Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Nov 04, 2023, Updated Nov 17, 2023

5 from 68 votes

58 Comments

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The best Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe you will ever make, and a must-have recipe for your holiday celebrations! This cranberry sauce with orange juice is made with only 5 ingredients in under 30 minutes, and it can be prepared ahead of time! You’ll never buy canned cranberry sauce in a can again!

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I know it’s a bold claim, but this truly is the best cranberry sauce recipe. I have been making it for almost 20 years and usually make a triple batch on Thanksgiving (check out our Thanksgiving recipes) because everyone in my family loves it so much.

This year, I implore you to ditch the gelatinous canned sauce that masquerades as cranberry sauce, and make your own homemade cranberry sauce.

And there’s no need to be intimidated, because this cranberry sauce recipe is easy to make with 5 ingredients in under 30 minutes.

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Cranberry Sauce Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions

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  • Fresh cranberries.This cranberry sauce recipe tastes best when it’s made with fresh cranberries. I have used frozen cranberries and while it still tastes great, it is a little “seedy” meaning the seeds don’t break down as well during cooking.If using frozen, I would recommend blending the sauce in a high-powered blende.r
  • Orange Juice.choose a pulp-free variety for the best texture.
  • Brown Sugar.Both light and dark brown sugar work well in this recipe. Dark brown sugar will impart a slight molasses taste.
  • Granulated Sugar. white sugar or organic cane sugar are good choices. (or try this healthy cranberry sauce).
  • Cinnamon.Ground cinnamon really takes this cranberry sauce from good to phenomenally great. I don’t recommend omitting it, but it can be left out with delicious results.
  • Water.you can substitute water with more orange juice, or apple cider.

I have tried playing with the ratio of orange juice and water, decreasing the amount of sugar, etc. and have landed on this recipe every. single. time. I do have a healthy cranberry sauce recipe (with a video) here that uses no refined sugar.

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How to make Cranberry Sauce

Let’s walk through how to make cranberry sauce together, and be sure to watch the video for additional help.

The first step in this cranberry sauce recipe is to whisk the water, orange juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a saucepan over medium-high heat.

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Once the mixture is boiling, add the cranberries and stir to combine.

Turn the heat down to simmer and simmer the mixture uncovered for 10 – 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries begin to pop. (You will hear popping noises and the berries will burst open).

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One of my favorite parts of making this Homemade Cranberry Sauce is that the cranberries “talk” to you as they cook. As they warm up they start popping and snapping. Keep cooking until most of the berries have burst.

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Mash or Blend Sauce

Next, you can make a chunky or smooth sauce in one of these two ways:

  1. Mash the cranberries with a potato masher. As pictured, this is how I make cranberry sauce with orange juice because we like our cranberry sauce a little chunky!
  2. Use a Blender. If you enjoy your homemade cranberry sauce extra-smooth use a blender! Simply put the mixture into the container of a blender (Vitamix) after it’s fully cooked, and blend to your desired consistency.
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Mash the cranberries until you reach your desired consistency.

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This cranberry sauce recipe thickens as it cools. So Let it cool to room temperature in a pan, then transfer it to an airtight storage container to chill completely in the refrigerator.

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Make-Ahead

I suggest making this homemade cranberry sauce at least one day in advance so it can chill overnight.

I make this recipe a day or two before Thanksgiving and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Youmight even arguethat it tastesbetter after siting for a couple days because the flavors become richer as they have time to blend.

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Store/Freeze

Store cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 2 months.

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Serve

Serve this homemade cranberry sauce chilled with your favorite holiday recipes (try all of our delicious Thanksgiving Recipes). Here are my top suggestions:

  • Oven Roast Turkey Recipe
  • Best Mashed Potatoes or cream cheese mashed potatoes
  • Roasted Green Beans or Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Slather it on the best dinner rolls.
  • Sweet potato casserole or candied yams.
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Cranberry Sauce Recipe FAQs

How to serve homemade cranberry sauce (Hot or cold)?

We prefer to server our cranberry sauce cold! But really it’s up to you! I do recommend serving it cool or room temperature, but not heating it up!

What to do with leftover cranberry sauce.

Other than just eating it with a spoon – our favorite way to enjoy leftover sauce is making this Turkey Cranberry Sandwich. It’s also great to spoon over pancakes, waffles, OR on top of ice cream!

How do you thicken homemade cranberry sauce?

Let the mixture simmer with the lid removed until it’s thickened. The sauce also cools as it thickens.

How long is homemade cranberry sauce good in the refrigerator?

This recipe lasts for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

What if my cranberry sauce is too runny?

