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Healthy Cranberry Orange Sauce

Healthy Cranberry Orange Sauce with orange zest in bowl

Learn how to make Healthy Cranberry Sauce made with orange juice and honey (or maple syrup). This easy recipe comes with a bit of zing, thanks to ginger. This recipe can be made on the stovetop or Instant Pot (pressure cooker).

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 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

  1. 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.
  2. Mash cranberries with fork or back of spoon until desired consistency. Stir in orange zest and remove frome heat.
  3. 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.
  4. Mixture will thicken upon standing.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Transfer cranberry sauce to bowl and allow to cool; mixture will thicken once cooled.

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.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce recipe, cranberry sauce with orange juice, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce