This isn’t your average cranberry sauce.
For years, I didn’t even think I liked cranberry sauce. Who wants to eat tart jello-like slices that come out of a can? Not me.
This cranberry sauce, however, is a totally different story.
Lightly sweetened with maple syrup and bursting with Fall spice, this little dish might be my new favorite addition to our Thanksgiving dinner table. Pure maple syrup is a nutritional powerhouse, loaded with anti-oxidants, zinc, iron and calcium, and may even prevent gas and bloating when you swap it for refined sweeteners–> a definite perk after a large meal! Paired with nutrient-rich cranberries, this is a dish you can feel good about serving to your family this year.
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Spiced Cranberry Sauce
serves 4-6
Adapted from Alton Brown
Ingredients:
12 oz. fresh cranberries
3/4 cup pure maple syrup (I prefer Grade B)
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
Directions:
Wash the cranberries and discard any soft ones.
In a 1 1/2 quart sauce pot, combine the water, maple syrup, lemon juice, ginger and cinnamon over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the cranberries, and cook for 15 minutes. The cranberries should burst and the sauce will thicken.
*Note: Make sure you don’t cook the cranberries any longer than 15 minutes, or pectin will start to break down and the sauce will not set as well.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a mold, or storage jar. Allow to chill for at least 6 hours before serving.
- 12 oz . fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cup pure maple syrup (I prefer Grade B)
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger , minced
- Wash the cranberries and discard any soft ones.
- In a 1 1/2 quart sauce pot, combine the water, maple syrup, lemon juice, ginger and cinnamon over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the cranberries, and cook for 15 minutes. The cranberries should burst and the sauce will thicken. Make sure you don't cook the cranberries any longer than 15 minutes, or pectin will start to break down and the sauce will not set as well.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a mold, or storage jar.
- Allow to chill for at least 6 hours before serving.
As with any recipe, feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste. I happen to LOVE fresh ginger, and would have added more if I were the only one eating it! Fresh orange juice and zest can also be used in place of the lemon, if you prefer.
As with any recipe, feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste. I happen to LOVE fresh ginger, and would have added more if I were the only one eating it! (Austin doesn’t care for ginger at all, so this was our compromise.) Fresh orange juice and zest can also be used in place of the lemon, if you prefer.
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Reader Feedback: Are you a fan of cranberry sauce? Did you grow up with homemade or canned versions?
Rebecca
This recipe looks fantastic! And thanks for sharing that info about not cooking cranberries longer than 15 minutes. I has no idea! I always wondered why my cranberry sauce never thickened as much as I wanted it to… 🙂
Lisa
Okay, I totally thought I hated cranberry sauce, but I mean it does look pretty nasty coming out of the can. But, this looks delicious. May have to try this one out!
Kristi
I didn’t know that about the pectin, either. Great tip. We take a bit of a pass on T-giving, so I’ll probably make my orange cranberry sauce (it’s a hit with the whole family), but I really appreciate the tip!
Wendy
Thanks for this! The hub and I were just talking about cranberry sauce yesterday!
Do you know how long it might last in the fridge before it needs to be fully eaten? Our first sweetie is due around Thanksgiving, and hub’s parents are visiting then. I’d love to make this up early (e.g. next week) and still have it be a-okay when they are here the following week.
Thank You!
Megan
I’m hoping this batch will last us until Thanksgiving, too! I’ve read varying opinions on the shelf-life of cranberry sauce; it sounds like it stores a lot like jam? In that case, it would easily keep in the fridge for up to a month or more. I’ve been considering freezing mine, then thawing it the day before Thanksgiving… but I’m not sure that the consistency will be the same after freezing.
So, the short answer is… I don’t know. But, I’m pretty sure you could make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge– as long as it doesn’t grow mold or smell “off” it should be fine. Good luck with the new baby!! 🙂
Felicia
i love making homemade cranberry sauce!! never used lemon- typically use orange zest and honey with ginger, but lemon with maple sounds like a great combo! i already have 4 bags in the freezer waiting to be used 🙂
Love Phillips
Every year I think I will make the cranberry sauce and haven’t but this year I saw how good yours looks so I tried it and it is Amazing!, I’m taking it to the family dinner along with your pumpkin bars. And some vegan Mac and cheese sauce. Thanks for having so many amazing recipes available . I might try the sugar free challenge.
