If you've never made cranberry sauce from scratch, now's the perfect time to start. This simple and delicious cranberry sauce recipe will add the perfect touch to your holiday spread.
Cranberry sauce is a classic side dish that often steals the show at holiday dinners. Its tangy, sweet flavor perfectly complements the richness of roasted turkey, cornbread dressing, and other traditional holiday dishes. While many people rely on the canned version, this homemade cranberry sauce recipe is incredibly easy to make, and the fresh, vibrant taste is unbeatable.
Table of contents
I've been preparing this cranberry sauce recipe for years, and it continues to be our family's favorite. I usually make it two to three days ahead of Thanksgiving and store it in the refrigerator.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Cranberries - Fresh cranberries that have been sorted and washed.
- Water
- Orange Juice - Freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor. You can substitute with store-bought juice if needed.
- Sugar - Plain granulated sugar or honey to sweeten the cranberry sauce.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
How To Make Cranberry Sauce
Making cranberry sauce from scratch is simple, and the process takes less than 30 minutes. Here's how you can prepare this fresh, flavorful sauce:
STEP 1
Combine the water, orange juice and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce the heat low and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
STEP 2
Stir in the cranberries and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not cook longer than 15 minutes.
STEP 3
Cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to the container that you want to store the cranberry sauce in. Refrigerate overnight before using. Enjoy!
👉 Sky's Tips
- Don't Overcook the Sauce: Cranberries are packed with natural pectin, which makes the sauce gel. Boiling past 15 minutes breaks that pectin down, leaving you with a runny, bitter sauce. Remove it from heat once most berries have popped!
- Expect It to Thicken as It Cools: The sauce will look loose and liquidy when you take it off the stove. Don't worry, it thickens up significantly into a jammy gel as it cools in the fridge.
Storage
Store in an airtight container or glass jar for up to 10-14 days.
If you tried this Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟star rating and let me know how it went in the comment section below!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Sort and rinse the cranberries. Combine the water, orange juice and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce the heat low and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cranberries and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not cook longer than 15 minutes.
- Cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to the container that you want to store the cranberry sauce in. Refrigerate overnight before using. Enjoy!
Anonymous says
Delicious!
A says
Came out perfect!