Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce with Triple Sec

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This homemade Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce is 100 times better than the canned variety and it's so easy to make. This recipe uses the best cranberry sauce spices and is flavored with orange zest, too. This post also includes ideas for using leftover cranberry sauce!

Close up view of a bowl of spiced cranberry sauce with oranges. — Cranberry sauce with orange zest and warm fall spices is easy to make.

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

The best! This Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce with Triple Sec is our family's favourite sauce to serve with turkey or roast chicken. After trying several recipes, we all agree it's the best cranberry sauce!
Amazing flavor: It's lightly flavored with orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and (optionally) spiked with an orange liqueur.
Gourmet! It's a gourmet homemade cranberry sauce for your holiday dinners that may just become your family's new favorite, too. Once you make it, you'll wonder why you ever bought it in a can.
Make ahead of time: You can make it well ahead of time and either refrigerate or freeze it, leaving one less thing to do when preparing a holiday dinner.

Fresh cranberry sauce is something that I only make a few times a year. This recipe is one I've used for years, but since I don't make it often, I haven't committed it to memory. My original reason for posting it here was simply to have it at my fingertips here on my blog when I needed it!

But it's just so good that I wanted to share it with you, too.

If you're looking for a sugar-free cranberry sauce recipe, you'll like this Sugar-Free Cranberry Orange Sauce with Monkfruit.

Are cranberries good for you?

🛒 Ingredients for cranberry orange sauce

Ingredients for spiced cranberry orange sauce with Triple Sec.

cranberries: fresh or frozen
sugar: using a combination of white sugar and brown sugar gives the best flavor
orange juice: freshly squeezed or whatever you have on hand.
orange zest: just a little adds a punch of flavor
spices: cinnamon and cloves
orange liqueur: like Triple Sec or Gran Marnier

🥄 Instructions

Combine the frozen or fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange juice in a medium pot.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cook until the cranberries pop. Remove from the heat.
Stir in the finely grated orange zest, cinnamon, and cloves.
Add a tablespoon or two of Triple Sec for extra orange flavor, if you'd like.
It may look thin, but cranberries contain a lot of natural pectin, so the sauce will thicken as it cools.
Once the cranberry sauce has cooled, store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.

Combining ingredients for cranberry orange sauce in a saucepan. — 1. Combine ingredients in a saucepan.

Cranberry sauce boiling in a saucepan. — 2. Bring to a boil, then simmer.

Adding orange zest and spices to cranberry sauce. — 3. Add orange zest and spices.

Adding orange liqueur to cranberry sauce in a saucepan. — 4. Add orange liqueur.

🥶 Storage and freezing instructions

Can I make cranberry sauce ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely. It will last up to a week tightly covered in the fridge. You can also freeze any leftover sauce for up to three months or more. Store it in a Ziplok bag or use a vacuum sealer to remove the air and seal the bag.

❓ Reader's Questions

What to do with leftover fresh cranberry sauce?

Don't despair if you have leftover cranberry sauce! It's good for more than simply adding to your turkey sandwiches!

I make several batches of this cranberry orange sauce at holiday times so I can use it to make these spicy Cranberry Glazed Chili Chicken Wings and these Cranberry Walnut Beggars' Purses.

No time to make anything with leftover cranberry sauce right now? Freeze it for another time, then thaw it in the refrigerator and use it in a recipe.

It will last for several months in an airtight container in the freezer.

Are cranberries good for you?

Cranberries are a good source of vitamins (especially Vitamin C) and fiber. They're considered to be a superfood. You can read more about their antioxidant properties and their nutritional value in Cranberries 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits.

An oval bowl of spiced cranberry orange sauce. — Spiced cranberry orange sauce is a holiday dinner tradition.

What to pair with cranberry sauce

Cranberry sauce is a versatile condiment that pairs well with a variety of dishes, especially those with savory or rich flavors. Here's a list of recipes for which you can serve cranberry sauce:

Roast Turkey: A classic pairing for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. Try Air Fryer Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breasts when you're only serving a few people.
Roast Chicken: Cranberry sauce adds a sweet-tart contrast to the savory flavors of roasted chicken.
Pork Tenderloin: Cranberry sauce adds a burst of flavor to tender, roasted pork.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Spread a thin layer of cranberry sauce inside your grilled cheese. Surprisingly delicious!
Brie Cheese: Top a wheel of Brie with cranberry sauce and bake it until the cheese is gooey and serve with crackers or bread.
Make Cranberry Walnut Beggars' Purses with Brie and puff pastry.
Stuffed Acorn Squash: Fill roasted acorn squash halves with a mixture of grains, nuts, and dried fruit, and drizzle cranberry sauce on top.
Pork Chops: Serve cranberry sauce alongside pan-seared or grilled pork chops.
Cranberry Turkey Quesadillas: Make quesadillas with leftover turkey, cheese, and a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
Cranberry Yogurt Parfait: Layer cranberry sauce with yogurt and Gingergread Spiced Granola for a sweet and tangy parfait.
Cranberry Muffins: Swirl cranberry sauce into muffin batter for a fruity twist on breakfast muffins.

Remember, cranberry sauce can be used in many creative ways to add flavor and flair to your dishes. Feel free to experiment and come up with your own delicious combinations!

🗒 More recipes with cranberries

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