How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce (2024)

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How to make homemade cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries and 3 more ingredients. Simple and easy recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so easy to make and pretty delicious too. In fact, the first Thanksgiving we made our own, we wondered why we'd never made it before.

Fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest is so much better than the canned stuff. For one thing, it doesn't plop out in canned gel form.

If you buy a bag of fresh cranberries, the recipe is right there on the bag. You can also get creative with the recipe and add different flavors to your cranberry relish, like citrus or cinnamon or whatever else your imagination can cook up.

With this recipe, I followed the instructions on the back of the bag (Ocean Spray Cranberries) and then added a little citrus zing.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to therecipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED:

• Fresh cranberries
• Sugar
• Water
• Orange zest

Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in theprintable recipe card below.

Large Saucepan– This sauce is made entirely on the stove top, so a good saucepan is in order.

Wooden Spoon

Heat Resistant Spatula– Works well for stirring and scraping the sides of the pan.

Zester– Helpful for adding the orange zest.

Serving Bowl– Add to your Thanksgiving tablescape.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE

1. Add the sugar and water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Then add inthe cranberries, and return the mixture to a boil.
3. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add in the orange zest, simmering for another 5 minutes or so.

Pour the cranberry sauce into a serving bowl, cover, and allow it to cool.

Here's a delicious idea for you… A spoonful of cranberry and orange sauce pairs really well with my favorite leftover turkey stuffing crescent roll appetizersand leftover ham and stuffing crescent rolls.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR CRANBERRY SAUCE ADD-INS:

• Replace a portion of the water with orange juice or apple juice or pineapple juice. You get the idea.
• Add certain spices to your sauce, like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, etc.
• Add both orange juice (or zest) and cloves to the sauce for a special holiday flavor.
• Use apples.
• Add a dash of vanilla.
• Add nuts to the mixture… Walnuts, pecans, or almonds would pair well.
• Instead of sugar, try using honey or maple syrup… Just be sure to reference substitution amounts when switching out ingredients.

CAN CRANBERRY SAUCE BE FROZEN?

Absolutely, yes, it can! The ingredients used in corn homemade cranberry sauce are all pretty conducive to freezing.

Just be sure to store it in anairtight containerto prevent freezer burn.

WHAT GOES WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE:

• Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
• Jiffy Corn Casserole
• Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing
• Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Hash Brown Casserole
• Marshmallow Fruit Salad

And just in case you're still looking for a turkey recipe,Maple Bourbon Brined Roasted Turkeyis seriously the best thing ever! Or Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham may be more what you're looking for. Cranberry sauce also goes really well with a Slow Cooker Pork Roast!

You may also want to check out my list ofour favorite Thanksgiving recipes, as well asour favorite Christmas Recipes, where you'll find plenty more recipes for your holiday dinner.

GET THE PRINTABLE CRANBERRY RELISH RECIPE

If you love thisfresh cranberry sauce with orangeas much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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