Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

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posted by Amy Johnsonon November 20, 2022 57 comments »

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a sweet, tart and colorful addition to any holiday meal. And when it comes to preparing the traditional holiday meal, Homemade Cranberry Sauce has got to be the easiest, if not most colorful, dish to prepare. It only requires five ingredients and comes together in no time.

This homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe only requires five ingredients (and one of them is water) to make this perky festive dish to perfectly complement your holiday turkey, rib roast or ham. But I have to say, even though it is traditionally meant to be one of turkey’s favorite partners (along with gravy) this Cranberry Sauce is an excellent addition to ice cream, pound cake, or drizzled over pancakes. Talk about the perfect use for all of those Thanksgiving leftovers!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Like I said, this homemade Cranberry Sauce is incredibly easy to make. It is also a bit of fun as you hear the cranberries pop, pop, pop! I remember the first time I made this sauce from scratch and wondered what the sound was as I was washing dishes nearby. I kept returning to the stove to figure out if something was wrong with my stove or pan, until it finally dawned on me that it was the cranberries heating up. So be sure to have the kids (safely) close by so they can hear the cranberries talk!

What to Serve With Cranberry Sauce

With it’s sweet and tart flavors, Cranberry Sauce is a lovely compliment to a savory meal. Our family enjoys it during the holiday season especially with beef and poultry. For a Thanksgiving celebration this delicious sauce pairs well with my Mayonnaise Roasted Turkey.Sweet Potato Casserole, Cheese Broccoli Casserole, Southern Green Beans and Sausage and Mushroom Stuffing round out the menu for a meal our family looks forward to each year.

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

As I mentioned before, Cranberry Sauce is super easy to make and can easily be made ahead of serving time by up to a week, then kept refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to serve. It sure does make holiday meals easy when any dish can be prepared ahead of time to cut down on preparation the day of the big gathering. Cranberry Sauce may be enjoy chilled, at room temperature or rewarmed before serving.

Ingredients for Cranberry Sauce

  • granulated sugar
  • water
  • orange juice
  • fresh cranberries (frozen may be substituted)
  • ground cinnamon

Instructions for Cranberry Sauce

  1. To make this colorful sauce, bring sugar, water, and orange juice to a boil in a saucepan. Add the cranberries and a bit of cinnamon, then bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken up nicely as it cooks and even more once it cools. If a smoother consistency is desired, use a potato masher or a heavy flat-bottomed glass to mash the cranberries even more.
  2. Allow the sauce to cool completely before serving or refrigerating. Once cooled, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cranberry Sauce can be made up to 7 days ahead of time and kept refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to enjoy.

See how easy it is? It’s so easy I don’t know why we don’t make Cranberry Sauce all year long! As I mentioned before, try this sauce over ice cream, pound cake or pancakes, or as a bright addition to a sandwich.

More delicious sauce recipes to try:

  • Roasted Strawberry Sauce
  • Easy Mustard Dipping Sauce
  • Turkey Gravy
  • Honey Caramel Sauce

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (5)

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This colorfultraditional holiday side dish is quick to make with only a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
  • 12-ounces fresh cranberries (frozen may be substituted)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Bring sugar, water and orange juice to a boil in a medium saucepan.
  2. Add cranberries and cinnamon. Bring to a simmer and cook stirring occasionally for about 10-15 minutes, until sauce thickens.*
  3. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Makes about 21/4 cups.

This homemade Cranberry Sauce can be made up to 7 days ahead of time and kept refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to serve.

*If a smoother consistency is desired, use a potato masher or a heavy flat-bottomed glass to mash the sauce to preference.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Originally published November 18, 2014.

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Side Dishes

published on November 20, 2022

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Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (9)

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57 comments on “Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe”

  1. AmberReply

    I noticed the sauce doesn’t thicken after 15 minutes, but that just means it’s not done cooking yet, it will eventually start to thicken just keep cooking it until it does.

  2. KelleyReply

    Does it still work with bottled orange juice? Does it HAVE to be fresh? If so, can you please explain why?

  3. Owen CarverReply

    The orange juice is a great addition here! Your photos are absolutely amazing.

  4. Ann GrassieReply

    Great easy recipe! I went a step further and cut the amount of sugar by half. I added half 16 oz jar of orange marmala to boost the orange flavor a bit more. Delicious!

  5. Alice MillerReply

    This is almost exactly how I make it, however I add orange peel (or tangerine, whatever is laying around). It adds so much flavor. Depending on how sweet the orange juice is I reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup. I live in California and only do fresh squeezed juice and the sweetness varies considerably. I also use a potato masher to thoroughly mash things up.

  6. Alice MillerReply

    This is almost exactly how I make it. However, I add grated orange peel (or tangerine, whatever is laying around). Depending on the sweetness of the juice I also reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup. I live in California and only use fresh squeezed juice and the sweetness varies considerably by the type of orange and the season. I also use a potato masher to thoroughly mash things up.

  7. JacksReply

    Delicious and simple recipe. I love these types of recipes

  8. betsyReply

    I add a little oragne ZEST as well

  9. C FredReply

    I’m the only one at the Thanksgiving table who likes cranberry sauce, but I’ve made this the last 3 or 4 years for myself to have at dinner. So yummy every time!

