Honey Orange Cranberry Sauce (Ready in 15 Minutes)
Skip the Can This Year
Homemade cranberry sauce is one of the easiest dishes on the Thanksgiving table, and it tastes so much brighter than the canned kind. This version uses raw honey and fresh orange, and it's ready in about 15 minutes.
Even better, it's a make-ahead dish. Cook it a few days early, tuck it in the fridge, and that's one less thing to juggle on the big day.
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Honey Orange Cranberry Sauce
Fresh cranberries, orange, and raw honey.
| Prep5 min | Cook10 min | Total15 min | YieldAbout 2 cups |
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
- 1/2 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed if you can
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup raw honey (we use our Beeholden Farms raw honey), to taste
- Zest of 1 orange
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions
- Simmer the berries. Add the cranberries, orange juice, water, salt, and cinnamon stick to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Let them pop. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until most of the berries have burst and the sauce starts to thicken.
- Sweeten off the heat. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in 1/2 cup honey and the orange zest. Taste, and add more honey if it's too tart.
- Cool. Remove the cinnamon stick. The sauce will look loose, but it thickens a lot as it cools. Transfer to a jar or bowl and refrigerate.
Recipe notes: For a smoother sauce, mash the berries with a potato masher before adding the honey. For a chunkier one, stop cooking once about half the berries have burst.
Why Add the Honey Last?
Cranberries need a good simmer to break down, but long boiling dulls honey's delicate flavor. Stirring it in at the end keeps the sauce tasting bright and floral.
Ways to Use Leftovers
- Spread on a leftover turkey or roasted veggie sandwich
- Swirl into oatmeal or yogurt
- Spoon over brie or a honey and cheese board
- Stir a spoonful into sparkling water for a quick holiday spritzer
Storage
- Refrigerate in an airtight glass jar for up to 10 days.
- Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Honey isn't safe for babies under 12 months old.
Round Out the Table
Pair it with our Honey Cornbread with Whipped Honey Butter and Honey-Glazed Carrots and Sweet Potatoes for a honey-sweetened Thanksgiving.
Ready to cook? Shop our raw honey here. Local to Fremont? Pickup is free, and we offer free local delivery to the 94536 zip code on orders of $35 or more.
