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Cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Fresh Baked Cranberry Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Catherine Perez
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

An easy, make ahead cranberry sauce that bakes itself in the oven. Lightly sweetened with maple syrup and orange juice, it’s the perfect Thanksgiving side.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1, 12 oz bag of cranberries, rinsed well
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt (about a pinch)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350F. In an 8 in x 8 in baking dish, pour in your cranberries. Pour overtop your maple syrup, water and vanilla extract and give everything a quick toss.
  2. Place your cinnamon stick down into the center of the dish, then cover the baking dish with an oven safe lid or wrap with some foil.
  3. Now place your baking dish into then oven and bake for 60 minutes. Do not remove lid.
  4. After baking, allow to sit covered for a few minutes to cool. Remove the cinnamon stick and with the back of a large spoon, carefully mash your cranberries. Pour in your orange juice and add a pinch of salt and stir your cranberries really well until they have thickened.
  5. Add more maple syrup or orange juice as desired to adjust to your taste preference then serve.

Notes

Make sure to use a fresh cinnamon stick. Old spices don’t have the same taste as fresh spices as they start to degrade once opened. So check the date of your spices and replenish as needed.

Cover your baking dish well. Use a lid if your baking dish comes with one or use foil to tightly cover the cranberries before placing in the oven. If you bake without covering, the cranberries will burn.

Adjust the sweetness of the cranberry sauce after it bakes. Use this recipe as a base and add more orange juice or maple syrup as desired.

To help mellow some of the bitterness, add a small pinch of salt and stir into your cranberry sauce well. Salt actually helps with reducing the sensation of bitterness notes on our taste receptors.