Easy Orange Cranberry Sauce (3 Ingredients!)

User Reviews

5

24 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    45 mins

  • Total Time

    50 mins

  • Servings

    10 (2-Tbsp servings)

  • Calories

    43 kcal

  • Cuisine

    Vegan

Easy Orange Cranberry Sauce (3 Ingredients!)

Easy Orange Cranberry Sauce blends fresh or frozen cranberries with orange zest, orange juice, and maple syrup, baked until the berries burst and form a slightly chunky, tangy-sweet sauce. This simple, fruit-forward condiment provides a refreshing contrast in flavor and texture, ideal for holiday meals or as a bright accompaniment to poultry and pork.

Description

The recipe calls for placing cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and maple syrup in a baking dish and cooking them in the oven at 350°F until the cranberries become tender and start to burst, releasing their natural pectin which thickens the sauce. Once out of the oven, the mixture is gently mashed to the desired consistency, from loose chunks to a smoother texture if preferred. Additional orange juice or maple syrup can adjust sweetness and liquidity.

This baking method accentuates the citrus aroma and natural sweetness of the fruit, producing a vibrant sauce with a balance of tart and sweet flavors. The maple syrup adds depth and warmth compared to plain sugar, while the orange components brighten the cranberries’ natural sharpness.

The sauce is versatile, served at room temperature, chilled, or warmed. It pairs well with roasted turkey, chicken, pork, or even dolloped on desserts. Leftover sauce keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week or can be frozen for a month, making it convenient for later use. The straightforward three-ingredient version highlights natural fruit flavors with minimal fuss.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 (10-oz) cranberries ~2 ½ cups as recipe is written // fresh or frozen, bagged
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup

Instructions

OVEN (our preferred method)

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and set out an 8 x 8-inch ceramic or glass baking dish (or other dish of a similar size // use a 9 x 13 pan if making a double batch).
  2. To the baking dish, add cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and maple syrup. Stir to combine.
  3. Bake for ~45-50 minutes or until the cranberries are bubbly and tender. Then remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
  4. Use a potato masher (or wooden spoon) to gently smash cranberries into a loose sauce. If you’d prefer it to be saucier, add a bit more orange juice at this time. Add more maple syrup to taste for a sweeter sauce. You could also transfer it to a food processor if you prefer it completely smooth.
  5. Serve at room temperature (our preference), warmed, or chilled.
  6. Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month. Can be reheated in the microwave or in a 350 F (176 C) oven until warmed through.

STOVETOP

  1. Add all ingredients (cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, maple syrup) to a medium saucepan and stir to combine.
  2. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer (covered) for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries are tender and most have burst open. Remove lid and continue simmering (uncovered), stirring occasionally and gently mashing with a wooden spoon, until the mixture has thickened and no whole cranberries remain — about 5-10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.
  3. If you’d prefer it to be saucier, add a bit more orange juice at this time. Add more maple syrup to taste for a sweeter sauce. You could also transfer it to a food processor if you prefer it completely smooth.
  4. Serve at room temperature (our preference), warmed, or chilled.
  5. Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen and reheat in the microwave, in a saucepan, or in a 350 F (176 C) oven until warmed through.

Notes

  • Prefer baking the sauce in the oven to enhance flavor, though stovetop is also possible.
  • Store leftovers refrigerated up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month; reheat gently.
  • Adjust sweetness and consistency by adding extra maple syrup or orange juice after cooking.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 2tablespoons Calories 43 (2%) Carbohydrates 11.1g (4%) Protein 0.2g (0%) Fat 0.1g (0%) Saturated Fat 0g (0%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0g (0%) Monounsaturated Fat 0g (0%) Trans Fat 0g (0%) Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 2mg (0%) Potassium 57mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 8.1g (16%) Vitamin A 30IU (1%) Vitamin C 7.1mg (8%) Calcium 13.7mg (1%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10(2-Tbsp servings)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 43 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 2tablespoons
Calories 43 2%
Carbohydrates 11.1g 4%
Protein 0.2g 0%
Fat 0.1g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Potassium 57mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 8.1g 16%
Vitamin A 30IU 1%
Vitamin C 7.1mg 8%
Calcium 13.7mg 1%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

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

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5

24 reviews
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