Brighten up your holiday table with this vibrant homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce, naturally sweetened with honey for a perfectly balanced flavor. Bursting with fresh cranberries and zesty orange, it’s a healthier twist on a classic favorite. Perfect as a festive side dish or a tangy topping for leftovers!
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If you’re looking for more Thanksgiving recipes, check out my Cheesy Potato Casserole, Maple Roasted Squash & Brussels Sprouts, and Pumpkin Pie Bars.
Are you ready for the easiest fresh cranberry sauce recipe?!
Thinking back to Thanksgiving as a child, I don’t actually recall if we served cranberry sauce or cranberry relish with dinner… But that could also be due to the fact that my plate was very monochromatic consisting of mashed potatoes (with copious amounts of butter), turkey (sans the gravy) and… rolls.
Fast forward to my adult years and my plate is much more balanced and colorful – including this healthy cranberry sauce!
Recipe Highlights
- Just five simple ingredients is all you need.
- You can make it on the stovetop or in the pressure cooker.
- An easy recipe to make ahead! Store it in the fridge up to 5 days or in the freezer for 1 month.
- A simple, nutritious, and vegan-friendly side dish to brighten up your Thanksgiving table, and great for Christmas dinner too.
Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
You don’t need much for this recipe! Just five main ingredients. Get your grocery list going and gather these items:
- fresh cranberries – Fresh cranberries are abundant this time of year and often on sale.
- orange juice – orange juice – You can use freshly squeezed orange juice if you have enough oranges; you’ll need ½ cup of orange juice. Navel oranges are fine for this and readily available at most grocery stores.
- fresh orange zest – Use a microplane grater to easily zest the orange.
- honey or maple syrup – You can use honey or pure maple syrup, depending on dietary needs. (Use maple syrup if serving vegan friends and family.)
- ginger – While technically optional, I am a huge fan of ginger and I love the zing it adds to this orange cranberry sauce recipe. Feel free to add a pinch of cinnamon in its place or in addition to, for some warm spices.
- water* – You’ll only need water if preparing the sauce in a pressure cooker.
Keep scrolling for ways to use leftover cranberry sauce!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce – Two Ways
This cranberry orange sauce recipe could not be easier. No matter how you make it – on the stovetop or in your pressure cooker – both methods are simple and it really doesn’t take much time at all. Even if this is your first time making cranberry sauce, you can definitely make this!
On the Stovetop
- In medium saucepan over high heat, add cranberries, honey or maple syrup, fresh orange juice and ginger; stir until combined and allow mixture to come to a boil. Then reduce to medium heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will start to burst a bit as the natural sugars release and the mixture will thicken.
- Mash cranberries with fork or back of spoon until desired consistency. Stir in the orange zest and remove the pan from heat.
Using an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
- Add cranberries, honey or maple syrup, orange juice, water and ginger to pot; stir until combined then close and lock lid, setting valve to sealing position.
- Hit Manual on Instant Pot and cook for 5 minutes. Naturally release for 10 minutes then remove lid and stir cranberry sauce. Mash cranberries with potato masher (or large wooden spoon). Stir in orange zest.
- Transfer cranberry sauce to a serving bowl and allow to cool.
Taste Test!
Taste test here to make sure it’s to your liking. This cranberry sauce uses less sugar and is naturally sweetened – it’s meant to have tart flavors. If you need a little more sweetness, stir in a 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar or coconut sugar as needed.
Serving Suggestions
Homemade cranberry sauce is a classic for any holiday menu, especially served alongside some Thanksgiving turkey. Here are some more classic Thanksgiving sides to go along with it:
If you have guests that really love cranberry sauce, this would go great on top of my homemade Greek Yogurt Cheesecake too!
Ways to Use Leftovers
You can use leftover cranberry sauce in a variety of ways! Here are some fun ways to use up leftovers:
- On a buttered English muffin
- Spread on a bagel with cream cheese
- Pancakes and waffles topping
- Leftover turkey sandwiches
- Stuffed french toast
- Yogurt and granola bowl
- Swirl into this cranberry baked oatmeal
Make Ahead Tips
Making cranberry sauce ahead of time is a simple way to cut down on holiday meal prep. One less thing to worry about as the big day approaches.
Prepare and Store: Make the cranberry sauce up to five days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors deepen over time, making it even tastier.
Freeze for Longer Storage: For even earlier prep, freeze the cooled cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
More Cranberry Recipes to Try
If you make this orange cranberry sauce recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn about the recipe! Xx Ashley
Healthy Orange Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag of fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
- zest of 1 medium orange
- 1/4 cup water*, only if using Instant Pot
Instructions
Stovetop Method
- In medium pot over high heat, add cranberries, honey or maple syrup, orange juice and ginger; stir until combined and allow mixture to come to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will start to burst a bit and mixture will thicken.
- Mash cranberries with fork or back of spoon until desired consistency. Stir in orange zest and remove frome heat.
- Taste test here to make sure it’s to your liking. Remember, this cranberry sauce is naturally sweetened and meant to be tart. If you need a little more sweetness, stir in a 1-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar as needed.
- Mixture will thicken upon standing.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method
- Add cranberries, honey or maple syrup, orange juice, water and ginger to pot; stir until combined then close and lock lid, setting valve to sealing position.
- Hit Manual on Instant Pot and cook for 5 minutes. Naturally release for 10 minutes then remove lid and stir cranberry sauce. Mash cranberries with potato masher (or large wooden spoon). Stir in orange zest.
- Transfer cranberry sauce to bowl and allow to cool; mixture will thicken once cooled.
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