We’ve taken our traditional cranberry sauce recipe and turned it up a notch by adding in a special ingredient or two. Try this Maple Syrup Cranberry Sauce with your next turkey dinner.
Cranberries Grow Up and So Do We
As kids we were privy to jellied cranberry sauce from a can or jellied cranberry sauce from a can. Liked it, but didn’t love it.
As an adult we started making our own cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries. This was a game changer and so fresh sauce will always be our first choice.
Maple Cranberry Sauce
Our cranberry sauce typically contains fresh cranberries, sugar, orange rind, a cinnamon stick or two and orange juice. For this updated version we add a good scoop of apricot jam and real maple syrup instead of sugar.
My mom would make apricot jam when we were kids and it was always one of my favourite jams. I have ensured my kids have grown up eating a variety of jams and jellies including apricot jam. I decided to add some jam to this maple cranberry sauce to add another element of sweet.
Make it in Advance
This simple recipe can be made in advance. We have been known to double the batch, make one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas.
It freezes beautifully and leftovers can be used several different ways.
What to do with Leftover Cranberry Sauce
This recipe will make approximately 3 cups of cranberry sauce so we always have leftovers. On purpose. Look at all the things you can do with leftover cranberry sauce.
- Add it to your turkey sandwich.
- Try it over waffles, french toast, pancakes, even in crepes.
- Mix it with Greek yogurt and granola.
- Use as a topping for chia pudding or oatmeal.
- Appetizer: spread cream cheese or a slice of brie on a cracker and top with cranberry sauce.
- Top a slice of cheesecake or ice cream with a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
- Meatballs. Mix cranberry sauce with a little BBQ sauce and let the meatballs simmer until ready to serve.
- Top your baked brie with leftover sauce and sprinkle with toasted nuts. This is simply divine.
Looking for more ideas to spice up your holiday feast, check out these posts:
If you made this recipe tag Wanda Baker on Instagram and hashtag it #bakersbean
Ingredients
- 1 bag fresh cranberries
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apricot jam
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer, stir occasionally until berries pop, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool.
- You can make this ahead and freeze or refrigerate until ready to use.
Hi Wanda,
I would love to try this however, I would have to buy a jar of apricot jam and only use a tablespoon. Can I leave it out? Or use dried apricots?
Yes you can leave it out! The maple syrup and apricot jam replace the white sugar. Perhaps just add a little more maple syrup, taste as you go, until you reach the desired sweetness!
Our entire family loved this recipe, even the kids!
Always loved your cooking. This was so good.
I’ve always used canned until now. This recipe was so easy and so good I can’t wait to make it again.
What a delicious twist on an original. I love the idea of adding apricot jam to tame the tartness of the cranberries. And I will be loving how easy this is come Thanksgiving day!
I love cranberry sauce, and I use it to spread on my bread. Definitely going to make this recipe at home.
Sounds delicious! I like the combination of cranberries, maple syrup and orange, great for fall.
I love the fruity sweetness you added from the apricot jam! Certainly a must-try!
I’m not a huge cranberry sauce fan but with the extra ingredients in this recipe, this is a recipe for cranberry sauce I can actually enjoy!