Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Make this easy, homemade cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, orange juice, and zest—perfect for a healthy holiday table with no added sugar!
Servings: 6
Calories: 83kcal
Ingredients
- 1 12- ounce package of fresh cranberries
- 1 to 2 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons of fresh orange zest, divided (retain ½ teaspoon for topping)
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Rinse the cranberries under cold water and discard any that are damaged.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the fresh cranberries, cinnamon stick, some of the orange zest, water, and maple syrup. Squeeze in the juice from the orange (about ¼ cup) and stir to combine.
- Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. You’ll notice the cranberries beginning to pop—this is their natural pectin being released, which helps thicken the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will begin to thicken as the cranberries break down.
- Turn off the heat and let it cool to room temperature. The sauce will continue to thicken.
- Remove the cinnamon stick top with additional orange zest and serve immediately.
- If you're making this ahead of your holiday meal, transfer the cranberry sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Notes
EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoon
- Small pot
- Zester (to zest the orange)
- Orange juice squeezer or your hands (to juice the orange)
Nutrition
Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 0.2mg
