This Cranberry Sauce Recipe kicks your holiday meals up a notch! With a reliable balance of sweet and tart, it’s just the thing to complete your holiday spread!
author’s note
Cranberry Sauce So Good You’ll Skip the Can!
Cranberry Sauce is the one thing I firmly believe is best from-scratch, even with my love for store-bought shortcuts during the busy holiday season.
Take these brownie cookies, for example—they’re a total lifesaver! But when it comes to this cranberry sauce recipe, nothing store-bought even comes close. It truly makes turkey something special.
This recipe is hands down the best version I’ve ever had. It’s just the right amount of sweet while keeping that satisfying tart cranberry flavor. The texture is spot on, and it’s so straightforward to make you won’t want to go back to canned.
Turns out, making this from scratch is easier than you’d think. Once you try it, you might find yourself craving it beyond the holidays. I serve it whenever I can get fresh cranberries!
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swaps or Tips |
|---|---|
| Orange juice | Use bottled 100% juice or freshly squeezed. Zest the orange for extra flavor if you like. |
| Cranberry juice | If you don’t have it, use all orange juice or water and a little zest. |
| Fresh cranberries | Frozen work the same. Do not thaw first. Rinse and pick out soft berries. |
| White sugar | Adjust to taste after cooling. Add more or less depending on your sweetness preference. |
| Brown sugar | Swap with maple syrup or honey. |
| Salt | Just a pinch makes a big difference in this Cranberry Sauce Recipe. |
How To Make Cranberry Sauce Recipe
- Prep Cranberries: Wash, dry, and check for stems.
- Mix & Heat: In a saucepan, stir juices and sugars over a medium burner until dissolved.
- Cook: Add cranberries and salt, bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring until some berries burst.
- Cool: Remove from heat. Sauce thickens as it cools. Store in fridge up to a week.
Quick Tip
How do you make cranberry sauce thicker? Cook the cranberry sauce until it’s as thick as you like. It will thicken more as it cools.
Uses For Cranberry Sauce Recipe
- With a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas meal
- On biscuits or pancakes
- Serve with this cornbread recipe
- In these turkey cranberry sliders
- Add into these straightforward oatmeal jam bars in place of the jam
- Swirl into a yogurt bowl
- Add it to a turkey cranberry wrap
Storage
Can This Cranberry Sauce Recipe Be Made In Advance?
Yes, this sauce can be made up to a week in advance! Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge. These Sugared Cranberries are also great to make ahead!
More Thanksgiving Sides:
Salads
Thanksgiving Salad
Side Dishes
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Desserts
Raspberry Jello Dessert Recipe
Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes Recipe
