Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange
This year, skip the canned cranberry sauce and make it homemade instead. This Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe is made with fresh whole cranberries, orange juice, and orange zest and goes perfectly with a roast turkey. It only requires 4 ingredients (plus water) and is a holiday classic. Be sure to double the recipe and make it ahead of time for the busy holiday season.
This whole-berry Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce is a holiday special, like my famous green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, candied sweet potatoes, turkey, chicken and dressing, and chocolate pecan pie. And let’s not forget a wonderful appetizer: Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread.
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Trust me, I am guilty of buying canned cranberry sauce. It’s good, and it’s so convenient. Plus, those little rings around the top decorate it so nicely. But this recipe is so tasty you’ll want to add it to your holiday menu from now on.
Recipe for Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries are in season for a short time during the holidays, but frozen ones will also work. See the printable recipe card below for the complete ingredient list with amounts for the best homemade cranberry sauce recipe.
Sugar – Sugar is needed for sweetness. Feel free to play around with the amount of sugar in this recipe and find the balance that works for your taste.
Water – A little water to get things simmering.
Orange Juice – Fresh orange juice adds sweetness and brightens the dish.
Orange Zest – Just a little zest will add a pop of flavor.
Fresh or Frozen Cranberries— You can find fresh cranberries in the produce department. Go ahead and grab a few extra bags and store them in the freezer to make this sauce or Cranberry Orange Bread year-round.
Learn How to Cook A Turkey In A Bag for the Best Thanksgiving Turkey. A moist and tender holiday turkey is the star of the show, so it should be delicious.
Why Do We Eat Cranberry Sauce at Thanksgiving?
Cranberry sauce always shows up on the table around the holidays. Anytime there is dressing or turkey, you will find cranberry sauce. In my house, you can’t have dressing unless there is cranberry sauce to go with it. I’m not sure who made that rule, but it’s a rule. Cranberry sauce has always been a part of our holiday tradition and is an expected side dish. I made a double batch last year, and it all disappeared.
Cranberries are harvested in the fall, which perfectly aligns with Thanksgiving and Christmas. The tartness of the cranberries compliments roasted turkey and other dishes commonly found on the holiday table. Historians agree that cranberries were part of the first Thanksgiving feast, but they are unsure how they were served.
How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
Once you taste fresh cranberry sauce, you’ll serve this every year during the holiday season. This recipe is so easy and is now my favorite tangy cranberry sauce, hands down.
- Wash fresh or frozen cranberries and pick out bad or bruised ones.
- Bring water, orange juice, orange zest, and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan.
- Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until cranberries have burst—Mash gently with a wooden spoon.
- Remove from the heat and cool completely to room temperature.
- You can transfer the sauce to an airtight bowl or a covered serving dish and refrigerate it until ready to use.
How To Serve Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry sauce goes well on a sandwich or wrap. You are missing out if you’ve never tried it on leftover turkey sandwiches.
- Add a spoonful or two to Greek yogurt, oatmeal, or overnight oats for a burst of flavor. Spread some on your toast, bagels, or muffins instead of jam.
- Drizzle leftover cranberry sauce over ice cream, pound cake, cheesecake, or a Danish.
Cooking a Turkey this year? Be sure to check out my recipe for Cooking a Turkey In A Bag. It’s simple and moist every time.
Recipe Tips
- Use fresh orange juice when possible.
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries.
- Allow time to cool and chill before serving. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Make a double batch for extra goodness.
- Cranberries are in season during the holidays; therefore, I like to buy several bags and freeze them for recipes throughout the year.
Be sure to check out 10 Thanksgiving Hacks to make your day Stress-Free.
Can I Make Cranberry Sauce Ahead of Time?
You sure can! Go ahead and make this up to a week in advance. This will free up your time in the kitchen during the holidays.
Storing Cranberry Sauce with Orange
Store Orange Cranberry Sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Can I Freeze Cranberry Orange Sauce?
Place cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before serving.
FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen cranberries if fresh ones are not available. I usually buy several extra bags when they are in season and freeze them to use later in the year.
Absolutely. Orange is added to this recipe, but some blueberries would also be nice.
The cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. You can simmer the sauce longer, but keep in mind that it will be thinner while it is hot and thickens as it cools.
Adding sugar will get the bitterness and tartness out of your cranberry sauce.
More Cranberry Recipes
Cranberry Sausage and Apple Stuffing
More Holiday Side Dishes
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Holiday Desserts
9 Southern Thanksgiving Desserts
15 Minute Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice juice from 2 oranges
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
Instructions
- Wash cranberries and pick out bad or bruised ones.
- Bring water, orange juice, orange zest, and sugar to a boil.
- Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until cranberries have burst. Mash gently with a spoon. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
- At this point, you can transfer the sauce to an air-tight bowl or a covered serving dish and place it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
I love how tasty and FAST this is. I love homemade cranberry sauce, but I don’t have a ton of time to devote to it.
Love this easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe. It’s so quick and simple.
Simple ingredients and simple to make. Really like that I can use frozen cranberries so I can make this year round.
This was so good and easy to make! My new go to for the holidays thank you!
Can’t beat homemade cranberry sauce as it ‘s just so easy. This version is delicious and so quick too.
Never buying store bought cranberry sauce again!
This is so worth making than buying the store version. Its so easy to make and can be done within minutes!
I love making homemade cranberry sauce! This recipe was so easy to make. Definitely going on our Thanksgiving menu!
Cranberry sauce is a thanksgiving staple in our home, and this is no exception! Turned out perfectly sweet and delicious; can’t wait to enjoy it at this years feast!
Homemade cranberry sauce is so much better than store bought!! This recipe is going on our Thanksgiving menu for sure!
Fresh sauce is definitely the best!
such a time saver recipe and great taste too!
I love making my own cranberry sauce and always add orange zest to mine as well. Great recipe!
Love this homemade cranberry sauce, so easy and tastes much better then buying it from the store in a can. Definitely making it for Thanksgiving!