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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving Recipes

    Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce (Video)

    Published: Nov 21, 2018 · Modified: Mar 8, 2023 by Jessie · This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy something we'll earn a commission at no cost to you.

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy, classic homemade cranberry sauce recipe is ready in less than thirty minutes, easily done ahead of time, and made without refined sugar!

    Aerial view of a white bowl filled with cranberry chutney sitting on a wire cooling rack. Several loose cranberries are on the table next to the bowl. this recipe

    Alright. CRANBERRY SAUCE: ultra-essential, or a bit overrated?

    I'll confess I used to fall into the "overrated" camp. Still, I started making this homemade sauce every Thanksgiving (because "tradition" or whatever).

    And you know what? Turns out I ACTUALLY LOVE IT.

    Woman\'s hand holding an orange slice in front of a white background.

    This cranberry orange sauce gives the perfect pop of brightness to an otherwise heavy meal (looking at you, turkey + potatoes + gravy + rolls) and - GOOD NEWS - it's almost absurdly easy to make.

    Also, this recipe has no refined sugar (hooray!)

    All you need:

    • Fresh cranberries
    • Orange slice (use more or less orange if you like!)
    • Maple Syrup
    • Honey
    • Cinnamon stick
    • Water
    • Pinch of salt
    Woman\'s hand pouring maple syrup and orange juice into a saucepan filled with cranberries.

    This recipe is EXCEPTIONALLY forgiving, which means:

    1. It's really, really hard to mess it up
    2. It's easy to tweak and adjust! Add more or less of any ingredient and feel free to play with it until you find YOUR perfect combination.
    Fresh cranberries in a small saucepan with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick.

    Riffs and Substitutions

    We're keeping this recipe relatively simple, but it's easy to dress up for the holidays! Some of our favorite additions:

    • Ginger (a pinch of dry, powdered ginger or a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger)
    • Splash of whisk(e)y
    • Fresh rosemary sprig
    • Dash of vanilla extract

    In a pinch, you can even nix the orange or cinnamon and just use fresh cranberries with a bit of sweetness (honey, maple syrup, or plain ol' sugar). The most important flavor is, after all, the cranberries.

    Cranberry sauce topped with orange zest in a white bowl next to a window.

    How to freeze cranberry sauce

    This sauce freezes very well! To freeze, let sauce cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the freezer until you're ready to use it. Cranberry sauce will last almost a year in the freezer, but it will taste freshest within 4-5 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or in a small saucepan over low heat.

    How to use leftovers

    We love turning leftover cranberry sauce into all sorts of new and exciting dishes! A few of our favorites from our Thanksgiving leftovers roundup:

    • Make stuffed French toast for an elegant post-holiday brunch
    • A quick cranberry mayonnaise is perfect for turkey sandwiches (bonus points if you add a few slices of our cranberry pecan bread!)
    • Easy cranberry grilled cheese with brie and mozzarella
    Cranberry sauce in a white bowl, surrounded by several fresh cranberries.

    Video: How to make homemade cranberry sauce

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    White bowl filled with cranberry sauce sitting on a wire cooling rack.

    Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    ★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
    • Author: Jessie
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: Makes 2 cups 1x
    • Category: Sauce
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    An easy homemade cranberry sauce with no refined sugar - perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 12 ounces fresh cranberries (reserve a few for garnish if you like)
    • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup water
    • pinch of salt
    • 1 orange slice (see recipe notes)
    • ½ cinnamon stick
    • Fresh orange zest (optional), for garnish

    Instructions

    1. Stir cranberries, maple syrup, honey, water, and salt together in a small saucepan.
    2. Squeeze the juice from your orange slice into the pot, then tuck the orange rind and cinnamon stick into the cranberries. Turn the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until cranberries have burst and sauce has thickened.
    3. Top sauce with extra orange zest and reserved fresh cranberries (optional). Serve immediately or let cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

    Notes

    Use as large or as small of an orange slice as you like. I like to slice off a ½-inch-thick piece from the side of an orange (see photos in the post above) so I get a Tablespoon or two of orange juice plus the flavor from the rind. I like just enough orange-y flavor to bring out the tartness in the berries, but add as much or as little as you like! If you don't have a fresh orange, you can add a few tablespoons of store-bought orange juice or substitute a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

    This recipe makes a chunky cranberry sauce. If you like a smoother sauce, remove the orange slice and cinnamon stick after cooking and give it a few zaps with an immersion blender or pulse it a few times in a blender to smooth it out.

