Little Kristina always wanted to help “cook” at the holidays – my tasks included setting the table, preparing lime jello salad, and plating cranberry sauce.
Even back then, I played up the irony of the canned sauce, leaving it in can form and serving it in the prettiest plate I could find – most often in an elaborate crystal serving dish. I would carefully carry it to the table as the can shape slid and wiggled around the plate.
Although I have wanted to make my own cranberry sauce, this year was the first time I actually did. I already cannot wait to make it again! First, it is so easy. Second, this stuff is amazing.
I picked up a box of fresh cranberries at the farmers market, along with some raspberries and a peach for sweetness. A bit of lemon juice and zest add layers of flavor and texture, and the best part? Fresh ginger!
I will never give cranberry sauce the side eye again. I love this stuff.
cranberry sauce
vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, can free
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1 peach, peeled and pitted
1 pint box fresh cranberries
1-2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and minced
juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup, optional
Blend raspberries and peach into a puree, heat in saucepan on medium high heat. Add cranberries, continue to heat on medium high, stirring occasionally. Add juice and zest of lemon, and finely minced ginger. Depending on sweet flavor desired, add maple syrup to taste. Continue on medium heat, most cranberries will have popped open and the mixture will reduce to a sauce. Remove from heat and cool completely.
This sauce looks so much better in a pretty dish.
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This is gorgeous. I loved canned cranberry sauce as a kid. I brought my own to Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparent’s house. I’ve grown up a bit now and appreciate the “real” ones though and this one looks delicious. The fresh ginger in it probably puts it over the edge.
My husband just realized the other day that the canned stuff has lines in it because the can was shaped that way…haha.
It looks awesome and when I made cran-orange-mango chutney for Thanksgiving, I vowed to never go back to just using cranberries. I want to try yours…raspberries and peaches…WOW. Delish!
Do you listen to/heard of Adam Carolla? He cracks me up with his anger against everything, and anti-cranberry sauce in a can has been his gospel message for the past several years. He gives out his homemade cranberries recipe every time around this year. Made me think of him while reading this
Now, I understand this little story is probably more entertaining for me if you haven’t heard this. Then again, I’m boring myself now. I’m going to end this comment.
haha this made me laugh
Yum! This is exactly the kind of cranberry sauce that I love. So glad that you’re back to posting recipes
thank you, Evan, that is GOOD to hear! we are nearing the end of our long vacation, and it’s all recipes all the time again! (it will also be good to catch up with everyone, we have been out of the country with limited internet!)
happy holidays to you!
Wow, this sounds delicious! So many different great flavors together!
This looks amazing! I never had cranberry sauce from a can until I was in college…and I liked it. Growing up I hated the homemade stuff…now, you couldn’t pay me to eat it out of a can
I love the idea of ginger in this!
I love this idea! again, such a creative recipe, well done! and WELCOME BACK (are you back yet??). I missed you and your recipes!
Omg, I love the idea of adding ginger and lemon! And raspberries and peach! My mouth is watering
oh the lime jello salad. that brings back memories. This looks delicious. I could eat it plain though, just hand me a spoon!
Seriously… this was my first year to make cranberry sauce as well, and OMG what the hell have I been waiting for?! Though I’m not gonna lie… I loved the canned crap as a kid and we straight up sliced it in can shape and served it laid out on a pretty crystal plate too. Awe-some.
your giveaways are fun.. but what i love are your recipes! yum!
I love this, now this looks like the BEST cranberry sauce ever!
Hope you are well love! xoxo
Hi Basil!!!!!! : )
I love cranberry sauce too…now! I suppose the foodie in us finally came out in our later years.
I’ve been so out of it with the holiday craziness. I hope your trip was fabulous!
that photo of Basil is HILARIOUS! made my day. and I love homemade cranberry sauce – the added ginger sounds delicious.
beautiful photos!!! I wish I could eat the sauce now. I love all the ingredients in that dish especially love the touch of ginger!!!
Ginger! That sounds like a perfect addition
So yummy. I love the childhood story. I can just picture the juxtaposition of can-imprinted sauce on gorgeous plate. Love!
I laughed at this, we did the same thing growing up, with the slippery “can” of sauce in a nice plate. merry christmas, betty!
this looks So Good!! I think I may venture away from my can this year? your story made me smile. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
This looks wonderful! I love you added ginger, it’s one of my favorite spices.
we love ginger too… I always have a fresh root of it in the fridge (mostly for juicing) and I’ve been chopping off a little piece to steep in my morning tea – SO good!
nowhere near the holidays, but I needed this flavor just now. I made this and love it, your tarts are up next thank you!
You always have the most amazing recipes!
thank you Jenn – this just made my day more than you could know, and for a couple of reasons…
Aw! I love all of your recipes but I am usually too lazy to comment. LOL
I know, I don’t expect people to comment all the time… yours just came at a perfect time, I had just received one of those rare bullies being negative. *sigh* so it was a very welcome compliment!
thank you for reading, Jenn!
About how many people would one recipe serve? If I can’t find fresh peaches anywhere, what would be the next best healthy option for a peach?
hi Laurie, this recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups, or about the equivalent of one can cranberry sauce? it is easily doubled if you have a large crowd, and makes great leftovers.
I would say any stone fruit would sub well, perhaps a pear? you could use an orange, another great flavor in cranberry sauce.
cheers!
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