Healthy Cranberry Sauce with Honey and Orange
This healthy cranberry sauce is naturally sweetened with honey instead of white sugar, with fresh orange juice and zest for a bright, tart-sweet flavor. It simmers on the stovetop in about 15 minutes and tastes even better made a day ahead.
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh cranberries, one 12 oz bag
- ½ cup honey, (or maple syrup for vegan)
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice, (from 1 to 2 oranges)
- ½ teaspoon orange zest, plus more to taste
Instructions
- Boil the base: In a medium saucepan, combine the honey and water. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer the cranberries: Add the cranberries and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce coats a spoon.
- Add the orange: Remove from the heat and stir in the orange juice and zest. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Taste and adjust: Stir in more honey while it’s warm if you like it sweeter, or more zest for extra orange flavor.
- Cool and serve: Transfer the sauce to a bowl and let it cool to room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate until fully set, ideally overnight. Stir before serving, chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Frozen cranberries: Add them straight to the pot, no thawing needed.
Make it vegan: Use pure maple syrup instead of honey.
Less sweet: Reduce the honey to ⅓ cup.
Adjusting thickness: Too thick? Stir in a splash of water or orange juice. Too thin? Simmer 1 to 2 more minutes.
Make-ahead: Make 1 to 3 days before serving and keep chilled.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 to 10 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 0.3g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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