    To make this vegan, omit the honey and use all maple syrup instead.

    I like the depth of flavor I get from a mix of both honey and maple syrup here, but you can certainly use all one or the other! You can also substitute ⅓ cup of white or brown sugar for the natural sweeteners if you like.

    Optional add-ins: A pinch of ground ginger, grated ginger root, or a knob of fresh ginger; A splash of whisk(e)y; Extra orange juice or orange zest; Sprig of rosemary; Dash of vanilla

    To make this recipe ahead of time, follow the recipe as written and let cranberry sauce cool completely. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or store in the freezer until you're ready to use it. Let frozen cranberry sauce defrost for a day or two in the fridge, or place frozen cranberry sauce in a slow cooker or saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat until warm. Serve cranberry sauce at any temperature you like: hot, cold and straight from the fridge, or at room temperature.

    How much cranberry sauce should I make per person? It depends on your guests, but planning for ⅛ to ¼ cup per person is usually plenty for everyone to take a small scoop and have some leftover (some people won't eat it at all, some people will eat more). If you want plenty of leftovers or if you know your guests love a ton of cranberry sauce, you can make ⅓ cup per person. This recipe makes about 2 cups - usually enough for our group of 8 plus some leftovers. If you're cooking for 10-20 people, double or even triple this recipe. Cranberry sauce is one thing I never mind having lots of leftovers of - it freezes well it's easy to repurpose into cranberry mayonnaise or a marinade, and it's amazing on crostini and sandwiches (like this brie and cranberry sauce grilled cheese!)

    To make this recipe in the slow cooker or Crock Pot, combine all ingredients in your slow cooker and cover. Cook over low heat for 6-8 hours until berries have burst and sauce has thickened. If the sauce is too runny, remove the slow cooker lid and cook for another hour or so to thicken it up. (Honestly, I prefer making this on the stovetop - it actually feels like a little less work to me than using a slow cooker. The exception is if I'm out of stovetop space and haven't had time to make it in advance!)

    What should I do with leftover cranberry sauce? I love making this cranberry mayonnaise (it makes the BEST turkey sandwiches!) 

    Can I freeze cranberry sauce? Yes! Cranberry sauce freezes excellently. You can store it in an airtight container (I like using my Stasher Bags or small mason jars) in the freezer for up to a year, although I recommend eating it within 4 months or so for maximum freshness.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 141
    • Sugar: 14.7 g
    • Sodium: 306.4 mg
    • Fat: 0.1 g
    • Carbohydrates: 36.8 g
    • Protein: 0.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Keywords: Thanksgiving, sauce, fall

    Tag @lifeasastrawberry on Instagram to show us what you're cooking! Nutrition information is calculated per serving; it is approximate and will vary based on many factors.

    More Our Best Thanksgiving Recipes

    • Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls (Makes 6)
    • Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Dried Cranberries and Goat Cheese
    • Crusty Cranberry Pecan Bread (No Kneading)
    • Cranberry Brie Stuffed French Toast

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. Tag your recipes #LifeAsAStrawberry on social media to share your creations! Learn about our team!

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    Discussion

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    1. Mirlene

      November 01, 2021 at 1:11 pm

      Totally worth adding this cranberry sauce to the menu this year. I can't wait to try it.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry

        November 03, 2021 at 5:49 pm

        YIPPEE! Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Jess

      November 01, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      You'll never buy store-bought again after making this homemade. So much better!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry

        November 03, 2021 at 5:48 pm

        We're SO happy to hear you love it!

        Reply
    3. Shadi Hasanzade

      November 01, 2021 at 12:04 pm

      So good and easy! Love the addition of honey for a hint of sweetness!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry

        November 03, 2021 at 5:13 pm

        WAHOO! We're so happy you loved it!

        Reply
    4. Dannii

      November 01, 2021 at 11:57 am

      You can't beat homemade cranberry sauce. Perfect with turkey at Christmas.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Team Life As A Strawberry

        November 03, 2021 at 5:12 pm

        We agree! Thanks so much, Dannii!

        Reply
    5. Ruth

      November 23, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      Question: Your directions and video don't say whether to remove the orange and cinnamon stick before serving. I plan to make to smoother version, should they be removed before blitzing?

      Reply
      • Jackie @ Life As A Strawberry

        November 23, 2019 at 3:26 pm

        Hi Ruth - yes after the simmering is done - right before you pulse it, remove the cinnamon stick and orange. Thank you!

        Reply

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