A sweet and sharp combination of fresh cranberries, orange juice, sugar, and vanilla make this Perfect Homemade Cranberry Sauce a wonderful and delicious holiday classic!
My Favorite Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays
What’s one Thanksgiving dish (or even Christmas! It’s right around the corner. 🎅 ) side you can’t do without?
If you answered “Turkey,” “stuffing,” or maybe “green bean casserole…” I hear you! Savory recipes made with plenty of herbs and onions are holiday must-haves. But, let’s not forget the cranberry sauce! Yes, this deliciously traditional, ruby-red side dish really rounds out a menu.
Plus, it’s helpful in terms of balance. Compared to the more buttery, garlicky, sage-y sides, cranberry sauce stands out! It’s a tangy addition to the table that cuts the richness of other holiday dishes.
Is Cranberry Sauce Healthy?
In general, cranberries are very good for you! They contain helpful antioxidants and are known to fight inflammation in the body.
However, since cranberry sauce is a type of sweetened relish, you may want to watch your portion sizes to avoid consuming too much sugar. If you’d like to lighten this recipe, try reducing the amount of sugar, and/or swapping some of that sugar for honey.
What You’ll Need
These ingredients are the ultimate in fresh, juicy flavor and texture. Once you try homemade cranberry sauce, it may just convince you to walk past that store-bought canned sauce.
- Cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen cranberries, whichever you prefer.
- Sugar: I like to use half brown sugar, and half white sugar.
- Orange Juice: Squeeze the juice from about 4 oranges.
- Water
- Vanilla: A bit of vanilla extract adds sweetness and depth.
- Orange Zest: Zest a small amount of the peel from one of the oranges.
How to Make Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Making cranberry sauce at home is as easy as falling off a log (and less painful, I would imagine?). You basically just simmer everything together. Easy peasy!
- Boil the Ingredients. Combine all of the cranberry sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and set it over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer the Sauce. Once the sauce comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Cool. When all the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat, and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes.
- Enjoy: Serve the cranberry sauce warm, or place it in an airtight container and refrigerate. You can serve it cold, or reheat if desired (see “How to Store and Reheat” section below).
Tips for Success
You really can’t go wrong here, but I do have a couple of helpful tips and variations to share. Read on, and happy cooking!
- Store-Bought Orange Juice: Make things easier by using store-bought orange juice, and omitting the zest.
- Add Jam: Use half orange juice and half orange marmalade or apricot jam, for a special flavor addition.
- Spice It Up: Add a dash of cinnamon for a gently spicy, Christmasy taste.
Serving Suggestions
To serve this jewel-hued side dish, I recommend making a classic holiday meal with some of your favorites, such as:
- Turkey: Roast a whole turkey, or make a simple Roast Turkey Breast instead.
- Pork: A tender, juicy Pork Loin Roast with Vegetables is a great alternative to turkey! The built-in side of savory roasted veggies makes it a meal in itself!
- Casserole: Casseroles are wonderful for a special meal, and this recipe for The Best Green Bean Casserole is a favorite. It’s full of fresh veggie flavor, with a homemade creamy mushroom sauce.
How to Store and Reheat Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry sauce can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator, for up to one week.
- There’s no need to reheat, but if you would like to serve this warm, you can easily reheat it on the stove over medium heat.
Can I Freeze Cranberry Sauce?
- Yes, cranberry sauce can be stored in freezer bags and frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw before serving or reheating.
How To Make Ahead
- Make the cranberry sauce according to the recipe.
- Then, store it in the fridge (or freezer, depending on how far ahead you want to make it) until the day you’re ready to serve.
- If you freeze it, thaw it in the fridge overnight before serving.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 bag (12 ounces) fresh cranberries
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice, about 4 oranges, total
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a 3-quart saucepan.
- Set the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for about 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until all cranberries have burst and sauce has slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes.
- Serve right away, or transfer the prepared cranberry sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
13 Comments
Erik
Nov 15, 2021 at 6:02 pmThe color is simply beautiful. Love how easy this is to make!
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 16, 2021 at 2:59 pmThank YOU! I hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
Beth
Nov 15, 2021 at 6:03 pmThat sounds amazing. I love the colors and the flavors. This is perfect for the holiday season.
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 16, 2021 at 2:58 pmI hope you’ll enjoy it during the holidays! Thank YOU! 🙂
Juliane
Nov 16, 2021 at 7:15 amHeaven sent! This is SO good!
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 16, 2021 at 2:57 pmThank you so much! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Cathy
Nov 16, 2021 at 11:01 amHomemade cranberry sauce is the best!
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 16, 2021 at 2:56 pmI hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Catalina
Nov 18, 2021 at 3:29 amThere is no Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce on my table. This one sounds perfect for us!
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 18, 2021 at 4:37 pmThank YOU! I hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 22, 2021 at 12:02 pmThank you so much! I hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
Amanda Livesay
Nov 19, 2021 at 1:12 pmThis really is the perfect cranberry sauce! I’ll be making it for every holiday!
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 22, 2021 at 11:59 amI’m very happy you loved it! Thank YOU! 🙂