No holiday is complete without an amazing homemade cranberry sauce and this spiced version is the one you need to make this year! It's cozy and warm, featuring tender apples, bright orange and warm cinnamon. Easy, perfect to make in advance and delicious!
I absolutely love making cranberry sauce for the holidays! It’s one of the easiest recipes to throw together, can be made in advance and it always feels festive.
What makes this recipe extra special is the combination of apple, orange, and cinnamon—it’s naturally sweet, slightly tart, and perfectly fragrant for the holidays.
Bonus: this version is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and uses simple, wholesome ingredients!
Ingredients you'll need
Cranberry sauce doesn’t have to be complicated, and this version is proof. It comes together in just one pot, tastes fresh and fruity, and fills your kitchen with the warm, cozy scents of orange and cinnamon.
For this simple, spiced cranberry sauce, you’ll need:
- apples (peeled and cubed)
- fresh or frozen cranberries
- juice and zest from half of a large orange
- maple syrup or agave
- cinnamon
- water
How to make Spiced Cranberry Sauce
Making this cranberry sauce is as easy as it gets. Simply add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan, bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, and stir occasionally. In 10–15 minutes, the cranberries will burst, the apples will soften, and the sauce will start to thicken. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly—the flavors will continue to develop as it cools.
Helpful Tips
- Adjust sweetness: If you like a less sweet sauce, start with ¼ cup maple syrup and taste as it cooks.
- Consistency: For a chunkier sauce, cook slightly less; for smoother, mash gently with a fork or potato masher.
- Make ahead: This sauce tastes even better the next day, so feel free to prepare it in advance.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months.
Storage
The cooled spiced cranberry sauce stores in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Which makes it the perfect side dish to prep in advance for your holiday meals!
Related
Looking for other holiday recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Apple & Orange
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples peeled, deseeded and cubed
- 12 oz cranberries fresh or frozen
- ½ large orange juiced and zested
- ½ cup maple syrup or agave syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients—apples, cranberries, orange juice and zest, syrup, cinnamon, and water—into a medium saucepan.
- Place over medium heat and bring to a light simmer. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the apples are tender.
- Remove from heat and let it cool slightly. The sauce will thicken more as it cools. Serve warm or chilled.
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