Nutmeg Free Maple Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Ginger
Tart cranberries, bright citrus, warming ginger, and a touch of Ceylon cinnamon come together in a sauce that tastes like the holidays distilled into a single spoonful. The combination of pure maple syrup and honey gives it a layered, natural sweetness that feels far more interesting than a plain sugar-and-water base. Fresh orange juice and zest keep everything vibrant and alive, while the grated ginger adds just enough heat to make each bite feel intentional. Many store-bought cranberry sauces and even homemade recipes lean on warm spices that can include nutmeg, but this one skips it entirely without sacrificing any depth or complexity — the cinnamon and ginger carry the whole show. The technique is straightforward: simmer, stir, and let the sauce do its thing, keeping a close eye on the heat so the natural sugars don't scorch as the liquid reduces. Once you stir in the orange zest off the heat and let it cool, it sets into a glossy, spoonable sauce that looks as good as it tastes. Whether it's anchoring a holiday table or brightening up a leftover turkey sandwich, this one is genuinely hard to stop eating by the spoonful.
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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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