High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Maple Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Ginger
Cranberry sauce is one of those dishes that sounds simple until you read the label on a store-bought jar and find high fructose corn syrup listed as the second ingredient. This homemade version skips all of that, relying instead on pure maple syrup and honey to bring the sweetness — two real, recognizable ingredients that let the fruit actually shine. Fresh orange juice and zest give it a bright citrus lift, while freshly grated ginger and Ceylon cinnamon add warmth without any artificial flavoring or mystery additives. The technique is straightforward: the cranberries simmer until they burst, then the sweeteners and spices go in and the whole thing reduces into a glossy, jammy sauce. It looks a little loose when it comes off the heat, but patience pays off — it sets beautifully as it cools to a perfectly spoonable consistency. The balance of tart berries, floral maple, and zippy ginger is genuinely hard to stop tasting once you start. Whether it's anchoring a holiday table or spooned over roasted meat on a weeknight, this is the kind of sauce that makes you wonder why you ever reached for the canned stuff.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 oranges)
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ½ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cranberries, orange juice, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries begin to burst and release their liquid, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Stir in the maple syrup, honey, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, and sea salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and most of the cranberries have broken down, about 8–10 minutes. Watch the heat — the sugars can scorch quickly once the liquid reduces; lower the flame if the sauce begins to spit or stick.
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