  10. KenReply

    I wanted to try making this so I could know the difference between homemade and canned sauce. I was a bit skeptical at first when dumping in the fresh cranberries (not knowing how they would cook), but the result is spectacularly delicious. Thanks for this!

  11. Beth VanderlindenReply

    I have made this several times and my family loves it. The cinnamon really adds a nice kick. I have also zested orange into it also. Thank you for a wonderful recipe.

  12. Janet MeyenReply

    Can I substitute Splenda for the sugar?

    • Amy Johnson

      I have not tested using sugar substitutes so I’m not sure how it would turn out, especially it thickening up.

  13. NancyReply

    I add dried cherries to mine and zest along with orange juice.

  14. LinReply

    I just made this today so it’s ready for Thanksgiving. Never made it before and I’m so glad I picked your recipe. It is excellent! Thank you!

  15. DebbieReply

    So much better than canned. You can adjust the flavors to your liking! Thanks!

  16. RobinReply

    Absolutely delicious. My most fav Thanksgiving dish. Love this recipe. Just perfect. I cut the cinnamon in half. Just my preference. Don’t look any further. Make this one for the rest of forever. Lol. Thank you for this.

  17. NancyReply

    Good recipe. I add dried cherries to mine. Adds a nice sweetness to counteract the tart cranberries.

  18. KimberlyReply

    Can you freeze any leftovers!

    • Amy Johnson

      Yes. Freeze cooled cranberry sauce in an airtight freezer container or zip-top plastic bag for up to three months.

  19. RainReply

    I make this with watermelon apple or pineapple juice. It’s better than orange juice. No matter where we have our holiday dinners I’m always asked to make cranberries! Try it!!

Leave a comment »

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cranberry sauce made of? ›

The most basic cranberry sauce consists of cranberries boiled in sugar water until the berries pop and the mixture thickens. Some recipes include other ingredients such as slivered almonds, orange juice, orange zest, ginger, maple syrup, port, or cinnamon.

How do you take the bitterness out of homemade cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

Jelling. Homemade cranberry sauce is meant to thicken, or “jell,” while cooking. If it stays soupy, that could mean a couple of things. One possibility is that you may not have used enough sugar: Sugar helps the sauce firm up, so be sure to use the full amount called for in a recipe.

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last? ›

Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge. We hear you: After a long day of cooking, hosting, and celebrating, something's bound to get overlooked.

What are the two types of cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce can be served either as a gooey liquid or as a solid jelly. The jellied version is solid enough to retain the shape of the container in which it's placed whereas the sauce version is much more fluid. The difference between the fluid sauce and the jelly versions comes down to pectin.

What is the difference between whole berry cranberry sauce and jellied cranberry sauce? ›

The major variation you're likely to come across is "whole berry" versus "jellied." The only difference between them is that the jellied sauce is cooked until the berries have completely broken down. They both slide out of the can as a wobbly red cylinder.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

How to make cranberry taste better? ›

If you'd prefer, you could use simple syrup, coconut sugar, cane sugar, sugar-free sweetener, maple syrup, or raw honey. You could also omit the added sugar and make an unsweetened cranberry juice if you'd prefer. Fresh Citrus: oranges and lemons add sweet and acid to balance the cranberries tartness.

Why does my cranberry sauce taste weird? ›

If your cranberry sauce has an odd flavor, consider checking the quality of your cranberries, the amount of sugar and water used, and the cooking time and temperature. Ensure you're using fresh cranberries and following the recipe for sugar and water measurements.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

How do you fix bland cranberry sauce? ›

Maple syrup, brown sugar and even honey can make your cranberry sauce more dynamic. And don't forget the spices! Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, citrus zest and star anise all work well with cranberries and can be added while the sauce cooks to infuse your sauce with flavor.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Why didn't my cranberry sauce thicken? Cranberries have a lot of natural pectin, the ingredient that makes cooked fruit gel. To release that pectin, you need to cook the berries until they burst and can form a bond with the sugar.

Can I freeze homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Yes, you can freeze homemade cranberry sauce—and it works well. It's best to store it in the freezer for up to 3 months; the taste may be affected due to its water content if frozen longer. Keep this in mind when putting away your leftover sauce and use it during this optimal period as part of an easy weeknight dinner.

Is it worth making cranberry sauce? ›

We can see there is a significant difference in the nutrition facts between the two sauces. The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium!

Is canned cranberry sauce better than homemade? ›

While there are some editors who prefer homemade cranberry sauce, the canned variety also has quite a following. "There's something so beautifully perfect about the texture of canned cranberry sauce, and none of those homemade mess will ever compete," says Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland.

Is cranberry sauce good or bad for you? ›

Health Benefits

Cranberries are also rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as the metabolism-boosting mineral manganese. And yes, you reap all these benefits whether the cranberry sauce on your holiday table is homemade or canned, jellied or whole-berry.

Is it OK to eat a can of cranberry sauce? ›

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Is cranberry sauce just jam? ›

Calling this dish a “sauce” is a bit of a misnomer, as cranberry sauce is actually a simple fruit jam. Cranberries are naturally high in pectin (a naturally occuring gel). When cranberries are cooked with sugar and acid (such as orange or lemon juice), the pectin is released and gels the fruit.

Is cranberry sauce full of sugar? ›

Cranberry sauce is typically made with a lot of added sugar, but that doesn't mean it's off-limits for those with diabetes. Here's how to enjoy the festive food in a healthy way.

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