How to Make Cranberry Sauce from Scratch
Updated: Nov. 26, 2022
Need a tart, tasty cranberry sauce recipe for your Thanksgiving table? Look no further.
Thanksgiving is the ultimate food holiday. We spend days prepping the most anticipated meal of the year. Whether it’s your first time hosting, or you’ve been hosting dinner for decades, your table will probably have a familiar look. There will be a roasted turkey, a mountain of homemade sides, fresh-baked pies and… the can-shaped cranberry sauce.
After a marathon day of cooking, canned cranberry sauce might seem like an easy shortcut. But the canned version isn’t nearly as good (or good-looking) as a cranberry sauce recipe from scratch. Fortunately, making your own cranberry sauce isn’t a chore at all. In fact, it’s simple, quick and darn delicious.
Our Best Cranberry Sauce Recipe
This sauce can be made several days in advance, so no need to worry about prepping this on Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 package (12 ounces) fresh cranberries
Directions
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Add the cranberries.
Step 2: Simmer
Cook these four ingredients over medium heat until the berries pop, about 15 minutes.
Step 3: Cool the sauce
Cover and refrigerate the cranberry sauce for at least 1 hour or until chilled.
Tips for the Best Cranberry Sauce
What to do if your cranberry sauce is bitter
Ree Drummond’s Thanksgiving tips come in handy when you’re preparing to host a dinner. Use her easy fix for cranberry sauce that’s too bitter: maple syrup. If you’re not a fan of tart cranberry sauce, mix in some maple syrup until it’s sweet enough for your liking.
How to make this cranberry sauce ahead of time
This easy cranberry sauce can be made several days in advance. Once made, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat it, warm it in the microwave and stir halfway through, or bring it to a boil on your stovetop and let it simmer until it’s warm enough to serve.
How to freeze cranberry sauce
Your homemade cranberry sauce is one of many Thanksgiving leftovers that can be frozen. If kept in a freezer-safe container with some room at the top (it might expand a bit when frozen), the sauce will stay fresh for up to 2 months.
How to make this cranberry sauce your own
This simple cranberry sauce is delicious, but it also makes a great foundation for a custom recipe:
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to your sauce. You can also try adding a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger for more of a bite. If you’re a culinary daredevil, simmer your sauce with a halved jalapeno (just remove it before serving). This preparation is especially good brushed over pork tenderloin.
- Go nuts and add 1/3-1/2 cup of chopped and toasted pecans, walnuts or pistachios. This gives the sauce a nice crunch and texture. You can also add dried fruit to create a more rustic cranberry sauce. Stir in 1/3 cup of raisins, currants or chopped dried apricots.
- Splash in your favorite tipple. Our Test Kitchen recommends trying a tablespoon of orange liqueur or spiced rum to add some traditional holiday flavor. Add the liquor or rum at the same time as the juice, sugar and orange zest. The cooking process will burn away any harsh alcohol taste (and the alcohol itself) while providing an extra layer of flavor.
How to use leftover cranberry sauce
We love Thanksgiving leftovers! Repurposing next-day goodies is always a fun challenge, especially with tart and versatile cranberries.
- This tart, tangy side makes a great addition to sandwiches, breakfasts and more. Swipe over multigrain bread and pile high with turkey and all the fixings for the ultimate day-after lunch. Or try stirring a heaping spoonful of sauce into cream cheese for a tasty bagel spread. Still have some left? Include a small dish with your next cheese tray—it makes an excellent spread for crackers, and it complements so many cheeses.
- Cranberries are the perfect complement to pork, chicken and leftover turkey. Repurpose this sauce as a glaze for pork loin or chops (we loved this Cranberry Sweet-and-Sour Pork). Leftover sauce is also good for braising a chuck roast or chicken thighs; for this application it’s best to add a few savory ingredients to make a tasty sauce—try onion, garlic, broths or Worcestershire sauce.
- This tart sauce works with sweets, too! Try a spoonful in your morning oatmeal or yogurt. Or swirl leftover sauce in muffins, quick breads and coffee cakes.
