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Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Robyn Stone
Published Nov 07, 2025
This Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe is a simple, 3-ingredient classic made with fresh cranberries. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s a delicious traditional must-have for Thanksgiving and holidays.
The perfect balance of tart cranberries and sweet orange in this fresh homemade cranberry sauce makes it a holiday essential and the perfect partner to Thanksgiving turkey and southern cornbread dressing ! This family-favorite recipe utilizes fresh or frozen cranberries to create a simple yet flavorful classic cranberry sauce that elevates any meal.
This homemade cranberry sauce is a simple favorite!
I love this fresh, tasty homemade cranberry sauce!
Not only do I enjoy how scrumptious it is alongside my turkey and Southern cornbread dressing, but also how easy it is, and that it’s made with only three simple ingredients! So don’t be intimidated about making homemade cranberry sauce from scratch. I’ll walk you through the simple steps and success tips to make your own beautiful cranberry sauce for special dinners and Thanksgiving meals. It’s a perfect addition to my Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Menu and Plan for a stress-free holiday. I’m looking forward to you making it, too!
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Sauce Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in 15 minutes with a few ingredients.
- Simple Ingredients: Just 3 ingredients for fresh, delicious flavor.
- Flavorful and Delicious: Perfect combination of slightly sweet and tart.
- Versatile : Great served warm or cold; perfect for holidays and easy dinners.
- Make-Ahead Ease : Prepare in advance for stress-free holidays and dinners.
- Leftover Favorite : It is delicious on leftovers, like turkey sandwiches !
Ingredients for Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Cranberries : Fresh or frozen; no need to thaw frozen cranberries.
- Sugar : Granulated sugar for sweetness, adjust for personal taste.
- Fresh Orange Juice : Adds a bright flavor. Can replace some of the water with increased orange juice, add orange zest to sauce, or use as a garnish for more citrus flavor.
- Water : Combine the water and orange juice to cook the cranberries.
Ingredient Swaps
- Sweetener: Swap sugar for honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar. Substitutes may slightly alter taste or consistency. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Orange Juice: Swap fresh for store-bought if desired.
- Sugar-Free: Use a sugar substitute, like stevia. Taste and consistency may be altered slightly.
How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry sauce is simple to make on the stovetop with just a few steps.
Step by Step Instructions
- Rinse the cranberries. (Skip if frozen) Cook the orange juice and water. Add cranberries.
- Stir in cranberries and cook as directed. Listen for them to pop.
- Cook until sauce thickens.
- Stir in orange zest, if using.
- Test the thickened cranberry sauce by putting small amount onto a wooden spoon. Pour it back into the saucepan. Sauce is done when some sticks to the wooden spoon. Repeat every few minutes until some sauce sticks to spoon. (Sauce will thicken further as it cools.)
- Remove from heat when done. Cool the sauce. Serve garnished with orange zest, if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Citrus Zest: Stir in orange zest for an extra burst of brightness.
- Dried Cranberries: Substitute 1 1/2 to 2 cups dried cranberries and 1 cup cranberry juice instead of water. Simmer until cranberries are plump, and test thickness with a wooden spoon as directed. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
Recipe Success Tips
- Fresh Juice: Fresh orange juice adds flavor; zest adds extra brightness.
- Adjust the Sweetness: Conduct a taste test early in the cooking process; add sugar if needed.
- Fresh or Frozen: Both types work; frozen may require an extra 1-2 minutes.
- Don’t Overcook: Simmer until most of the cranberries pop; if overcooked , the sauce can be mushy.
- Thicken Naturally: The sauce thicke ns more as it cools.
How Do You Know When Cranberry Sauce is Done?
Cranberry sauce typically takes between 8 and 10 minutes to prepare. Here’s how to know when it’s done.
- Place a small amount of cranberry sauce on a wooden spoon.
- Pour the cranberry sauce back into the saucepan. The cranberry sauce is done when some of it sticks to the wooden spoon.
- If not, continue to cook and retest every few minutes. Remember that cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
What Do I Serve with Cranberry Sauce?
This cranberry sauce is delicious with roast turkey or turkey breast , southern cornbread dressing, turkey gravy or giblet gravy , mashed potatoes , and even our favorite sweet potato casserole . A nd be sure to have it on hand for Leftover Turkey recipes, such as wraps and turkey sandwiches.
Make it year-round as a topping for buttermilk pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: Cool completely, place into freezer-safe container(s), and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave; stir well.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare up to 1 week ahead; cool, store in fridge.
Yes, there’s no need to thaw first. Cook as directed.
It thickens as it cools. Follow directions to test with a wooden spoon and simmer longer if needed.
Yes, taste it and adjust with less or more sugar as desired.
More Favorite Cranberry Recipes
- Cranberry Orange Muffins or Cranberry Orange Scones for brunch or breakfast.
- Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs and Cranberry Salsa make great appetizers.
Why This Cranberry Sauce is a Holiday Star
With its sweet and slightly tart flavor and ease of preparation, this homemade cranberry sauce is the perfect dish for holidays. It’s fresh, simple to make (and so much better than canned), and it’s a recipe you’ll love to make year after year!
More Thanksgiving Favorites
The BEST Mashed Potatoes Recipe
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Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
2 hrs
Make Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipe
17 mins
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe
45 mins
Equipment
- Wooden Spoon
- Measuring Cup (Liquid)
- Saucepan (2 quart)
- Grater/ Zester
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 (12-ounce) package cranberries , fresh or frozen
- ▢ 1 cup water
- ▢ 1/2 cup orange juice
- ▢ 1/2 cup sugar
- ▢ orange zest , optional
Instructions
- Bring orange juice, sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
- Add cranberries and cook over low-medium heat until they begin to pop and thickened to desired consistency, about 8-10 minutes. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Place a bit of the cranberry sauce onto a wooden spoon and then see how thick it is when pour it back into the saucepan. If some of the cranberry sauce sticks to the wooden spoon, then it is done.
- Remove from heat, add orange zest and stir until just combined.
- Top with additional orange zest for serving, if desired.
Notes
- Store: Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: Cool completely, place into freezer-safe container(s), and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave; stir well.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare up to 1 week ahead; cool, store in fridge.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Enjoy! Robyn xo
Originally posted November 2014. Updated with step-by-step photographs.
Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Wooden Spoon
- Measuring Cup (Liquid)
- Saucepan (2 quart)
- Grater/ Zester
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- orange zest optional
Instructions
- Bring orange juice, sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
- Add cranberries and cook over low-medium heat until they begin to pop and thickened to desired consistency, about 8-10 minutes. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Place a bit of the cranberry sauce onto a wooden spoon and then see how thick it is when pour it back into the saucepan. If some of the cranberry sauce sticks to the wooden spoon, then it is done.
- Remove from heat, add orange zest and stir until just combined.
- Top with additional orange zest for serving, if desired.
Notes
- Store: Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: Cool completely, place into freezer-safe container(s), and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave; stir well.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare up to 1 week ahead; cool, store in fridge.
Nutrition
Cranberry Sauce Recipe https://addapinch.com/simple-cranberry-sauce/
