Ditch the can and make your own Homemade Cranberry Sauce with fresh berries! 2 steps, 6 ingredients is all you need for this holiday classic.
I’ll be the first one to admit that cranberry sauce was never one of my favorite sides when it came to Thanksgiving dinner. It was just so…log like. But that, my friends, was before I was introduced to the wonderful world of Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
It’s a little sweet. It’s a little tart. It is so full of flavor and really, no holiday table is complete without it. Let me show you just how easy it is to make and you’ll be ditching the can too!
First let’s talk about what you need:
What ingredients do you need to make homemade cranberry sauce?
FRESH CRANBERRIES: You’ll be able to find bags of these in the produce section during the holidays. If it’s not Thanksgiving or Christmas, they may be harder to find. If that is the case you can substitute frozen cranberries.
ORANGE JUICE and ORANGE ZEST: You can use fresh squeezed orange juice or bottled. If you use bottled keep in mind that will be sweeter so you might need less sugar depending on your taste.
WATER
BROWN SUGAR AND GRANULATED SUGAR: Cranberries are tart, they need the sugar. This recipe uses a combination of brown and granulated sugar. I like the depth of flavor that brown sugar adds. You can use only one or or the other if you prefer.
Instructions:
Guys, homemade cranberry sauce could really not be easier!
Step #1: In a sauce pot combine orange juice, water, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Stir in cranberries. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and continue to cook until cranberries begin to soften, about 10 minutes. They will pop during this time. Stir in orange zest.
STEP #2: Transfer to a serving dish. Allow to cool at room temperature or place in the refrigerator to chill completely. Serve.
That’s it! Only 6 ingredients. Only 2 steps. You can do it! You can make your own cranberry sauce. And trust me, once you do you won’t go back to the cans.
Looking for more Thanksgiving or Christmas recipes? Your holiday meals aren’t complete without these:
Other great recipes using cranberries:
Farro Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad
Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2010. It was updated with new photos and nutrition information in 2020.
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 12 ounce package of fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Rinse cranberries and pick out any that are soft.
- In a sauce pot combine orange juice, water, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Stir in cranberries. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and continue to cook until cranberries begin to soften, about 10 minutes. They will pop during this time. Stir in orange zest.
- Transfer to a serving dish. Allow to cool at room temperature or place in the refrigerator to chill completely. Serve.
[…] Cranberry Orange Sauce Will it diminish the overall look of your Thanksgiving feast to omit the can shaped red gelatin cut into ruby red slices? Only you can know that. […]
[…] Life of Ambrosia This entry was posted in Look of the Day and tagged chubby sticks by clinique, Clinique, […]
Love “The Flavor Bible”! These sound delicious!!! :)
Thanks for catching that Jackie! Add it right before you transfer it to a serving dish.
I have always made cranberry sauce with just water and sugar.. I love the addition of the orange juice! By the way, that jelly stuff that plops out on the plate is the only kind of cranberry sauce my boyfriend will eat…ugh!!!
Hi Des
When is the orange zest incorporated into this sauce.
I love the idea of adding OJ and brown sugar. Your recipe looks yummy. I’ve always made mine with water or apple cider and white sugar.
This is perfect. I needed a very simply cranberry recipe for Thursday. Your timing is impeccable.