Growing up, I don’t remember having homemade cranberry sauce at our holiday meals. In fact, I distinctly remember being so excited to have 2 slices of the canned cranberry sauce on my plate! You know the jello giggler kind that comes in a can! Well you can make this orange ginger homemade cranberry sauce in about 7 minutes without any of the added sugar! This version is paleo friendly, vegan and incredibly flavorful!
Once I started eating healthier and reading the labels on the food I eat, I quickly came to realize that most of my favorite cranberry dishes were loaded with added sugar. And I learned there is a good reason for that, cranberries are really tart! Not exactly what you are used to if you eat dried cranberries and canned cranberry sauce! But luckily I didn’t give up on my favorite holiday side dish and discovered that making homemade cranberry sauce is actually super simple!
This orange ginger homemade cranberry sauce is going to be your favorite item to volunteer to make because it only takes a few minutes, you don’t need any special equipment and it’s a way to help you control the added sugar in your holiday meal! Did you know that the jellied cranberry sauce (you know that stuff in a can) has high fructose corn syrup and sugar in it? This recipe is sweetened with fresh orange juice, stevia and maple syrup!
The holidays are never a time to try a new recipe. Gosh I learned that the hard way! I had perfected a asparagus soup, but was in a hurry when I made it for a family meal and pureed the entire stalk, the woody end and all. Well that dish was a disaster and I quickly realized that I had to slow down when preparing holiday meals. Having things you can prep before hand helps a ton. This orange ginger homemade cranberry sauce can be made 2-3 days before your holiday get together, since it can be served cold or at room temperature! This will help take some of the stress off of your holiday cooking!
If you happen to have extra cranberry sauce or make this before hand to test the recipe, we love making Thanksgiving Turkey Quesadillas. This leftover cranberry sauce would also be amazing on pumpkin cornbread muffins as well!
What I love the most about this orange ginger homemade cranberry sauce is hint of orange and ginger. The orange helps sweeten and brighten the cranberry sauce and the ginger makes it pop! If you are like me and really love ginger you could probably add another 1/2 tbs. to this recipe. If you are looking for a very sweet cranberry sauce, you might want to add an additional tablespoon of maple syrup, as this recipe is still quite tart compared to the canned jelly version!
If you have never made homemade cranberry sauce, check out this video to see this recipe being made!
Orange Ginger Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2.5 cup fresh cranberries
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 orange juiced (zest the entire orange)
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 2 packet stevia
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Heat a medium sauce pan over medium high heat. Add fresh cranberries and water. Cover and cook 4 minutes. The cranberries should be starting to burst and break down.
- Stir the cranberries. Zest the entire orange and add the juice from half the orange. Add the remaining ingredients.
- Allow to cook 2-3 additional minutes, stirring often to help break up the cranberries.
- Let cool and enjoy!
Nutrition
What about you?
- Did you grow up eating canned (jellied) cranberry sauce?
- Have you ever made homemade cranberry sauce?
K
Your recipe sounds amazing. I would never have thought to add fresh ginger, I love ginger anything. We never heard of cranberry sauce when we were young, now I would not be without it. So good to ditch the sugar as well.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Samantha
Yes, K! Cranberry sauce was never a bit item for us either growing up. But now it’s a must at our holiday feast!
Miz Helen
I love the orange and ginger in your cranberry sauce! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Come to next weeks Thanksgiving party on Tuesday at 8:00 am, CST, see you then!
Miz Helen
Donna Reidland
I’m pinning this to try. It sounds yummy!
Veronica Lee
Sounds like the perfect sauce for holiday meals!
angie
this is such a delicious sounding recipe. My mother made something like this each and every thanksgiving
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Emily Dunn
Hi!
Just came across your blog on a link up and love it! Also, isn’t cranberry sauce just the best? Your recipe sounds fantastic!
Happy Holidays!
Emily
http://www.fortuitousfoodies.com/