Cranberry Orange Sauce- Naturally Sweetened Recipe

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This Cranberry Orange Sauce is made with four simple ingredients and naturally sweetened. It is so easy to make and bursting with fresh, bright, tart flavors that perfectly balance the rich flavors of the Thanksgiving table. 

This homemade recipe comes together very easily and can even be made ahead of time.  The tart cranberries pair perfectly with the fresh oranges and sweet honey. It is a healthier version than what you can buy at grocery stores and tastes even better, too! It is made with fresh cranberries, fresh oranges, honey, and water. That’s it! This will quickly become a Holiday tradition to make this bright and flavorful Cranberry Orange Sauce.

Easy Thanksgiving recipes from scratch

Homemade, from scratch recipes do not have to be complicated! All it takes is a little extra time and planning ahead, and you can have a table full of dishes this holiday season made with simple ingredients that taste better than anything you can find in a package or can. More recipes to pair with the Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce is this Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe or Homemade Turkey Gravy recipe. To add some veggies to the table that are fresh and full of flavor, try this Kale and Apple Salad with Candied Pecans, Bacon Brussels Sprouts, or Roasted Asparagus with Crispy Shallots. Find a full round-up of homemade Thanksgiving recipes here!

The problem with the canned version

I know it is so tempting to just buy the store-bought version of cranberry sauce to keep things easy. But honestly, this Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce is one of the easiest recipes you’ll make for your Thanksgiving dinner! Not only does the homemade version taste better, but it also contains healthier ingredients. The main ingredient in a can of cranberry sauce from the store besides cranberries? High fructose corn syrup. Not only is high fructose corn syrup the cheapest sweetener they could use but it is also connected with health concerns and obesity. So, instead of serving a super processed item on your holiday table, make this homemade version that is naturally sweetened with honey instead! 

Helpful tools to make fresh cranberry sauce

Zester – This recipe is super simple to make, and you don’t really need anything fancy. However, I do highly recommend using a zester to zest the orange peel. Citrus zest adds so much flavor to recipes, and it gives such a beautiful, bright pop to this cranberry sauce. I love this tool because it is good not just for zesting but also for grating parmesan cheese or finely grating garlic to easily blend into sauces or dressings. 

Ingredients for Cranberry Orange Sauce

• Raw Cranberries – one 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries 
• Fresh orange zest – Zest from one orange, which will be about 1 teaspoon. 
• Fresh orange juice- 1/4 cup of orange juice from one average-sized orange. You can sub for store-bought if you’d like, but nothing beats the flavor of freshly squeezed. 
• Water – You will also need ¼ cup water to get the right amount of liquid. 
• Honey – The sweetener used for this homemade cranberry sauce is honey. You can substitute for maple syrup if you would like this to be vegan-friendly. The sauce will be on the tart side. If you would like to make it sweeter you can add 1-3 more tablespoons of honey or until it is your desired sweetness. 

Instructions to make Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce

Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 15 mins. You will know it is ready when all of the cranberries have burst and the mixture starts to have a jelly-like texture and thicken up. 

Let the sauce cool and then add to a container and store in the fridge. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Serve cold and enjoy!

How to store Cranberry Orange Sauce

Homemade cranberry sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to one week, making it an easy recipe to make ahead of time for your holiday meal. Store the cranberry sauce in an airtight container and then serve with your Thanksgiving dinner. You can also freeze leftover sauce if you want to make it ahead of time or just to save some for later. Add to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Transfer to the fridge to defrost and then enjoy. 

Have extra cranberry sauce?

If you have leftover cranberry sauce, use it to make my Cranberry Orange Oat Crisp Bar recipe. These bars are layered with a sweet oat and brown sugar mixture with tart cranberry sauce in between. They are so delicious and the perfect way to use extra cranberry sauce! Or, think ahead and make a double batch of this Cranberry Orange Sauce for an easy dessert to add to your Thanksgiving meal. Get the full recipe here.