Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce

This is the best homemade orange cranberry sauce recipe, and it is so simple to make with 5 fresh ingredients and a few minutes. Make it ahead for an easy holiday morning. Once you taste this sweet tart sauce, you'll never eat store-bought again! Perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Pin

I don't like canned cranberry sauce. The whole gelatinous ooze thing doesn't appeal to me.

Actually, I think the biggest problem is the sound it makes when it schloops out of the can onto the plate, and it maintains the ridges from the can. There is nothing appealing about that, in my opinion.

When I first started hosting Thanksgiving at my home, I made my own cranberry sauce. Fresh food is always preferable to food from a metal can, so I found a fresh cranberry sauce recipe, and I cooked it.

And no one liked it but me.

Everyone else wanted the jello-like cranberry sauce out of a can. They don't know what's good. I liked the sauce. I still like the sauce, and I still make it every year.

Even if I'm the only person who eats it (and I'm not).

And I don't get offended if they bring a can of the crappy stuff. It leaves more of the fresh sauce for me.

Why this is the best cranberry sauce

This is an easy recipe. All you have to do is measure, stir, and simmer! You will have to watch your sauce and stir often, but that's all there is to it.

This recipe brings out the sweet tart flavor of the cranberries. It's got 4 ingredients: cranberries, orange (juice & zest), cinnamon, and brown sugar. The bold flavor of the cranberries shines brightly.

The ingredients for this easy recipe are very common. You probably have most of the simple ingredients already in your pantry, and the remaining couple are available in every grocery I've ever visited during the holiday season. I have not seen cranberries available at other times of the year, so if you think you'll want to make cranberry sauce in the summer, grab a couple of extra bags in November and throw them in the freezer to use later on.

This recipe is allergy-friendly. As written, it is soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan. Some people like to put pecans in their cranberry sauce (and you can if you want to), but I like mine smooth with no nuts, and that's how this recipe is written.

What you'll need to make homemade orange cranberry sauce

Equipment

This recipe requires the following:

• Zester or microplane grater
• Medium saucepan
• Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

• Fresh cranberries - Fresh cranberries are typically only available around Thanksgiving and Christmas time in the grocery store. You'll need 12 ounces which is the approximate size of a bag of fresh berries. I suggest you buy a couple of extra bags during the holiday season and store them in the freezer. so you have the best cranberries ready anytime you want to make this sauce.
• Zest from ½ orange - The orange zest is the very thin orange skin on the outside of the fruit. You'll need a zester or microplane grater because you don't want the white pith underneath the zest. The pith is very bitter and will ruin your cranberry sauce.
• Ground cinnamon - This gives a nice richness to the sauce.
• Orange juice - Cranberries are naturally tart, and the sweetness in the orange juice balances that tartness. I prefer to use pulp-free orange juice from a carton rather than squeezing my own, but you could very easily use fresh orange juice and squeeze it yourself. If you do decide to squeeze your own juice, make sure to zest the orange BEFORE you squeeze. It's nearly impossible to zest an orange that's already been squeezed.
• Packed brown sugar - You need sugar to balance the tartness of the cranberries. I'm not sure you'd be able to eat the cranberry sauce if you didn't put sugar in it. That said, you can use pure maple syrup, white sugar, or another sweetener if you prefer.

Pin

Can I use frozen or dried cranberries in this recipe?

You can definitely use frozen cranberries, although just be aware that it will take longer to cook the sauce.

You cannot use dried cranberries to make this cranberry sauce.

Can I use less sugar in cranberry-orange sauce?

No, you can't, and there are two reasons why. First, cranberry sauce without sugar can be bitter and is, at the very least, incredibly tart. Second, the sugar helps the sauce to set up to a jelly like consistency. If your sauce doesn't have enough sugar, it will stay a liquid.

How to make homemade orange cranberry sauce

1. Rinse the cranberries, picking out any spoiled berries, stems, and other undesirable material. There is often weird stuff in a bag of cranberries, so look them over carefully.
2. Pour the cranberries into a medium saucepan.
3. Add the remaining ingredients to the pan.
4. Cover and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for two hours, until sauce reaches desired thickness.
5. Taste, and add additional brown sugar as needed.
6. Allow to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until serving. Serve chilled.

Why is my cranberry sauce still runny?

There are a lot of reasons why cranberry sauce stays runny after being cooked, but there are basically two solutions.

First, you can add sugar. If you don't include enough sugar, the sauce will never set up properly. However, if you are sure you included all the sugar called for in the recipe, you have a second option. Make a slurry of cornstarch and water by dissolving 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in 1 teaspoon of water. Stir this into the sauce, mixing well, and simmer for another 10-15 minutes. The cornstarch will thicken the sauce.

How can I make this sauce smoother?

For a smoother consistency, use an immersion blender and blend until your desired texture is achieved.

Variations & Substitutions

For a boozy cranberry sauce, stir in 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier or bourbon after cooking.

You can add a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract.

Swap ¼ cup cranberries for diced apples for a sweeter version.

Add ½ cup dried cherries or ¾ cup frozen dark cherries to the cranberry mixture for a cherry cranberry sauce.

Add a cinnamon stick or ¼ teaspoon nutmeg before cooking for a spiced version.

If you don't have orange juice, you can substitute apple juice, pineapple juice, or even plain water.

Pin

Is there a quicker way to make cranberry sauce?

I like to simmer my cranberry sauce because it makes my house smell amazing. However, if you want to cook it more quickly, you can simply boil the sauce for 20-30 minutes. It will thicken in that time and be ready to cool and then go into the refrigerator.

You can also make cranberry sauce in your Instant Pot in a fraction of the time. See those instructions here.

Can you burn cranberry sauce?

Yes, you definitely can, and that is why I recommend simmering it for a couple of hours rather than boiling it for a short time. If you boil it, you have to stir constantly and really watch it to avoid it burning.

Can I make cranberry sauce ahead?

Yes! Because this cranberry sauce recipe keeps for up to a week in the refrigerator (and you serve it chilled anyway), you can make it well in advance of your holiday meal. Wait until it's cooled to room temperature and then keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to store orange cranberry sauce

Put any leftover cranberry sauce into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for a week.

Can you freeze cranberry sauce?

Yes, you can. Place the cranberry sauce into an airtight container or plastic freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How can I serve this cranberry sauce?

• It's a classic pairing with Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham, as a glaze or as a side dish.
• Spread it on turkey sandwiches, chicken wraps, or crostini.
• Use as a topping for oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, or waffles.
• Swirl into cheesecake or serve with brie cheese.
• Add to a smoothie.

The Rest of our Thanksgiving Menu

We don't get creative with our Thanksgiving menu. We like routines. We like the comfort of the same old food.

• Roast Turkey
• Creamy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Vegetable & Cornbread Stuffing
• Old-Fashioned Chestnut Stuffing Recipe
• Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
• Traditional Green Bean Casserole
• Fluffy Cranberry Fruit Salad with Pineapple
• Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce
• Instant Pot Orange Cranberry Sauce
• Praline Pumpkin Pecan Pie
• The Worlds' Best Pecan Pie
• Couldn't Be Easier Cherry Pie
• No Churn Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

And for the leftovers, try one of these delights:

• Turkey & Stuffing Muffins
• Turkey Enchilada Casserole
• Turkey Salad
• Turkey Quesadillas

You can read more about my easy and traditional Thanksgiving menu.

Recipe