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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving Recipes

    How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Published: Nov 9, 2021 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe
    Servings 10 servings
    Prep 2 minutes mins
    Cook 15 minutes mins
    A white bowl filled with homemade cranberry sauce

    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.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Other cranberry recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ 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.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Equipment

    • Medium Saucepan
    • Wooden Spoon

    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

    Can cranberry sauce be frozen?

    Absolutely, the sauce can be frozen in a freezer-safe storage bag or container for up to 3 months.

    How can I thicken my cranberry sauce?

    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.

    Should cranberries be kept in the refrigerator?

    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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    📖 Recipe

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    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    A quick and easy recipe to learn how to make cranberry sauce. The recipe uses just 4 ingredients for delicious results.
    Print (Email Required) Rate
    Course: Christmas, Holiday Side dish, Thanksgiving
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 17 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: Eileen Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
    • Medium Saucepan
    • Wooden Spoon

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups fresh cranberries be sure to rinse the cranberries
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup orange juice
    • 1 stick ground cinnamon

    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.

    NOTES

    Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe. 
    Storage:  Leftover cranberry sauce can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container 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.
     
    I'm not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
     
    Don’t forget to shop at the Everyday Eileen store on Amazon
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 69IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

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      Pumpkin Pie Dip
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    Thank you for sharing!

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