Cranberry Maple Orange Sauce with Brandy and Rosemary

This cranberry maple orange sauce brings together tart cranberries, fragrant citrus, maple sweetness, and a subtle aromatic edge from rosemary and brandy. It’s an excellent holiday condiment that works beautifully for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, offering a bright, festive alternative to traditional cranberry sauce. With the primary keyword cranberry maple orange sauce featured naturally here and throughout the post, this version stands out as a beautifully balanced, seasonal twist.

Hey, folks – I hope you all are doing well. With Thanksgiving and Christmas inching closer, I’m thrilled to share this cranberry maple orange sauce – a simple stovetop condiment that transforms a handful of ingredients into something wonderfully festive. If you’ve never tried a maple-sweetened cranberry sauce before, it’s a lovely shift away from classic sugar-only versions: more nuanced, richer, and very cozy. So, let’s dive into this luscious holiday sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Maple Orange Sauce with Brandy and Rosemary

• Tart and balanced. This cranberry maple orange sauce is intentionally not overly sweet, allowing the natural cranberry tartness to shine.
• Festive flavour layers. The maple, citrus, and rosemary create depth without overwhelming the fruit.
• Versatile. Perfect for turkey, chicken, ham, cheese boards, desserts, yogurt bowls, or even stirred into cocktails.
• Easy to adjust. Add more maple syrup for sweetness, more zest for brightness, or omit brandy for a non-alcoholic option.

Flavour Profile

This cranberry maple orange sauce is glossy, thick, and richly coloured, with a spoonable texture that firms beautifully in the refrigerator. The flavour leans tart with gentle sweetness and strong citrus notes. Maple offers a mellow, earthy caramel tone, while rosemary adds a subtle woodland aroma. Brandy melts seamlessly into the sauce, deepening the flavour without making it boozy. This sauce is not overly sweet, so feel free to adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more maple syrup or maple sugar toward the end of cooking.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Cranberry Maple Orange Sauce

To make this cranberry maple orange sauce, you will need the following ingredients. Each plays a specific role, and substitutions are easy if needed.

• Cranberries. Provide tartness, body, and the natural pectin that thickens the sauce.
• Maple syrup. Adds gentle sweetness and a warm, caramel-like depth.
• Maple sugar. Boosts sweetness and helps the sauce set more firmly; can be replaced with brown sugar or more syrup.
• Orange zest and juice. Brighten the sauce and give it a distinctly festive, citrus-forward flavour.
• Fresh rosemary (optional). Adds an herbal, piney aroma that complements winter flavours beautifully.
• Brandy (optional). Enhances richness and adds a light fruity warmth; optional for a non-alcoholic version.

Possible Additions and Variations

• Add spices. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, or cardamom for a warmer, more spiced cranberry sauce.
• Use different citrus. Try clementines, mandarins, or blood orange zest for deeper colour and flavour.
• Make it chunkier or smoother. Mash lightly for a rustic sauce or blend briefly for a silky finish.
• Play with alcohol. Try using orange liqueur, bourbon, or rum instead of brandy.
• Omit the brandy. For a family-friendly or alcohol-free version, simply skip the brandy.
• Increase sweetness. Add extra maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter cranberry sauce.

More Festive Holiday Cranberry Sauce Recipes

If you enjoy this cranberry sauce, you might also like these festive ideas:

• Festive Cranberry Orange Sauce with Brandy
• Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays
• Festive Cranberry Sauce with Orange Liqueur
• Festive Rosé Wine Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays

I’d love for you to try this festive Cranberry Maple Orange Sauce with Brandy and Rosemary. If you give this holiday cranberry sauce a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.

Cheers!

Cranberry Maple Orange Sauce with Brandy and Rosemary

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

Tart and balanced cranberry maple orange sauce with citrus, rosemary, and optional brandy – a festive Thanksgiving and Christmas condiment.

Course: Condiments Sauces and Compound Butter, Thanksgiving, ChristmasDifficulty: Easy

5.0 from 2 votes

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Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• about 1 lb (450-500 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen

• 1/3 cup (80 ml) maple syrup

• 1/2 cup (90–100 g) maple sugar

• juice of 1 large orange (about 1/2 cup / 120 ml)

• zest of 1 orange

• a small sprig of fresh rosemary (about 1/2 tsp. minced, optional)

• 2-3 tbsp (30-45 ml) brandy (optional)

Directions

• Combine the cranberries, maple syrup, maple sugar, orange zest, minced rosemary (if using), and fresh orange juice in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the berries start to soften and burst and the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Try and adjust sweetness.
• Stir in the brandy (if using). Simmer for another 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat. Let the sauce cool – it will continue to thicken as it stands.
• Store refrigerated in a air-tight container or jar for up to a week. Enjoy!