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Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

5 from 1 vote
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posted: 11/04/19

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Crockpot Cranberry Sauce is going to be the hit of your holiday meal! A homemade cranberry sauce that is so easy to make and will be very loved.

Want to make cranberry sauce on the stovetop? Check out my Easy Cranberry Sauce.

cranberry sauce in a white bowl with orange zest on top, sitting on a pieces of burlap and a fall napkin with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries around

I love converting traditional holiday recipes to slow cooker recipes because it makes life so much easier on a busy day. Not only that, but it can free up oven and stove top space. We have a Crockpot Turkey recipe, a Crockpot Stuffing recipe, and now this amazing Crockpot Cranberry Sauce.

All cranberry sauce is made basically the same way. You combine orange juice (or water) and sugar over heat and then add fresh (or frozen) cranberries. While the sauce cooks, the cranberries break down and you end up with a delicious sauce.

For this fresh cranberry sauce, we make everything super simple by letting the crockpot do all the work.

The Secret Ingredient to Cranberry Sauce

I love this cranberry sauce recipe because of one ingredient: the cinnamon!

As you stir in the cinnamon, it will seem like you’ve really gone overboard. I promise you haven’t. It adds so much delicious flavor to this recipe.

The cinnamon combined with the cranberries made my house smell amazing! Isn’t it crazy how just a smell can create a feeling of joy in a house?

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Here is a brief overview of how to make cranberry sauce in a crockpot. For the full recipe including measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  1. Make the base. Stir the sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon together in the crock pot.
  2. Add the cranberries. Add in the fresh cranberries and stir to combine.
  3. Cook. Set your crockpot to low for 4 hours, stirring once or twice while cooking.

This cranberry orange sauce will seem runny right when it is done cooking but it thickens as it cools.

overhead of a small white slow cooker with fresh cranberry sauce in it, on a straw placemat with oranges, cinnamon sticks, and fresh cranberries around it

Serving Size

This recipe is great for a crowd. It makes a total of 2 cups, which is enough for 1/4 cup per person. While that may not sound like a lot, on your plate with all of your other holiday sides it will be the perfect amount.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe You Can Double

This is a great recipe to double or triple! Please keep in mind that this recipe works perfectly in the small crockpot you see pictured here and linked below. You will need a bigger slow cooker if it is going to be doubled.

TOP PICK

Small Slow Cooker

This small (1/2 quart) slow cooker is perfect for this cranberry sauce and warm dips. It is the perfect size and works wonderfully!
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picture of crockpot cranberry sauce in a small white slow cooker with cinnamon sticks, fresh cranberries, and half an orange next to it.

Can I Use a Larger Crock Pot to Make This Recipe

Yes! Just make sure you keep a closer eye on it. Some of the bigger crock pots can dry out this recipe or cook it more quickly. I would cook it on low and start checking on it at the two-hour mark.

Because cranberry sauce does not need to be hot when it is served, give yourself the full four hours on low that this recipe calls for. That way if it is done after two hours you will have the perfect cranberry sauce at dinner time.

Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce can be made the day before. Store it in the refrigerator and and put it out right when the turkey is being carved.

Since cranberry sauce is delicious warm or cold, this is a great thing to take off your to-do list the day of. That said, since the prep time on this recipe is so little, you might just want to let it cook while everything else is going. Plus then you will get the great smell of it as everyone arrives.

close up of cranberry orange sauce on a spoon

How Long Does Cranberry Sauce Last

If you do make this ahead of time or if you are thinking about your leftovers, you will want to eat this cranberry sauce within three days of making it.

Be sure to store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Always use your best discretion with leftovers.

overhead of homemade cranberry sauce in a white bowl garnished with orange zest on a wood serving board with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries around

Other Great Holiday Sides

Looking to round out your holiday table with other classics? Here are some of my favorites:

When you try this cranberry sauce or any of my other recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think!

cranberry sauce in a white bowl with orange zest on top, sitting on a pieces of burlap and a fall napkin with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries around
5 from 1 vote

Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

Serves: 8 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 5 minutes
This Crockpot Cranberry Sauce is going to be the hit of your holiday meal! A homemade cranberry sauce that is so easy to make and will be very loved.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup orange juice (about the juice of two oranges)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries washed
  • orange zest optional

Instructions

  • In a small crockpot whisk together the orange juice, granulated sugar, and cinnamon.
  • Stir in the fresh cranberries.
  • Cook for four hours. If using a large crockpot with different settings, cook on low for four hours or on high for two hours.
  • At the end of the cook time, break up any whole cranberries with the back of a large spoon. The sauce will thicken as it sits.
  • Transfer to a serving bowl and top with freshly grated orange zest.
Calories: 102kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 26g (9%) Sodium: 1mg Potassium: 79mg (2%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 22g (24%) Vitamin A: 3IU Vitamin C: 20mg (24%) Calcium: 6mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
cranberry sauce in a white bowl with orange zest on top, sitting on a pieces of burlap and a fall napkin with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries around

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Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Isabel Garner says

    I just cook mine on top of the stove. Takes about 15 min.

    • Lisa Longley says

      Such a great way to do it. This was just another way for people who want to dump the ingredients and move on to something else.

  2. Marcia says

    5 stars
    Really tasty will make it again!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you Marcia!

  3. Roxann Cowan says

    What size is the small crockpot?

    Thanks!

    • Lisa Longley says

      It is 1 1/2 quarts.

  4. megan says

    I have a 6-8 qt crockpot, should I double the recipe?

    • Lisa Longley says

      You can either double the recipe, or you can cut the cooking time. It won’t need as long in that big of a crockpot.

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