Sauces – FoodWatcher

Cranberry Sauce

Our traditional Cranberry Sauce recipe is the perfect accoutrement for the holidays, only takes 15 minutes to make, and can be made in advance. It’s a must with Thanksgiving turkey, a charcuterie board, or a delicious spread for your sandwich. Want more homemade Thanksgiving recipes? Try my classic Thanksgiving Turkey or a Spatchcock Turkey, Garlic…

Our traditional Cranberry Sauce recipe is the perfect accoutrement for the holidays, only takes 15 minutes to make, and can be made in advance. It’s a must with Thanksgiving turkey, a charcuterie board, or a delicious spread for your sandwich.

Want more homemade Thanksgiving recipes? Try my classic Thanksgiving Turkey or a Spatchcock Turkey, Garlic Rolls, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Thanksgiving Stuffing!

There’s no good substitute for homemade Cranberry Sauce.

If you don’t feel cranberry sauce is an MVP on your holiday plate than I’d argue you’re not making it right, or maybe you haven’t enjoyed the bliss that homemade cranberry sauce is (especially compared to awful canned varieties).

If you’re looking for a classic Cranberry Sauce recipe, this is it! We use fresh cranberries, orange and apple for flavor and texture and it comes together fast. It’s my favorite way to elevate Thanksgiving Turkey. Be sure to save leftovers for topping on homemade rolls, with leftover turkey, for the best sandwich ever.

Check out all of my Make Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes and Tips.

Ingredients Needed:

How to make Cranberry Sauce:

Combine: Mix all of the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it comes to a simmer. Continue cooking for 10 minutes, until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and pour into a serving dish to cool completely. Serve room temperature or chilled.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Make up to a week ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.

To Freeze: Transfer sauce to a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Must-Have Thanksgiving Recipes:

Thanksgiving Turkey
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole
Corn Casserole
Turkey Gravy
Garlic Rolls
Perfect Pie Crust
So many PIE recipes like Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Banana Cream Pie and Lemon Sour Cream Pie
Classic Pumpkin Roll

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Cranberry Sauce

Our classic Cranberry Sauce recipe takes 15 minutes and stores well in the fridge or freezer. It's made with fresh cranberries and perfectly pairs with your Thanksgiving turkey.

Course condiment, sauce

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 370kcal

Author Lauren Allen

Cost $6

Ingredients

12 oz fresh cranberries
1 small apple , peeled and grated
1 small orange , zest and juice
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
¼ cup granulated sugar*
¼ cup packed brown sugar*
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch Sea salt
2/3 cup water
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and stir well to combine.
Cook over medium heat until simmering. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until slightly thickened, stirring if needed. Remove from heat and transfer to serving dish to cool completely.
Serve cranberry sauce at room temperature or chilled, if desired.

Video

Notes

Yield: Makes about 2 cups. Serving size is 2 Tablespoons (32 servings).

Sugar: To use a natural sweetener, substitute ½ cup honey or maple syrup. Artificial sweeteners could also be used.

Make Ahead Instructions: Make up to a week ahead of time then keep in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.

Freezing Instructions: Transfer sauce to a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Nutrition

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I originally shared this recipe November 2022. Updated November 2024.

Cranberry Sauce

A white bowl filled with glossy cranberry sauce garnished with orange zest curls. Fresh cranberries and orange slices are scattered around on the gray surface. Sprigs of rosemary are nearby, adding a touch of green. This Cranberry Sauce is the a classic make-ahead cranberry recipe with notes of orange. It’s super easy to make it yourself and it tastes a million times better than store bought! Cranberry Sauce is a staple for so many people during the holidays. Alongside meat, veggies, and stuffing it’s a classic Thanksgiving recipe! It’s made…

This Cranberry Sauce is the a classic make-ahead cranberry recipe with notes of orange. It’s super easy to make it yourself and it tastes a million times better than store bought!

Cranberry Sauce is a staple for so many people during the holidays. Alongside meat, veggies, and stuffing it’s a classic Thanksgiving recipe! It’s made with fresh cranberries and it has hints of orange, which adds such a freshness. I thought I hated cranberry sauce until I made it at home from scratch – it’s unbelievably easy and delicious! PLUS you can make it ahead of time and store in the fidge or freezer – making the holiday much easier.

A top view of cranberry sauce ingredients: a bag of cranberries, a bowl of sugar, a glass of water, a cup of orange juice, a small bowl of cinnamon, and a dish of orange zest, all labeled on a white surface.

Ingredients Needed

Cranberries: I used fresh cranberries, but you could use frozen thawed cranberries.
Orange: Orange zest and juice add the best hint of tang and citrus that goes so well with the sweet cranberry.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a classic holiday spice – you could also add a cinnamon stick during cooking and remove it once it cools.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds the sweetness needed to counteract the tartness of the berries.
Variations: Add chopped pecans, vanilla extract, or a pinch of nutmeg at the end of cooking.

You’re not missing anything – there is no cornstarch in this recipe. The pectin in the fruit, along with the sugar, are all the thickeners you need.

A pot of golden yellow liquid is on top of a black induction cooktop. The cooktop displays a digital reading. The scene is set against a smooth white countertop, and a metal ladle rests inside the pot.

A pot of cranberries is being heated on an induction cooktop. The cooktop displays a temperature setting. The cranberries are submerged in liquid, indicating they are being cooked, possibly for a sauce or compote.

How to make Cranberry Sauce

Add sugar, orange zest, water, and orange juice to a medium pot. Cook over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil.
Once boiling, add cranberries and cook until they pop and thicken. For a thinner sauce, cook less time. For a thicker sauce, cook the full time.
Place in a bowl and let come to room temperature, then cover and chill until ready to use. It will thicken more as it cools.

Ways to Use Cranberry Sauce

There are so many ways to use this sauce beyond the traditional side dish:

Add it to a charcuterie board as a dip or topping for the cheese.
Make Cranberry Brie Bites.
Top pancakes or waffles, or even as jam on toast.
Have it as dessert over ice cream.
Make a turkey sandwich with leftover turkey and stuffing.
Add it to oatmeal or yogurt!

A white bowl filled with cranberry sauce garnished with orange peel sits on a table. Fresh cranberries, halved oranges, rosemary sprigs, and a striped cloth surround the dish.

Expert Tips

If you use frozen berries, make sure to pat them dry after defrosting.
If you want a thicker jam, cook for the full time. Cook for less time if you like a thinner sauce.
Store cooled cranberry sauce in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days or freeze for a month, making it the perfect make ahead side dish.

FAQs

Is cranberry sauce supposed to be sour?

We prefer it sweeter, which is why I add sugar.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so easy to make and it tastes so much better than store bought. This cranberry sauce recipe has notes of orange and is delicious.

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 970kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $10