutmeg to sauce pan and stir.
  5. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occassionally.
  6. Many of the cranberries will burst but some will remain intact. Mash slightly with a fork if desired.
  7. Discard cinnamon stick and transfer sauce to a bowl and let cool.
  8. Serve or store in fridge for up to a week before serving.

Notes

  • This sauce yields about 1 cup and can be made up to a week in advance for convenience.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week or freeze for up to two months.
  • Frozen cranberries can be used without fully thawing; just rinse before cooking.
  • Dark brown sugar adds a rich molasses flavor, but light or white sugar works as well.
  • Maple syrup can be substituted with other natural sweeteners like honey if preferred.
  • To thicken the sauce, simmer longer to reduce liquid or adjust the orange juice to water ratio to as little as 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/8 cup water.
  • Enhance flavor and texture with additions like pecans, walnuts, raisins, currants, or extra spices like allspice.

Nutrition Information

Calories 415kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 106g (35%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 23mg (1%) Potassium 457mg (10%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 84g (168%) Vitamin A 232IU (5%) Vitamin C 54mg (60%) Calcium 133mg (13%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2 cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 415

% Daily Value*

Calories 415kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 106g 35%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 23mg 1%
Potassium 457mg 10%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 84g 168%
Vitamin A 232IU 5%
Vitamin C 54mg 60%
Calcium 133mg 13%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.