LaDonn
This looks great – I’ll be making it this year. Thanks for the timing tip!
Any idea of the # of servings? We’ll be 40 family & friends on Thanksgiving.
Pia
I’ve been making a somewhat similar cranberry sauce using grape juice, it’s always a hit and I like to smear the leftovers on bagels and cream cheese
tereza
I made my own cranberry sauce a few years back similar to yours. I used brown sugar instead and added flakes of red pepper. That spicy flavor in the background was soooo good!!
Ps I linked your blog on my monthly learning log. You are a great inspiration in our house. My kids are participating in a cookie contest next week and we will be using one of your recipes. Just don’t know which one yet!! 🙂
http://www.creatingtreasures.blogspot.com/2012/11/learning-log-of-october-2012.html
Michelle
This is by FAR my favorite cranberry sauce recipe! I never liked the canned stuff and once I made this, I’ve never turned back!! Alton Brown Rocks!
Alana
Try adding jalapeno for a lil kick! Yum! Thanks, Megan!
Brianne
This was awesome! I added some thinly sliced kumquats, but otherwise followed your recipe to the letter, and it was perfect. 🙂
Holly
Love this recipe!!! I made it and it is super yummy!!! I made a second batch using the orange and added some cayenne pepper too. I I think that version is my favorite!! Thank you for all your amazing recipes!!
Amanda Jewell
When you add the cranberries & cook for 15 min, do you cook them at boil or simmer level?
Carole
Love this recipe! Have been using the other similar versions and variations I have used for years – and as the left overs have used as jam for toast or in the the turkey sandwich BUT now I hardly use any bread at all so very perfect to have this other use for the left over cranberry sauce!
Carole
LOVE the recipe!!
Jenifer
We made this tonight and my hubby liked it better than his mom’s! 😉 I bought and froze about 10 bags of cranberries at the holidays since you can’t get them any other time of year. Looking forward to making this all year long! 🙂
Laura
Did you end up making this with fresh cranberries frozen and then thawed? Did it come out just as good?
Cyndi
As soon as I can get fresh cranberries I do. I usually make the standard sauce and we ate it with everything. Cranberries are very healthy and I love them. So I’m trying this out. It sounds delicious.
gabby
Just made this for our early thanksgiving celebration and my kids liked the pan clean (once it was cooled). So so yummy and so excited to share tomorrow!
Jess
This is incredibly delicious. I liked the spoon, scraped out the sides, and was left wishing I had made more! I have a feeling the rest of the English department will, tomorrow, too…
Jess
licked* this is what i get for typing while eating..lol.
Racheal
tons of thanks for sharing this, my 9yr old made this and came out so good, everybody enjoy this, she also suggest that instead of peanut butter jelly sandwich you can replace jelly as cranberry jelly…..love this
Tonia
Hi Megan,
we don’t have fresh cranberries over here. Do you think I could adjust the recepie wih dried cranberries, maybe soaked in water? Would love to hear your opinion on this. Thanks, Tonia
Ali
Tonia,
I, too, live in a country that doesn’t have fresh cranberries. I have tried Megan’s recipe the past two Thanksgivings using dried cranberries, and it is possible, but you have to alter the sweetness since dried cranberries are sweetened already. It seems like I might have added more lemon to balance it as well. I never used exact measurements, so I can’t tell you exactly what I did…I just taste along the way. Just wanted you to know someone else out there had tried it. I’m sure it’s not the same taste exactly as the recipe written, but it is delicious and doable all the same.
This week I found a bag of fresh cranberries while visiting another city, so this Thanksgiving I’m so excited to actually try the recipe as written!
Cindy o’Brien-Hallberg
Can this recipe be made in the Instant Pot? Hoping Yes!
Megan Gilmore
Someone on my Instagram feed just mentioned that they made it in the Instant Pot, but they thought the water should be left out because it doesn’t evaporate in the Instant Pot the way it might on the stove. I think it’s worth a shot!