Published 11/11/2020 • Updated 8/8/2022 Say hello to lemon ginger cranberry sauce! We gave this classic Thanksgiving side dish recipe a little pizzazz with the addition of fresh lemon and ginger. Both add flavor, freshness, and brightness to this traditional sauce. Made with wholesome ingredients on the stovetop and ready in under 30 minutes, you’re going to want to make this every year from here on out. No more cranberry sauce in a can!
What You Need for Lemon Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries: Seasonal fresh cranberries are the star of this homemade cranberry sauce. Maple Syrup: We love using all-natural sweeteners in our recipes and maple syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness and warmth to this sauce. Ginger: Grated fresh ginger is what sets this cranberry sauce recipe apart from the rest. If you don’t have fresh ginger, ginger paste (the kind in the tube) is a great replacement. Cinnamon: Cinnamon and ginger is such a cozy flavor combination. Lemon Juice: A little fresh lemon juice helps balance everything out. You don’t need a ton of lemon in this recipe because the cranberries are already pretty tart. Water: Breaks down the cranberries to create the sauce! Salt: A pinch of salt offsets the sweetness and brings out all of the flavors.
Unique Cranberry Sauce Variations
Jazz things up with these fun cranberry sauce ingredient swaps: Citrus: Replace the lemon juice/zest with fresh orange juice/zest. Sweetener: Use honey instead of maple syrup. (If making this swap, this cranberry sauce is no longer vegan.) Liquid: Replace the water with orange juice or cranberry juice for extra tartness.
Storage
Save time on Thanksgiving and make this lemon ginger cranberry sauce ahead of time! Let cool completely, transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese From Scratch Cornbread Dressing Sweet Potato Casserole Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes
Looking for more healthy Thanksgiving recipes to fill your holiday table with? Check out all of our best turkey day recipes in one spot!
Freezing Cranberry Sauce
Get a head start on your Thanksgiving meal prep and freeze homemade cranberry sauce! Let it cool completely, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
To Reheat
If you have refrigerated or frozen-now-thawed cranberry sauce to heat up, transfer the sauce to a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium/high heat. If you notice that the sauce is too thick, add a couple tablespoons of water to the saucepan to thin it out. Serve warm!
Serving Suggestions
A traditional Thanksgiving side dish, serve this lemon ginger cranberry sauce with all of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes like crockpot mashed potatoes, healthy green bean casserole, sausage stuffing, and roasted Brussels sprouts. For a total twist, top a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a spoonful of this homemade cranberry sauce!
