Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a must-have recipe for every Thanksgiving Dinner Table. We have a super easy recipe that takes just minutes to put together using simple ingredients.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Just 4 ingredients for a delicious fresh cranberry sauce.
- Homemade is always better than anything out of a can.
- This is an easy cranberry sauce recipe to make-ahead and freeze until ready to serve.
- Always a huge hit on the Thanksgiving table.
Ingredients
- Fresh Cranberries are the base of the recipe.
- White Sugar adds sweetness to the tart cranberries.
- Fresh Orange Juice adds a balance to make the perfect combination with the sugar and cranberries.
- Cinnamon sticks add a nice subtle spice to the sauce.
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Equipment
Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: Combine fresh cranberries, white sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon stick in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir to combine.
Step 2: Heat over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Then, reduce heat. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
Step 3: The cranberries will pop. The sauce will start to thicken. Remove saucepan from heat and allow to cool. The sauce will naturally thicken when cooled.
Step 4: Remove saucepan from heat and allow to cool. The sauce will naturally thicken when cooled.
Step 5: Serve with your favorite turkey and chicken recipes.
Storage
According to Taste of Home, leftover cranberry sauce can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Expert Tips
Expert Tip: The best cranberries are red to dark red. They should be firm, not soft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely, the sauce can be frozen in a freezer-safe storage bag or container for up to 3 months.
The sauce thickens as it simmers. If you want a very thick sauce, let simmer a bit longer, about 35 minutes. Remember to continue to stir occasionally.
Yes. Keep cranberries in the refrigerator until ready to use. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Variations
- Use 1 Tablespoon of honey instead of white sugar. Adjust as needed for sweetness.
- Coconut sugar, brown sugar, or pure maple syrup can also be used in lieu of white sugar.
- Add some orange zest to the cranberry sauce for extra orange flavor.
Serving Suggestions
No Holiday Season is complete without a great cranberry sauce recipe. Make a fantastic Maple Glazed Roast Turkey to accompany your sauce.
Southern Cornbread Dressing makes our Holiday table every year.
Homemade Mashed Potatoes, a classic and must-have side dish!
Marshmallow Topped Sweet Potatoes are another delicious recipe to make for a great menu.
Turn those leftovers into amazing turkey sandwiches topped with this sweet cranberry sauce recipe.
Other cranberry recipes
Next time, our classic cranberry relish is a must make recipe! You have got to try it.
Cranberry orange scones are delicious. We use dried cranberries and the scones are mouthwatering.
Cranberry Orange Smoothie is a keeper and a must make for all.
Cranberry Pot Roast, a favorite recipe to make for a cozy and comforting meal.
A fabulous appetizer, from scratch, easy and so tasty Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs. These are out of this world delicious.
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If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the fresh cranberries, white sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon stick. Stir to combine.
- Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and allow to cool.
- The sauce will naturally thicken when cooled.
- Serve with your favorite turkey and chicken recipes.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use 1 Tablespoon of honey instead of white sugar. Adjust as needed for sweetness.
- Coconut sugar, brown sugar, or pure maple syrup can also be used in lieu of white sugar.
- Add some orange zest to the cranberry sauce for extra orange flavor.
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