I have a confession to make. You know that gelatinous cranberry sauce that comes in the can? Well, that used to be a staple at our Thanksgiving dinners. It gets worse. I didn’t buy it because it was easier to just open a can then to throw a cranberry sauce together from scratch, I bought it because I actually really liked it.
So, if you are a fan of the canned stuff, no judgement here! But… I will tell you that once I started making my own cranberry sauce from scratch, I realized that it is super easy and just involves adding some cranberries, liquid, and seasonings to a pot and ta-da, you have an amazing cranberry sauce to enjoy and you don’t even need a can opener!
Also, if you are anything like me and you love to mix all of your food together into one big mish-mash, this homemade cranberry sauce mixes together much easier than the jelly from the can! And if you are one of those people who can’t stand it at all if your food even touches, I will never understand you, haha!
Just kidding! But, when it comes to holiday food I highly recommend mixing it all together so you get a taste of all the deliciousness in every single bite. Cranberry sauce may not be the big star of the holiday meal, but I really think that it helps to tie everything together and it seems to perfectly compliment everything else on the plate!
What is your favorite holiday dish that you just can’t live without??
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Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Prep Time: 5 mins- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Sauce, Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time:
Yield:
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 – 12 ounce bag of cranberries, washed
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer until cranberries are starting to burst open, 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce will thicken up a bit as it cools.
Cheeto must be so happy that he has grown out of his Christmas outfit!
Jack says
November 21, 2014 at 3:45 amBetter than the can, I’m sure!
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:30 amMuch better! I’m gonna try to make some popsicles with the leftovers!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
November 21, 2014 at 4:21 amOh yum!! I am such a cranberry sauce nut, and this looks amazing! Love your twist on the traditional cranberry sauce 🙂
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:31 amYour cranberry sauce cheesecakes looked sooooo goo! I’m still thinking about them 🙂 I think I’ve become a cranberry sauce nut too!
Mira says
November 21, 2014 at 4:21 amIt is unbelievable how easy it is to make cranberry sauce at home! Love the orange ginger combination! Your kitty looks cute!
★★★★★
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:31 amI know! I really had no idea, haha! I do still love the canned stuff, but I think I’ll stick with homemade for a while 🙂
Crystal | Apples & Sparkle says
November 21, 2014 at 8:38 amOh my goodness, your kitty!! I don’t think my furballs would ever allow me to dress them! I still to this day will buy the canned stuff every now and again, even though you are right, homemade is best and it takes like no time at all to prepare. I love getting a little of everything in one bite, and the cranberry is like the glue that brings it all together! ; )
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:32 amHaha, he was a tiny kitten and probably wouldn’t put up with it much these days! I buy it too! It just brings back good memories, haha! So true, the cranberry sauce holds everything together!
Katie @ Whole Nourishment says
November 21, 2014 at 9:07 amI love homemade cranberry sauce, it’s the perfect sweet/tangy addition to everything else. And the ginger and orange must really make it sing. Cheeto looks really cute in that outfit…I’m wondering how long his hood stayed on. 😉
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
November 21, 2014 at 12:43 pmWe grew up eating the canned stuff too and my brothers and husband still prefer it. Ever since I tried making it myself I’m hooked. Yours look delicious! Love the orange/ginger/maple combo and the color is so pretty! Aaaw and Cheeto looks so adorable in that outfit!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
November 21, 2014 at 2:19 pmNow THIS is the cranberry sauce I am going to make at Christmas. I love that it has maple syrup in it.
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
November 21, 2014 at 3:39 pmFunny, I never like cranberry sauce because my Mom always served the canned stuff. It wasn’t until I moved away and started making my own that I really started to love it. Your sauce looks delicious and I love the addition of coconut sugar. Sounds so good!!
Annie @Maebells says
November 21, 2014 at 5:23 pmBeautiful! This would be the perfect addition to our Thanksgiving table! 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
November 21, 2014 at 6:25 pmHomemade cranberry sauce is a thousand times better than canned. I love that you added ginger!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
November 21, 2014 at 6:25 pmOMG Izzy, the canned stuff. I grew up on it too and was horrified when my sister decided one year to replace the canned stuff with fresh!? Whaaaa… you’re replacing my canned cranberry jello?! Now, I don’t want to even see the canned stuff in my house, but my husband still prefers it….. I don’t get it! Thank you for this lovely recipe, Izzy. I like that coconut sugar!
