Only three basic ingredients are required to make a fresh and delicious homemade Easy Cranberry Sauce. Homemade cranberry sauce takes 20 minutes to prepare and has the ideal combination of sweet and tart flavors.
Like most people, we grew up with that jellied cranberry sauce from a can that includes ripples on the sides and suction sounds as it falls out of the can. Then it is cut into circles and plopped on plates. Instead of buying that jellied can, I started making fresh cranberry sauce and it is so much better overall. It is full of flavor, plus looks better and had a nice texture. Let us know how you like it!
Did you know... The pilgrims and American Indians are thought to have eaten cranberries at the first Thanksgiving because of their importance and abundance in the 1500s.
Try some of our other favorite side dishes: Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, Hash Brown Casserole (Funeral Potatoes), or Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese.
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Ingredients for Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- fresh cranberries
- granulated sugar
- orange juice
- cinnamon stick, optional
FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen cranberries. There's no need to thaw them; simply add them to the saucepan straight from the freezer and proceed with the recipe.
You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar. Start with ¾ cup of sugar and taste as it cooks, adding more sugar if needed. You can also sweeten the sauce with honey or maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
If the sauce is too tart, gradually add more sugar or another sweetener until it reaches your desired sweetness. Adding a bit of orange juice or zest can also balance the tartness.
Yes, you can use honey, maple syrup, or a sugar substitute instead of granulated sugar. Adjust the amount to taste, as these sweeteners may have different levels of sweetness compared to sugar.
Top Tips
- This is a great dish to make ahead of time and store until you are ready to serve. The flavors will mix wonderfully together!
- You can use frozen cranberries instead of frozen.
- Decrease the sugar if you want a more tart cranberry sauce.
- You can also use brown sugar in place of the granulated sugar for a different taste.
- Add orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or cloves for an added depth of flavor.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
How to make Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Add sugar to a saucepan.
- Pour in orange juice and bring to a boil over medium high to high heat. Stir frequently to help the sugar dissolve.
- Add cranberries (and cinnamon stick, optional) and return to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer. Stir frequently as the berries heat and make “pop” sounds, about 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and remove cinnamon stick if you used it. Cool to room temperature or refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cinnamon stick, optional
Instructions
- Add sugar to a saucepan.
- Pour in orange juice and bring to a boil over medium high to high heat. Stir frequently to help the sugar dissolve.
- Add cranberries and return to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer. Stir frequently as the berries heat and make “pop” sounds, about 8 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature or refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
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