Elevate your holiday menu with this Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe that comes together with just 4 simple ingredients. Bursting with bright, tangy flavor, it’s the perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish that instantly upgrades turkey, ham, and all your favorite holiday fixings. Once you taste how fresh and vibrant homemade cranberry sauce can be, you’ll never go back to the canned version again.
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
When we think about Thanksgiving, turkey and gravy are almost always followed by classics like cornbread dressing and cranberry sauce. It’s tradition, and one we love to embrace this time of year.
But cranberry sauce isn’t just a once-a-year thing. It’s delicious all holiday season long with roast chicken, ham, duck, lamb, or pork, and it even makes an easy appetizer spooned over cream cheese with crackers. The best part? This homemade version can be made ahead and frozen, so you can pull it out anytime you need a quick, flavorful side for your holiday meals.
Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make simple recipe for Homemade Cranberry Sauce. (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)
- Cranberries – Whole fresh cranberries.
- Liquid – One cup fresh orange juice gives a burst of citrus flavor.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar for sweetness.
- Orange Zest – Fresh orange zest adds an intense orange flavor plus additional orange curls for garnishing.
How to Make the BEST Cranberry Sauce Recipe
- Prep the Cranberries – Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse under cold water. Pick over and discard any damaged or bruised cranberries.
- Combine – Add to a medium saucepan with orange juice, sugar and orange zest. Stir to evenly distribute the sugar.
- Let Stand – Remove from the heat and let stand and cool completely to room temperature, then serve. (It will continue to thicken as it cools).
- Refrigerate – Store chilled until serving garnished with orange curls or orange zest.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
- Medium saucepan or pot.
- Measuring cups.
- Colander.
- Large rubber spatula or spoon for stirring.
- Lemon zester.
- Serving bowl.
Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions
- Cranberries – You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this simple recipe. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw prior to adding them to the pot.
- Spices – You can add minced ginger or a cinnamon stick to the simmering berries. You could also add a pinch of nutmeg or clove, for a hint of spice.
- Orange Juice – You can replace the orange juice with water.
- Apple Juice – You could use apple juice in place of orange juice.
- Sugar – You could use half brown sugar and half white sugar for a hint of molasses flavor.
- Spirits – You could add a glug of cherry liquor or grand marnier after cooking. (for adults only)
- Pineapple – You can add one 8 ounce can of crushed pineapple. (don’t drain.) Reduce orange juice to 1/2 cup.
- Peppers – You could add minced jalapeno pepper and a splash of lime juice, for a spicy Tex-Mex flavor. You could also add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Nuts – Once the cranberry sauce has cooked, stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.
- Fresh Herbs – You could add chopped fresh rosemary for an earthy flavor.
- Serving Options – Serve it as a side dish with roasted chicken, pork loin and ham, mix it with mayo and use it as a spread for a leftover turkey sandwich, or slather it on biscuits, scones or toast like a jelly.
Storage and Leftovers
- Leftovers – Store leftover Cranberry Sauce in an airtight container or mason jar chilled in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Freezer – You can store in a freezer safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge and stir well before serving.
More Recipes Using Cranberries to Make
- Sweet and salty Cranberry Pretzel Salad.
- Scrumptious Cranberry Meatballs.
- Cranberry Fluff can be served as a side dish or a dessert.
- Cranberry Apple Fruit Chutney is a delicious option for chicken, pork chops or ham.
- Start your holiday party with this Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log.
- Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Scones for brunch and snacking.
- Amp up your fall side dish menu with this Cranberry Apple Rice Pilaf.
- Savory Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4-5 cups fresh or frozen whole cranberries
- 1 Tbsp orange zest plus additional orange curls for garnishing
Instructions
-
Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse under cold water. Pick over and discard any damaged or bruised cranberries.
-
Add to a medium saucepan with orange juice, sugar and orange zest. Stir to evenly distribute the sugar.
-
Bring to a boil, then immediately lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the cranberries have burst and slightly reduced, stirring occasionally.
-
Remove from the heat and let cool completely to room temperature, then serve garnished with orange curls or orange zest. (It will continue to thicken as it cools).
-
Alternately, refrigerate until serving in an airtight container.
Notes
- Cranberries – You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for this simple recipe. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw prior to adding them to the pot.
- Spices – You can add minced ginger or a cinnamon stick to the simmering berries. You could also add a pinch of nutmeg or clove, for a hint of spice.
- Orange Juice – You can replace the orange juice with water.
- Apple Juice – You could use apple juice in place of orange juice.
- Sugar – You could use half brown sugar and half white sugar for a hint of molasses flavor.
- Spirits – You could add a glug of cherry liquor or grand marnier after cooking. (for adults only)
- Pineapple – You can add one 8 ounce can of crushed pineapple. (don’t drain.) Reduce orange juice to 1/2 cup.
- Peppers – You could add minced jalapeno pepper and a splash of lime juice, for a spicy Tex-Mex flavor. You could also add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Nuts – Once the cranberry sauce has cooked, stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.
- Fresh Herbs – You could add chopped fresh rosemary for an earthy flavor.
Nutrition
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