Give sweet Cheeto a chin scratch for me. I am certain he is happy about growing out of his Christmas outfit! hehe
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
November 22, 2014 at 2:56 amoooh i love the addition of ginger! yum!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
November 22, 2014 at 7:33 amIzzy, I’ve never made my own cranberry sauce, but this looks like an amazing idea! Totally pinning, because I’m trying it!! 🙂
Laura says
November 22, 2014 at 5:05 pmI love cranberry sauce because it adds just the right color and texture to the Thanksgiving plate. I love it when my plate looks just right, you know? Like you just want to take a picture of it. I’ve never seen ginger added before, but ginger is awesome so what a bonus. Yours looks so pretty too. But Cheeto does NOT seem to like that sweatshirt! Ha. But my dogs hate their gold, elf shoes with bells that curl up at the toes, go figure =)
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
November 22, 2014 at 5:34 pmI actually never used to like cranberry sauce until recently, and it’s only homemade versions that I like! I love this flavor combination, Izzy! I’ve never seen anything quite like this…sounds amazing with the orange and ginger!
[email protected] says
November 23, 2014 at 1:34 pmCranberry sauce is such a favorite of mine and I am LOVING the addition of ginger and orange in your version! Gorgeous photos too, Izzy!
Dulcie @ Foodie Fiasco says
November 23, 2014 at 4:10 pmThank goodness you have escaped the dark side of cranberry sauce, Izzy(a dark side that I still visit yearly, shh)! On top of the satisfaction of creating something delectable and then gobbling (buh-dum-tss) it down, not having to use a can opener definitely has me sold on this sauce! I’m kind of a between the border gal with food mixing. For example, at sushi restaurants I first devour the roll whole, as seems to be the standard, and then deconstruct my second piece to appreciate each flavor on its own. But I don’t know if I could force myself to do it with this sauce, the way you flavored this dish with the best winter scents makes me want to pour it over everything! This Thanksgiving I know exactly what I’m going to be thankful for; thanks to you:-) Also, Cheeto looks adorable in his Christmas sweater. Since he’s grown out of it I don’t see the shame in buying him a new one as an early gift(hueh hueh hueh).
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:40 amHaha, I still visit it quite regularly too! This is actually the first year I’ve attempted to make my own and I am loving it! I’m definately a mix everything together kind of gal until you can’t really tell what the food is supposed to be anymore! Haha, Cheeto is shaking his head and running away as I read this to him! He does this funny thing when I put outfits on him where he pretends like he can’t walk and falls over! It must get his balance off. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Dulcie!! And I love your turkey joke 🙂
marcie says
November 23, 2014 at 4:33 pmCertain members of my family insist on the jellied canned cranberry sauce. I get it — they grew up on it. I did, too, but I always preferred the whole berry sauce, so it’s natural I love to make my own! I love the sound of the orange and ginger here — delicious combination! You can’t get that in a can. 🙂
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:41 amNow that I’ve tasted the whole cranberry sauce I love it much more than the canned jellied stuff! Although, I still do like the jelly! Maybe we will have both this year 🙂
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
November 23, 2014 at 10:26 pmI just love that you’ve got orange and ginger in this. I bet it tastes incredible! The only ‘problem’ I have is finding some fresh cranberries over here, but … well, where there’s a will there’s a way! Happy thanksgiving!
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:42 amThank you, Helen! Oh no! I will have to ship you a big box of fresh cranberries! You just can’t do holiday feasting right without it 🙂
Ashley says
November 23, 2014 at 11:37 pmI have to admit that I was always weird-ed out by the canned stuff. My mom would buy it every year and no one would touch it! haha whole / fresh cranberry sauce was a revelation for me! I absolutely love it now with my thanksgiving dinner. This sounds awesome with the ginger! I’ve never added that to mine before!
She Likes Food says
November 24, 2014 at 2:44 amIt is a little weird, haha! It is all jelly like and stuff! I used to buy it every year and hardly any would get eaten either, maybe I’m the only one who liked it 🙂 I hope you have an awesome Thanskgiving, Ashley!!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
November 24, 2014 at 5:53 pmHaha! I DO love canned cranberry sauce…. BUT… yours looks MUCH better! I have never made my own but I really, really need to try it!
She Likes Food says
November 29, 2014 at 1:49 amHaha, me too! But, I think I have come over to the homemade cranberry sauce this year! It is just too good 🙂
Christy Scott says
December 20, 2018 at 12:04 amHi, I made this and it was amazing! I used tangerines, because it’s what I had, and extra ginger because I love ginger, and it rocked my socks off! Thanks for posting! Happy holidays!!! (I cook holiday meals from Thanksgiving until Christmas, and then it’s back to the healthier choices.) Cheers!
★★★★★
She Likes Food says
December 21, 2018 at 9:39 amYah! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I love eating holiday food all season long too 🙂
Barbi says
November 28, 2019 at 1:26 pmThis was very good! I used maple syrup we harvested from our land along with all fresh ingredients.
★★★★
She Likes Food says
November 29, 2019 at 7:46 pmSo glad you enjoyed it!!