When it comes to cranberry sauce, most people think that the kind from a can is the best. But I’m here to tell you that homemade cranberry sauce is so much better.

First of all, canned cranberry sauce is loaded with sugar. But when you make your own cranberry sauce, you can control how much sugar goes in. So you can have a nice and healthy cranberry sauce without all the extra sugar, like I did here—with maple syrup! (Yes I know it’s sugar, but it’s better than white sugar, and lower in fructose than honey!)

Second of all, canned cranberry sauce is always kind of bland. But when you make your own cranberry sauce, you can add in whatever flavors you want—like orange zest or cinnamon. Yum!

Finally, canned cranberry sauce always seems kind of rubbery to me. But when you make your own cranberry sauce, it’s fresh and as smooth as you want it to be—plus it’s delicious!

So if you’re looking for a tasty and healthy alternative to canned cranberry sauce, give this Maple-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce a try!

 To make this recipe, you’ll need a medium saucepot. Add the juice of one orange, and the zest of one orange (no pith please), 2 cups of apple cider, 1 cup of REAL maple syrup, and a cinnamon stick. Bring it to a boil, then add 6 cups of cranberries and simmer for 20 minutes. The cranberries are going to pop and break down on their own, but mix occasionally to keep it from burning. Now mash as much as you like for texture, and do a taste test for sweetness. Pour it into a bowl to cool, and leave out the cinnamon stick.

Now refrigerate it, and it’ll be ready for dinner when you are!

Maple-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce

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This Maple-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce is so much better than that stuff in the can, and it’s easy to prepare the day before, or freeze in advance.

• Author: Amanda MacArthur
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings
• Category: Sides

Ingredients

• 1 orange
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup REAL maple syrup
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 6 cups cranberries

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Instructions

1. In a medium saucepot, add the juice of one orange, and the zest of one orange (no pith please), apple cider, maple syrup, and a cinnamon stick.
2. Bring it to a boil, then add 6 cups of cranberries and simmer for 20 minutes. The cranberries will slowly begin to break down after the ten-minute mark. Mix occasionally but don’t mash yet. 
3. After 20 minutes, when the cranberries have started to break down on their own and the mixture is thick, you can mash. Taste test for sweetness and add more maple syrup if needed.
4. Pour it into a bowl to cool, and leave out the cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

If you try this Maple-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce recipe, let me know what you think!