This Orange Ginger Cranberry sauce is quick and easy to make and packed with so much flavor! It’s the perfect accompaniment for your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!
I don’t know about you but cranberry sauce is a must have for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at our house. It’s a small part of the meal but seems to go so well with everything else. This Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce is easy to make and packed with so much flavor!
I know that a lot of people love the canned cranberry sauce, myself included, but it can be fun to make your own cranberry sauce from scratch. It’s super quick and easy to make and really helps balance out he heaviness of the holiday meal.
INGREDIENTS FOR THIS ORANGE GINGER CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPE
- Cranberries – You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe.
- Orange Juice and Zest – Orange and cranberry is such a classic flavor combo!
- Maple Syrup – You want to use pure maple syrup, not the pancake maple syrup. You could also substitute honey, agave syrup or brown rice syrup.
- Coconut Sugar – You can also use brown sugar or white, granulated sugar.
- Fresh Ginger – Fresh ginger gives such a nice flavor kick and goes so well with the tart cranberries.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE
Homemade cranberry sauce is so easy to make! There’s basically just one step and it doesn’t need a lot of babysitting. It’s also an easy dish to make ahead of time and can even be frozen and thawed when ready to eat. I prefer my cranberry sauce to be cold or room temperature, but you can serve yours warm if you like.
- Add all cranberry sauce ingredients to a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Let simmer and stir occasionally to help break down the cranberries.
- Cook until the cranberries have broken down and a sauce has formed. Let cool and serve.
Looking for more delicious Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes?
Easy Vegan Meatloaf with Lentils and Chickpeas
Best Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce is sweet and tart and perfect for your Thanksgiving table!
Ingredients
- 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.
Notes
Cranberry sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Sauce, Gluten Free, Vegan
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ashley says
I 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
It 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 š I hope you have an awesome Thanskgiving, Ashley!!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
I 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
Thank 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 š
marcie says
Certain 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. š
She Likes Food says
Now 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 š
Dulcie @ Foodie Fiasco says
Thank 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
Haha, 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 š
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
Cranberry sauce is such a favorite of mine and I am LOVING the addition of ginger and orange in your version! Gorgeous photos too, Izzy!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I 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!
Laura says
I 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 =)
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Izzy, I’ve never made my own cranberry sauce, but this looks like an amazing idea! Totally pinning, because I’m trying it!! š
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
oooh i love the addition of ginger! yum!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
OMG 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
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Homemade cranberry sauce is a thousand times better than canned. I love that you added ginger!
Annie @Maebells says
Beautiful! This would be the perfect addition to our Thanksgiving table! š
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Funny, 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!!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Now THIS is the cranberry sauce I am going to make at Christmas. I love that it has maple syrup in it.
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
We 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!
Katie @ Whole Nourishment says
I 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. š
Crystal | Apples & Sparkle says
Oh 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
Haha, 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!
Mira says
It 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
I 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 š
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Oh yum!! I am such a cranberry sauce nut, and this looks amazing! Love your twist on the traditional cranberry sauce š
She Likes Food says
Your cranberry sauce cheesecakes looked sooooo goo! I’m still thinking about them š I think I’ve become a cranberry sauce nut too!
Jack says
Better than the can, I’m sure!
She Likes Food says
Much better! I’m gonna try to make some popsicles with the leftovers!