This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe For The Holidays – the best sweet and delicious cranberries sauce make in 15 minutes with just 5 ingredients.
With Thanksgiving less than 2 weeks away, it is the perfect time to share a recipe for an easy homemade cranberry sauce.
I enjoy homemade meals all the time, but especially around the holidays!
This homemade cranberry sauce is sweet and flavorful . This stuff is much better than the one you buy at the store and it is worth the time making. You can control the amount of sugar used and skip the not so healthy preservatives. It only takes 20 minutes to make and can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
What ingredients do you need to make this Homemade Cranberry Sauce?
- fresh cranverries
- sugar ( white and brown sugar or low-carb sugar)
- Orange juice
- Orange zest
- Water
How to make cranberry sauce?
-
In a medium sauce-pan over medium-high heat, whisk together water, orange juice, sugar, light-brown sugar and orange zest.
-
Bring to a boil then carefully add in cranberries.
-
Reduce heat to a simmer. Allow mixture to simmer about 15 – 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cranberries will pop.
-
Let sauce cool for about 20 – 30 minutes. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
What to serve this cranberry sauce with?
- Turkey
- As a part of your Thanksgiving Menu
- As a topping of a cheesecake
- Crepes
- Muffins
- Sandwiches
- Add it to Cheese Boards
We all know that turkey goes well with cranberry sauce, but you can still use your left over sauce to spread on toast, crepes, muffins, sandwich, make a dressing with it or spread over cheesecake. With all the fresh cranberries in pretty much every store, I just couldn’t wait and make some cranberry sauce “my way”.
I used combination of white and brown sugar in this recipe and also added some orange juice for extra freshness and flavor.
This homemade cranberry sauce is citrusy and delicious. Simple to make and you can’t get it wrong. And I totally forgot to mention it is vegan and gluten free.
How to thicken Cranberry Sauce?
Optional: To thicken the sauce even more and for extra Omega 3 and protein, you can add 1 tbsp chia seeds, after you remove sauce from the stove top.
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz/2 cups) bag cranberries, rinsed
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light-brown sugar
- 1 tsp orange zest
Instructions
- In a medium sauce-pan over medium-high heat, whisk together water, orange juice, sugar, light-brown sugar and orange zest.
- Bring to a boil then carefully add in cranberries.
- Reduce heat to a simmer. Allow mixture to simmer about 15 - 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cranberries will pop.
- Let sauce cool for about 20 - 30 minutes. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve been making this sauce every year. This is the most recent photo of it 🙂
Similar recipe: BLUEBERRY LEMON CHIA JAM
When I saw these beautiful photos on Instagram I was excited to see the recipe! We all need a simple delicious recipe for cranberry sauce!
Thanks a lot Annie! Heading over to your blog to check you new recipe out 🙂
How funny.. I was thinking to make a cranberry sauce too , but didn’t have time yet .. yours look wonderful..
Thanks Ella! I can’t wait to see yours! 🙂
The brown sugar and orange zest make this so much better than most cranberry sauces! It’s so bright and vibrant! Love the recipe, Mira.
Thanks so much Mir!!!
What a great idea to make your own cranberry sauce for Christmas – and I love the idea that I can make it ahead. The only thing is, I haven’t seen any fresh (or frozen actually) cranberries anywhere around here – I will have to go on a hunt!
P.S. I love that you’ve got orange in the juice!
Thanks Helen! Yeah, I haven’t seen fresh cranberries in Europe. They are more popular in the US, around the holidays you can see them everywhere. Frozen will work fine as well, no need to thaw them.
I’m not a fan of the canned cranberry sauce, but I’d be all about this fresh homemade sauce! Yum, hand me a spoon!
Yeah, homemade is always better!
I love this pics! And I was also searching for a good cranberry sauce recipe for Thanksgiving, so thank you! I’ll be using yours!!! 🙂
Thanks Olivia! I’m glad you like it! LMK how it turns !
This is gorgeous, Mira! I love homemade cranberry sauce and yours sounds perfect with the orange juice and orange zest! The pics are just stunning and I would seriously have a hard time not eating this all up by the spoonful! Mmm so so good!
Thanks Kelly! It was really good!
What a great idea to make your own! Looks yummy! 🙂
Thanks Valya!
Looks so yum and love your photography!!
Thanks Ami!
I’ve been thinking about making homemade cranberry sauce for ages now, so this recipe is amazing timing! Bookmarking!
Thanks Jessica!