Cranberries were first harvested by Native Americans as food, and have since become a staple ingredient for Thanksgiving feasts all over the world. These berries are a major commercial crop in Canada, 95% of which are produced in the Fraser Valley Region in British Columbia alone, with an annual volume of 17 million kilograms of cranberries.

These luscious, vibrant berries have a delicious, sweet, and tart flavour, and are often made into juice, jam, and dried fruits. But there’s nothing quite like a cranberry sauce made from fresh cranberries. Whether you like your Thanksgiving turkey smothered or lightly dipped, a Thanksgiving meal would not look complete without a bowl of this red sauce on the table.

You’ve perfected essential Thanksgiving hacks and familiarized yourself with ways to cook a whole turkey without an oven; it’s time to really complete your Thanksgiving feast with a delectable cranberry sauce.

Maple Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Try this fresh maple cranberry sauce recipe to officially kick off the holiday months.

What you need:

3 cups (one 12oz bag) cranberries

3/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp lemon zest finely grated

1 cup water

1/2 tsp coarse salt

How to prepare:

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries are soft, stirring occasionally. Transfer the sauce to a bowl, and let cool. Cover, and refrigerate.

Your guests will love this easy yet delicious maple cranberry sauce. Got leftovers? Don’t worry. Make delicious cranberry sauce skillet scones. Share with us your favourite cranberry sauces!