Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Sauce Recipe

• Quick and Easy: Ready in 15 minutes with a few ingredients.
• Simple Ingredients: Just 3 ingredients for fresh, delicious flavor.
• Flavorful and Delicious: Perfect combination of slightly sweet and tart.
• Versatile: Great served warm or cold; perfect for holidays and easy dinners.
• Make-Ahead Ease: Prepare in advance for stress-free holidays and dinners.
• Leftover Favorite: It is delicious on leftovers, like turkey sandwiches!

Ingredients for Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

• Cranberries: Fresh or frozen; no need to thaw frozen cranberries.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar for sweetness, adjust for personal taste.
• Fresh Orange Juice: Adds a bright flavor. Can replace some of the water with increased orange juice, add orange zest to sauce, or use as a garnish for more citrus flavor.
• Water: Combine the water and orange juice to cook the cranberries. 

Ingredient Swaps

• Sweetener: Swap sugar for honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar. Substitutes may slightly alter taste or consistency. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.
• Orange Juice: Swap fresh for store-bought if desired.
• Sugar-Free: Use a sugar substitute, like stevia. Taste and consistency may be altered slightly.

How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce is simple to make on the stovetop with just a few steps.

Step by Step Instructions

1. Rinse the cranberries. (Skip if frozen) Cook the orange juice and water. Add cranberries.

2. Stir in cranberries and cook as directed. Listen for them to pop.

3. Cook until sauce thickens.

4. Stir in orange zest, if using.

5. Test the thickened cranberry sauce by putting small amount onto a wooden spoon. Pour it back into the saucepan. Sauce is done when some sticks to the wooden spoon. Repeat every few minutes until some sauce sticks to spoon. (Sauce will thicken further as it cools.)

6. Remove from heat when done. Cool the sauce. Serve garnished with orange zest, if desired.

Recipe Variations

• Citrus Zest: Stir in orange zest for an extra burst of brightness.
• Dried Cranberries: Substitute 1 1/2 to 2 cups dried cranberries and 1 cup cranberry juice instead of water. Simmer until cranberries are plump, and test thickness with a wooden spoon as directed. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
  

Recipe Success Tips

• Fresh Juice: Fresh orange juice adds flavor; zest adds extra brightness.
• Adjust the Sweetness: Conduct a taste test early in the cooking process; add sugar if needed.
• Fresh or Frozen: Both types work; frozen may require an extra 1-2 minutes.
• Don’t Overcook: Simmer until most of the cranberries pop; if overcooked, the sauce can be mushy.
• Thicken Naturally: The sauce thickens more as it cools.

How Do You Know When Cranberry Sauce is Done?

Cranberry sauce typically takes between 8 and 10 minutes to prepare. Here’s how to know when it’s done.

• Place a small amount of cranberry sauce on a wooden spoon.
• Pour the cranberry sauce back into the saucepan. The cranberry sauce is done when some of it sticks to the wooden spoon. 
• If not, continue to cook and retest every few minutes. Remember that cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

What Do I Serve with Cranberry Sauce? 

This cranberry sauce is delicious with roast turkey or turkey breast, southern cornbread dressing, turkey gravy or giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, and even our favorite sweet potato casserole. And be sure to have it on hand for Leftover Turkey recipes, such as wraps and turkey sandwiches.

Make it year-round as a topping for buttermilk pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
• Freeze: Cool completely, place into freezer-safe container(s), and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
• Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave; stir well.
• Make-Ahead: Prepare up to 1 week ahead; cool, store in fridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Favorite Cranberry Recipes

• Cranberry Orange Muffins or Cranberry Orange Scones for brunch or breakfast.
• Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs and Cranberry Salsa make great appetizers.

Why This Cranberry Sauce is a Holiday Star

With its sweet and slightly tart flavor and ease of preparation, this homemade cranberry sauce is the perfect dish for holidays. It’s fresh, simple to make (and so much better than canned), and it’s a recipe you’ll love to make year after year!