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Sweet Cranberry Sauce

Category: Cooking Through the Seasons

Prepare a tangy and sweet cranberry treat with your choice of sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Cooking makes the berries pop, giving the sauce a rich texture. You can tweak the sweetness to your taste and enjoy this vibrant, zesty addition to your table.

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Hannah Author
Updated on Thu, 01 May 2025 17:18:20 GMT
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Sweet Cranberry Sauce | recipesbyhannah.com

A holiday feast isn't complete without this tangy cranberry topping. It strikes the right balance between sour berries and added sweetness from sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Super easy to whip up with tons of flavor, it'll make your festive table shine.

INGREDIENTS
  • Cranberries: 12 oz fresh or frozen, the star player in this classic topping
  • Water: ¾ cup, filtered works best for clean taste
  • Granulated sugar: 1 cup, or switch to ¾ cup honey or maple syrup for a natural option
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 6:
Dig in and enjoy that wonderful sweet-tart combo!
Step 5:
Take off the heat and cool down to room temp before you serve.
Step 4:
The sauce will get thicker as cranberries pop open. Add more sweetener if needed.
Step 3:
Toss in cranberries and let them come to a light boil. Turn down the heat and simmer without a lid for 12-15 minutes, giving it a stir now and then.
Step 2:
Mix until sugar totally dissolves and starts to simmer.
Step 1:
Mix your sugar (or honey/maple syrup) with water in a big saucepan over medium heat.
Serving and Storage Tips
  • Serve it cold or at room temp alongside turkey, chicken, or roasted veggies.
  • You can make this sauce up to a week ahead and keep it in the fridge.
Helpful Notes
  • Want smoother sauce? Just mash the berries or blend everything after it cools down.
  • Maple syrup or honey can give your sauce more depth than plain sugar.

Tips from Well-Known Chefs

  • Ina Garten says a splash of fresh orange juice can really wake up your cranberry sauce.
Cranberry Sauce Save
Cranberry Sauce | recipesbyhannah.com

Cranberry Sauce Sweet

Quick to make, this cranberry dish has just the right mix of sweetness and tartness. A festive must-have for any dinner!

Preparation Time
5 min
Cooking Time
15 min
Total Time
20 min

Category: Seasonal Cooking

Difficulty Level: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (1.5 cups)

Dietary Preferences: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free

Ingredients

01 12 oz of cranberries, fresh or frozen.
02 ¾ cup of water, filtered if you can.
03 1 cup of sugar (use ¾ cup honey or maple syrup instead if you'd prefer).

Directions

Step 01

Throw the water and sugar (or honey/maple syrup) into a big saucepan. Heat it up on medium.

Step 02

Keep stirring until the sugar has fully melted. Let it gently bubble.

Step 03

Add the cranberries, and wait for the mix to boil lightly. Then, turn the heat down and let it simmer for about 12–15 minutes. Give it a stir occasionally.

Step 04

As the cranberries pop open, you'll notice the sauce thickening up. Sweeten more if you'd like.

Step 05

Take it off the heat and give it time to cool down to room temperature before digging in.

Step 06

It's a sweet and tangy mix that's great to share!

Notes

  1. Tangy cranberries paired with just enough sweetness make this a great addition to your holiday table.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

These details are for reference only and shouldn't replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 130
  • Fats: ~
  • Carbohydrates: 33 g
  • Proteins: ~