I have been featuring cranberries this month and have left out the most common use of cranberries, cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce is traditionally used with Thanksgiving meals. Thanksgiving was last month, so why am just sharing a recipe now? Cranberry sauce is often served during other holiday meals. Our family replicates the Thanksgiving meal for Christmas, so cranberry sauce is still applicable now.
I have to admit I refused to eat cranberry sauce until a few years ago. My grandfather always hosted Thanksgiving dinner. He always had the cranberry sauce that looks like the shape of the can. You know the one! A few years ago when I made Thanksgiving dinner I purchased whole cranberry sauce, yes in a can. Whole cranberry sauce was so much more appealing than the jelly-like cranberry sauce that retains the shape of the can.
Cranberry sauce is really easy to make. Remember cranberries are very tart, so you need to sweeten the cranberry sauce with something if you want a sweet cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce is usually sweetened with sugar, but with our sugar-phobic environment now everyone is looking alternatives. Cranberry sauce can be sweetened with other fruit like pineapple or oranges. I chose to use honey to preserve more of the cranberry flavor and color in this recipe. Remember honey is still sugar, but a more natural sugar than granulated sugar.
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Recipe
Cranberry Sauce {Recipe}
Ingredients
- 1 12 ounce package of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup water
- ¼ -½ cup honey I suggest adding in ¼ cup first, then add more if needed
Instructions
- Rinse cranberries in a colander.
- Discard any bruised cranberries.
- In a saucepan bring water and honey to a slow boil.
- Add cranberries to saucepan.
- Return to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer cranberries for about 10-15 minutes or until cranberries burst open.
- Remove saucepan from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Refrigerate until chilled.
Nutrition
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Cranberries are game the whole winter season! This is a beautiful sauce!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
In my book, cranberry sauce can be enjoyed all winter - I've been eating it with everything from pumpkin bread to lamb burgers!
Jo-Lynne Shane says
This is just gorgeous. Your whole SITE is gorgeous!!! Pinning.
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
Thank you Jo-Lynne. Coming from a pro like you your comment means alot.
Gina B says
Yummy! I made this one year with pineapple in it too, it was delish! I want to try making it with orange flavor OR fresh oranges, maybe clementines.
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
I have tried oranges and pineapple. The color changes and looks cloudy to me. I love the bright red color of cranberries.
Marci says
So simple! Looks delicious.
lindsey says
I never thought to use honey! Will try this next time... amazing pictures too!
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
Thank you Lindsey!
Sarah Hughes says
This looks delicious and photographed beautifully!!!
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman says
Thank you. I was afraid the white bowl and white board was too bright.
Trina O'Boyle says
Great recipe! I so wish my husband liked fresh cranberry sauce but he is a sliced guy all the way. UGH!
Lauren O'Connor says
I love the simplicity of cranberry sauce, and it adds such a beautiful color and punch to dishes.
Sara @sarahaasrdn.com says
My all-time favorite holiday food! And so simple to make!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says
so simple and delish! love that you sweetened this with honey 🙂