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–+ servings
Colorful arrangement of fresh ingredients on a wooden surface, featuring oranges, mango, ginger root, jalapeños, red hibiscus flowers perfect for Hibiscus Holiday Sauce, a citrus zester, honey with a dipper, and green leaves.
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Roselle Hibiscus Holiday Sauce

This roselle hibiscus holiday sauce is bright, tangy, and beautifully festive. Made with roselle calyces, it’s a vibrant, flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with holiday meals and desserts.
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Christmas, cranberry sauce alternative, freezer-friendly, from the garden, hibiscus sauce, holiday, homemade, make-ahead, roselle sauce, small batch, sweet-tart, Thanksgiving
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 257kcal
Author: Angela Judd

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2-3/4 cup your favorite sweetener sugar, honey, etc.
  • 1 cup fresh hibiscus seed pods removed
  • 1 cup chopped fruit pear, apple, mango, or pineapple
  • 2 tablespoons grated ginger
  • Juice and zest from 1 orange
  • Cinnamon, allspice, or jalapeño to taste Optional

Instructions

  • Combine water and sweetener in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring until the sweetener dissolves.
    A wooden spoon stirs a cloudy white liquid in a stainless steel pot, preparing the base for a vibrant Hibiscus Holiday Sauce.
  • Add fresh hibiscus, and let it simmer until slightly thickened, stirring constantly.
    A wooden spoon stirs a pot of deep red hibiscus petals in liquid, creating a vibrant Hibiscus Holiday Sauce.
  • Add chopped fruit of choice—I’ve loved using pear, apple, mango, pineapple, or a combination.
    Chopped red, yellow, and white fruit pieces being stirred in a pot of dark red Hibiscus Holiday Sauce.
  • Optional: Use an immersion blender or food processor and blend sauce lightly for a smoother consistency.
    An immersion blender mixing chopped red berries in a thick, dark Hibiscus Holiday Sauce.
  • Add two tablespoons of freshly grated ginger and the zest and juice of 1 orange. Optional: add cinnamon, allspice, or jalapeño to taste.
    Thick Hibiscus Holiday Sauce topped with fresh chopped herbs and orange zest, with a wooden spoon on the side.
  • Simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
    A pot of simmering Hibiscus Holiday Sauce, deep red and fragrant, being stirred gently with a wooden spoon.
  • Serve warm or chilled. Pour extra sauce into a glass jar—store sauce in the refrigerator for up to one month.
    A spoonful of thick, dark red Hibiscus Holiday Sauce held above an open glass jar on a wooden surface.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 59g | Vitamin A: 172IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg
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