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–+ servings
Bowl of vibrant red cranberry sauce garnished with orange zest and whole cranberries, with a silver spoon resting on a beige cloth.
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Honey Cranberry Sauce - Naturally Sweetened

Honey cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon is naturally sweetened and absolutely delicious! In just 20 minutes you can have this delicious sauce prepped and eat right away or store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. This recipe is so easy, you'll never buy it store bought again!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free, Halal, Hindu, Kosher, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 59kcal
Author Christy Gurin

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. fresh cranberries if substituting frozen, just thaw first
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice juice from about 1/2 an orange
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 tsp. orange zest (zest of about 1/2 an orange)
  • 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Pick through cranberries and throw away any bad ones. In a medium saucepan set to medium-high heat, add cranberries, water, orange juice, and honey. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. 
    12 oz. fresh cranberries, 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice, 1/3 cup water, 1/2 cup honey
  • Let thicken, stirring occasionally for about 8-10 minutes until most of the cranberries half burst and the sauce is the desired thickness (sauce will thicken much more as it cools). You can use a potato masher to break up cranberries if you want a smoother consistency.
  • Remove from heat and stir in orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Taste and adjust if desired. Watch out - it will be hot!
    1 tsp. orange zest, 1/8 tsp. cinnamon , pinch of nutmeg, pinch of salt
  • Refrigerate in a sealed container and bring to room temperature before serving. Sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Notes

To prepare ahead of time - simply cool after cooking and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It's best at 2-3 days, served at room temperature so make sure to pull it out of the refrigerator 3-4 hours before you plan to eat. Leftovers freeze for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg