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Cranberry Sauce Recipe

5 from 5 votes
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posted: 11/08/23

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

This Cranberry Sauce recipe has only five ingredients and is the most flavorful fresh sauce recipe for Thanksgiving. You’ll never reach for the canned stuff again!

spoon in bowl of Cranberry Sauce. Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks surrounding bowl

Cranberry Sauce is key to just about every Thanksgiving table. But with how easy it is to make at home, this is a recipe you will definitely want to make from scratch. Skip the can this year, and make your cranberry sauce from scratch with this delicious five ingredient recipe.

Reader Review

I have made this for the last three years. I have a grown son who eats every can of cranberry jelly he sees and is very fussy. It must be jellied. I made this recipe and now he only likes my homemade cranberry sauce with whole and pieces of the berry in it. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe.

Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

Part of what makes this better than other cranberry sauce recipes is the simple and fresh ingredients list. Here’s all you need for the most vibrant, fresh cranberry sauce ever:

  • Cranberries: We are using fresh, whole cranberries that have been thoroughly washed. Make sure to remove any cranberries that look wilted; we want to use cranberries that are nice and plump.
  • Sugar: This recipe does call for a whole cup of sugar. Like in many sauces, this is needed to balance the tartness of the fresh cranberries and orange juice, which are both quite acidic. See suggestions below if that is too much sugar for your diet.
  • Orange juice: The base of the sauce, your favorite orange juice punches up the flavor of this sauce in a big way.
  • Orange zest: The zest from a fresh orange adds flavor that the orange juice can’t do alone. See more on zesting oranges below.
  • Cinnamon: Adds some spice to balance the other ingredients and will make your kitchen smell so amazing while the sauce cooks.
overhead of strainer of fresh cranberries to make cranberry sauce

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Here is a brief overview of how to make cranberry sauce with orange juice. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Combine the orange juice and sugar. Whisk them together in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
  • Add the other ingredients. Add the cranberries, cinnamon, and orange zest and stir to combine. Cook until the cranberries begin to pop, about 10 minutes.
  • Serve the sauce. Remove the sauce from the heat and transfer to a serving bowl. The sauce will thicken as it sits.

Zesting Oranges

Zesting the peel of an orange adds flavor to this homemade cranberry sauce that the orange juice can’t do alone. There is so much more flavor in the zest of citrus fruit than in the juice.

If you are new to zesting, it is basically the skin of the orange (or a lemon or lime) grated into small pieces. The zesting creates small shreds that when added to a recipe, give you a great burst of the citrus flavor without the weird texture of the peel.

Anytime you are zesting fruit, it is important to use a good quality zester. I share my recommendation for one I love below. You also want to only zest the bright orange of the peel. Once you get through that and into the white, stop and move on to a different part of the orange.

TOP PICK

Zester

This is the perfect little tool for all of your zesting needs! This zester is affordable and long lasting.
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Sugar in Cranberry Sauce

As mentioned above, this recipe does call for a full cup of sugar. My thoughts on that are that the cup of sugar are needed to offset the tartness of the cranberries and the orange juice. The final result is a sauce that is perfect and not overly sweet. Additionally, I really believe that there isn’t such a thing as bad food, rather food that we should eat in moderation. You’ll notice the serving size here is only 1/3 cup.

If you are cooking for someone who has diabetes, a sugar substitute would be a great idea here. For example, monk fruit would work really well here. That being said, cranberries and orange juice also contain a lot of sugar, so even with that swap, cranberry sauce might just not be the best recipe to serve someone with blood sugar issues.

bowl of Cranberry Sauce. Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks surrounding bowl

Using Frozen Cranberries

This recipe uses fresh cranberries. If you want to make homemade cranberry sauce with frozen cranberries because that is what you have or fresh cranberries are out of season, there is no need to thaw them before adding them to the pan. It will just take a little bit longer to cook the sauce.

Making Cranberry Sauce in the Crockpot

This isn’t necessarily a recipe that needs to be made in the crockpot. It is pretty hands off once you combine everything with just a little bit of stirring here and there. That being said, if you would like to just turn it on and not think about it again, we have a great crockpot cranberry sauce linked below.

Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

If you want to free up your stovetop for other recipes, make your orange cranberry sauce in the crockpot using this recipe.
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

Cranberry Relish

If you love cranberry sauce, but you just want to mix things up a little bit and try something different, then make my Cranberry Relish. It is made with a lot of the same ingredients, but it is blended to make a fresh relish. It is delicious, and I actually sometimes prefer it to the hot cranberry sauce.

Cranberry Relish Recipe

Fresh Cranberry Relish is the easiest Thanksgiving recipe. It comes together in less than 10 minutes and can be made the night before. This Cranberry Orange Relish will add the perfect bright flavor to your holiday plate.
up close picture of a white bowl full of cranberry relish being spooned up by a golden spoon

How to Store Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Once made, this cranberry orange sauce thickens as it stands. I generally transfer it to a bowl right after cooking and let it thicken at room temperature until it’s time to eat. Here are some simple storage tips for leftovers:

  • Make sure you cover and refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking. As soon as the meal is over, make sure to stick it in the fridge.
  • If it’s tightly covered, leftover sauce will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
  • For warm cranberry sauce, you can heat it up on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s the consistency you like.
  • If the sauce seems too thick, thin it out with a little more orange juice or water.

Freezing Cranberry Sauce

You can freeze it too! Sometimes I make a double batch and freeze one for our Christmas meal. Just make sure to let it cool and store it in a freezer-safe container. It’ll stay nice and fresh for up to two months in the freezer. Thaw the frozen sauce in the refrigerator and serve or warm it on the stovetop and then serve.

Using Leftover Cranberry Sauce

This orange cranberry sauce can be eaten right out of the refrigerator or used in recipes! Its versatility is part of what makes it the best cranberry sauce recipe. Here are a few ideas:

FAQ

How long does cranberry sauce last?

If stored properly, this sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you want it to last even longer, I recommend freezing it. I share my tips for storing leftovers and freezing above. Always use your best discretion with leftovers.

Can you freeze cranberry sauce?

Yes. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. See my tips above for freezing cranberry sauce.

bowl of Cranberry Sauce. Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks surrounding bowl

What to Serve With Cranberry Sauce

If you aren’t sure what else to add to your Thanksgiving table, check out some of these fantastic side dish recipes:

I can’t wait to hear what you think of this super easy cranberry sauce recipe. Drop a comment below to let me know how it goes!

spoon in bowl of Cranberry Sauce. Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks surrounding bowl
5 from 5 votes

Cranberry Sauce

Serves: 8 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 14 minutes
This Cranberry Sauce is only five ingredients and is the most flavorful fresh sauce recipe for Thanksgiving. You'll never reach for the canned stuff again!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup orange juice (236.588 ml)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (198 grams) read above about sugar in cranberry sauce
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries (340.194 grams) washed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, whisk together the orange juice and sugar over medium-low heat.
    1 cup orange juice, 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Pour in the cranberries, then add in the cinnamon and orange zest. Stir to combine. Continue to cook until the cranberries begin to pop. This will take about 10 minutes.
    12 ounces fresh cranberries, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • Remove from heat and transfer to a serving bowl. The sauce will thicken as it sits.
Serving: 0.3cup Calories: 131kcal (7%) Carbohydrates: 33g (11%) Protein: 0.4g (1%) Fat: 0.2g Saturated Fat: 0.01g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g Sodium: 1mg Potassium: 98mg (3%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 29g (32%) Vitamin A: 89IU (2%) Vitamin C: 22mg (27%) Calcium: 10mg (1%) Iron: 0.2mg (1%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
spoon in bowl of Cranberry Sauce. Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks surrounding bowl

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Cranberry Sauce

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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.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Pauline says

    Thank you so much for this Cranberry Sauce recipe, I find it almost impossible to purchase Cranberry Sauce as it gets closer to Christmas, seems everyone wants it, but thanks to you I can now make my own. Here in Australia I haven’t seen fresh cranberries on our supermarket shelves so will try to make it from dried cranberries.

    • Lisa Longley says

      Hi Pauline! I don’t think this will work with dried cranberries. It’s the fresh cranberries popping that make this recipe work really well. Do you have frozen cranberries?

  2. Wilkins says

    5 stars
    I have never tried to make a Cranberry Brie Crescent Braid before, but it looks really good. I can’t wait to give it a try this week. Thanks for the list.

    • Lisa Longley says

      It was the first thing eaten the last time I made it for a party!

  3. JUlie says

    Can you make a day ahead and reheat?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I am way too late responding to this, but a day ahead is fine!

  4. Nicole Torres says

    Thank you so much. I want to have and enjoy cranberry for the holidays but never liked it from the can. Making them for Christmas. :)

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you love it!

  5. Linda Rains says

    5 stars
    I have used this recipe for the last two Thanksgivings’ and it is easy and delicious!! This year I added pecans after it cooled a bit and everyone loved it!! Thank you so much for the recipe! Wondering if adding pineapple juice and a small can of crushed would be a nice variation!?!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you like it! I actually think it would be amazing with a little pineapple!

  6. Joyce says

    5 stars
    Thank You for this easy Bhatia cranberry sauce that my family’s fight over constantly.

    Thank you

    • Lisa Longley says

      So glad you liked it!

  7. Donna says

    I make mine like this,with some brown sugar also added,occasionally add some pine apple chunks, slightly shredded with little juice. And coconut and pecans.

  8. Pauline says

    Hi Lisa, I want to make this for Christmas but I would like a little thicker. How do I do this?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Just simmer it for longer, Pualine, until you get the consistency you like.

  9. Carole Fernandes says

    5 stars
    I have made this for the last three years. I have a grown son who eats every can of cranberry jelly he sees and is very fussy. It must be jellied. I made this recipe and now he only likes my homemade cranberry sauce with whole and pieces of the berry in it. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe.

    • Lisa Longley says

      This makes me so happy! thank you for coming back to let me know!

  10. Carole says

    can this cranberry sauce be eaten cold too? Does it taste as good?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yes! I really like it both ways.

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