Continue cooking it over medium-low heat until the water is cooked off.

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If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

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Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (18)

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Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Laura

The best Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe you will ever make, and a must-have recipe for your holiday celebrations! This cranberry sauce with orange juice is made with only 5 ingredients in under 30 minutes, and it can be prepared ahead of time! You'll never buy canned cranberry sauce in a can again!

5 from 68 votes

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Servings

Calories 65

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time15 minutes minutes

Total Time25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium sauce-pan, whisk together water, orange juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon over medium-high heat.

  • Once the mixture comes to a boil, gently pour cranberries into the saucepan and reduce the heat to a simmer.

  • Simmer the mixture uncovered for 10 – 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries begin to pop. (You will hear popping noises and the berries will burst open).

  • Once most of the berries have popped, use a potato masher to gently mash the cranberries. The more you mash, the smoother the mixture will be. If you prefer extra-smooth cranberry sauce, blend the mixture in a blender until smooth.

  • Simmer for another 3 minutes and then turn off heat but leave the pot uncovered on top of the burner to cool and thicken for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Transfer the cranberry sauce to an airtight container to chill overnight (or for at least 6 hours).

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions:

  • Fresh cranberries.this recipe tastes best when it’s made with fresh cranberries. I have used frozen cranberries and while it still tastes great, it is a little “seedy” meaning the seeds don’t break down as well during cooking. If using frozen, I would recommend blending the sauce in a high-powered blende.r
  • Orange Juice.choose a pulp-free variety for the best texture.
  • Brown Sugar.Both light and dark brown sugar work well in this recipe. Dark brown sugar will impart a slight molasses taste.
  • Granulated Sugar. white sugar or organic cane sugar are good choices. (or try this healthy cranberry sauce).
  • Cinnamon.Ground cinnamon really takes this cranberry sauce from good to phenomenally great. I don’t recommend omitting it, but it can be left out with delicious results.
  • Water.you can substitute water with more orange juice, or apple cider.

Make-Ahead

I always make this recipe a day or two before Thanksgiving and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Youmight even arguethat it tastesbetter after siting for a couple days because the flavors become richer as they have time to blend!

Store

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.004g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you take the bitterness out of homemade cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

How to enhance cranberry sauce? ›

Spike cranberry sauce with citrus

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

Sugar helps the thickening process, and while it's nice to try to keep your cranberry sauce from being too sugary sweet, you will need at least some sugar to make it work well (about 1/2 cup sugar per 12-ounce bag of cranberries).

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

How do you cut tartness off cranberries? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

How do you tame tartness in cranberry sauce? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries. Start with a little, then add more gradually.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Though they won't tolerate runny sauce, so it's time to fix that. The simplest reason that your cranberry sauce is too runny is that it has too much liquid in it. Usually, this is just water, but some people use orange juice or other flavored fluids. No matter what you're using, the answer is to cook it longer.

Does homemade cranberry sauce thicken as it cools? ›

Remove from heat. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

How do you fix cranberry sauce that didn't set? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

Why is my cranberry sauce upside down? ›

The cans are "filled and labeled upside down with the rounded edge on top and the sharp can-like edge on the bottom to keep the jelly whole." This creates an air bubble vacuum on the rounded side (the top) so customers "can swipe the edge of the can with a knife to break the vacuum and the log will easily slide out."

Should cranberry sauce be served warm or cold? ›

Typically served chilled, our recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead.

Can I freeze homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Yes, you can freeze homemade cranberry sauce—and it works well. It's best to store it in the freezer for up to 3 months; the taste may be affected due to its water content if frozen longer. Keep this in mind when putting away your leftover sauce and use it during this optimal period as part of an easy weeknight dinner.

Can dogs eat cranberries? ›

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

Is homemade cranberry sauce good for you? ›

Nutritional Facts Face-Off

We can see there is a significant difference in the nutrition facts between the two sauces. The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium!

How do you get the bitter taste out of sauce? ›

Add Some Baking Soda

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

How do you counteract bitterness in sauce? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

How do you make cranberry juice less bitter? ›

Honey: Another option is to use honey as a sweetener. Start with a small amount (such as 1 teaspoon) and gradually add more until the desired level of sweetness is reached. Maple syrup: Maple syrup is another option for sweetening unsweetened cranberry juice.

How do you sweeten bitter cranberry juice? ›

Add agave nectar to the cranberry citrus mixture to your taste. I started with 1/2 cup and ended up with 1 cup of nectar to the 9 cups of juice. You could also use 1/2 cup of white sugar or 1/2 cup of honey for this. Just taste test as you go to achieve your desired sweetness.

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