Sharing how to make this easy homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce, whether you want to prepare it on the stovetop or in your pressure cooker Instant Pot, this recipe is simple and naturally sweetened with honey (or maple syrup) and orange juice.
Are you ready for the easiest cranberry sauce recipe?!
Thinking back to Thanksgiving as a child, I don’t actually recall if we served cranberry sauce 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.
Literally, that is all I ate at Thanksgiving as a child. I didn’t even consider the other options.
Are you shocked? Saddened? Disheartened? – Me too.
Fast forward to my adult years and my plate is much more balanced and colorful. But I am still having a hard time remembering if my family enjoys cranberry sauce…
Well, I guess we’ll find out sooner or later when my homemade cranberry orange sauce is brought to the table!
Healthy Cranberry Orange Sauce
I for one, really enjoy homemade cranberry sauce – whether you’re using it as a Thanksgiving or holiday side dish, on toast, a bagel with cream cheese, or a topping for pancakes, you can’t go wrong with whipping up a batch.
Ingredients needed for cranberry orange sauce
- fresh cranberries
- orange juice
- orange zest
- honey or maple syrup
- ginger (optional)
How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
This cranberry 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.
On the Stovetop
- 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. Then 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 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 bowl and allow to cool
Taste Test!
Taste test here to make sure it’s to your liking. 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.
Now you’ve got the perfect cranberry sauce for all of your holiday tables this season.
I can’t wait to enjoy this with turkey, sweet potatoes and leftovers galore!
Prepping Ahead?
Making cranberry sauce ahead of time is a simple way to cut down on holiday meal prep.
This recipe can be stored in the fridge up to 5 days ahead of your planned dinner. OR keep in freezer up to one month – just be sure to thaw in refrigerator 1-2 days ahead of time.
Making this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn about the recipe! Xx Ashley
How to Make…
Healthy Cranberry Orange Sauce {Stovetop and Instant Pot!}
Easy Healthy & Homemade Cranberry Sauce made with orange juice, sweetened with maple syrup or honey and comes with a bit of zing thanks to ginger. This recipe can be made on the stovetop or Instant Pot (pressure cooker).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Scale:
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag of fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp ginger paste or 1/2 tsp ground ginger (optional)
- zest of 1 medium orange
- 1/4 cup water* (only if using Instant Pot)
Instructions
Stovetop
- 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
- 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.
Recipes Notes:
Cranberry Sauce thickens once cooled.
Prep up to 5 days in advance, storing covered in refrigerator.
Recipe can be easily doubled; if doubling the recipe for an electric pressure cooker, you will not need the additional 1/4 cup water.
This Cranberry Sauce can be frozen too, just be sure to let it thaw in fridge 1-2 days ahead.
Rate this Recipe