How to Make Spicy Cranberry Sauce

Plus 20 Ways to Use Any Leftover Sauce!

This spicy cranberry sauce recipe is healthy, delicious, and ever so easy to make. I used two cups of fresh cranberries in this spicy cranberry sauce recipe, so it’s perfect if you’re cooking for one. And you can easily double or triple it too if you want to make more.

Spicy cranberry sauce ingredients

The only ingredients you need are fresh cranberries, a small peeled orange, honey, cloves, star anise, and a cinnamon twig. For the spices, you will need a small gauze bag and a mortar and pestle.

mortar and pestle with ground spices including cinnamon and cloves for spicy cranberry sauce recipe

Place the whole spices into the mortar (the bowl), and gently break them down using the pestle (the grinding tool). Put the spices into the small muslin bag and tie it tightly with a string. So you don’t have a muslin bag? Put the spices on some cheesecloth and tie a string around the cloth, making it into a ball.

READ MORE: Ravioli Lasagna Recipe for 1-2 People

I bought my muslin bags a while back and use them all the time for cooking, crafts, and gifting little gifts. You can buy them here.

whole cranberries with a muslin bag of spices for spicy cranberry sauce recipe by Thriving With Less

Place the cranberries in a saucepan, then cover them with water. Toss in the bag with the spices, and bring the contents to a rolling boil.

Boiled whole cranberries for spicy cranberry sauce recipe

Let the mixture simmer for approximately 10 minutes (or until the little cranberry “pops” stop), and remove from the heat. Allow the spices and berries to steep until the contents have cooled down.

While waiting for the cranberries to cool down, slice the peeled orange into several sections. Put the orange pieces into a small blender or food processer. Remove the spice bag from the saucepan, and strain the water from the cranberries. (I save the cranberry water for cocktails or add a sprig of mint and enjoy, unsweetened or add sugar). Add the cranberries and honey, then blend or pulse until the mixture is the consistency you enjoy most.

READ MORE: Hot Honey Recipe is Spicy Sweet!

How to Serve Spicy Cranberry Sauce

Pour the contents into a small bowl and garnish with a slice of orange or some orange zest. Then top the sauce with a sprig of mint or rosemary and serve!

If you happen to have any leftovers, then check out the chart below. I’ve listed 20 ways to use the leftovers – enjoy!!

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know how it turns out for you. And you can also share a photo of your dish on my Instagram account with the hashtag #thrivingwithless – Bon Appetit!

PLEASE NOTE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE, I EARN INCOME FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. 

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5 Comments

  1. Well, first of all, thank you for taking time to stop by Marmelade Gypsy before the holidays. As you probably have experienced, holidays can get a little crazy and I’m late in returning “the call,” but delighted to “meet you” here in the ether-world! The sauce looks absolutely delicious. I adore cranberries and they don’t seem to stick around long, so I will most certainly be buying more before they disappear and give this one a try! Happy New Year! ~ jenaie from Marmelade Gypsy

    1. Happy New Year to you too, Jenaie!! Enjoy the cranberries and I absolutely love the name of your blog!

  2. This looks and sounds delicious and I am always looking for ways to use leftover cranberry sauce. Laura

    1. Thank you, Laura! If you find more ideas, please let me know — I have a huge bag of cranberries in the freezer and am on the hunt to double this list!!
      Cheers,
      JJ

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