Our Best Cranberry Recipes
Cranberry Glazed Pork ChopsThis main dish is simple enough for a weeknight, but the cranberries also make it a perfect choice for a Christmas dinner. It's colorful, juicy and easy. After all, it comes together in less than 30 minutes so you're out of the kitchen and with your family at the table in no time. —Roxanna Chan, Albany, CA
Cranberry-Apple Nut CrunchThis dessert is especially pretty and appropriate for the holidays. I updated my mother's recipe using instant oatmeal to make it even easier to fix. —Joyce Sheets, Lafayette, Indiana
Thanksgiving Lover's PizzaGot Thanksgiving Day leftovers? Forget ho-hum turkey sandwiches and try this unique take on pizza instead. Get creative with different variations: use whole berry or jelly cranberry sauce; add dollops of mashed potatoes on top; drizzle with turkey gravy; sprinkle with stuffing or dressing; or try unique pizza crust varieties. —Carla Parker, Anderson, South Carolina
Frosted Cranberry Drop CookiesI started making these treats after tasting a batch my friend whipped up. I immediately requested the drop cookie recipe and have been baking them by the dozens ever since. The icing is an ideal complement to the tart berries in the cookies. —Shirley Kidd, New London, Minnesota
Turkey-Stuffed Acorn SquashWe stuff acorn squash with leftovers like turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. Make as much or as little as you need to use everything up. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario
Cranberry MeatballsLots of people have asked me for this recipe, but I knew I had a real winner when my grandmother asked me for it! —Tammy Neubauer, Ida Grove, Iowa
Cranberry-Orange BarsMy mother has had this recipe for years. I love it! These bars make great snacks, but can also be served for dessert. —Margaret Adelman, Bellingham, Minnesota
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & AlmondsIf Brussels sprouts taste bitter to you, roast them for a gentle sweetness that goes with cranberries and almonds. This side dish won us over. —Claudia Lamascolo, Melbourne, Florida
Apple-Cranberry StuffingI leave out the giblets my mom used in her stuffing and bump up the fruit and wild rice instead. The result is this delicious apple cranberry stuffing. —Miranda Allison, Simpsonville, South Carolina
Brisket with Cranberry GravyCranberry sauce adds a pleasant sweetness to this slow-cooked brisket. Use jellied sauce instead of whole berry sauce if you like. —Nina Hall, Spokane, Washington
Cranberry Pumpkin MuffinsTart, juicy cranberries enhance the delicate pumpkin flavor of these muffins. Sometimes I dust the tops with powdered sugar to add a little sweetness. —Sue Ross, Casa Grande, Arizona
Cranberry Brie BitesMy family hosts a holiday drop-in each year, and that's where these cranberry Brie bites made their first appearance. They're easy to make, but look like a gourmet treat. —Cindy Davis, Bonita Springs, Florida
Roasted Butternut Tossed SaladThis salad makes an easy and special side dish for Thanksgiving dinner, and it's packed with nutritious veggies, almonds, berries and squash. —Katie Wollgast, Florissant, Missouri
Cranberry, Brie & Turkey PizzaWhile traveling in New Zealand, my husband and I discovered turkey pizza. We came up with our own version for a creative way to use leftovers. —Kristin Stone, Little Elm, Texas
White Candy BarkThis speedy candy recipe can be varied depending on the type of fruit or nuts you have on hand. Since we have a walnut tree, I use walnuts, but pecans could also be substituted, as well as dried cherries in place of the cranberries. —Marcia Snyder, Grand Junction, Colorado
Cranberry-Sesame Spinach SaladFor a feast or any occasion, we love this snappy fall salad that balances sweet and sour with good crunch from almonds and sesame seeds. —Stephanie Smoley, Rochester, Minnesota
Beef Roast with Cranberry GravyI can easily get this robust recipe ready in the morning and let it cook all day so that it's ready for dinner when I get home at night. The hearty beef dish is also good for the weekends when we want to spend time outdoors or on day trips.—Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Cranberry Sweet-and-Sour PorkThis fresh take on a beloved Asian-style dish is sure to cause a stir at the dinner table. —Gert Snyder, West Montrose, Ontario
Apricot-Apple Cranberry SauceThough I prefer this as a side dish, my sister swears it makes the best topping in the world for a slice of Thanksgiving turkey. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
Acorn Squash with Cranberry StuffingIf you have squash or cranberry lovers at the table, here’s your new go-to recipe. It’s colorful, the blend of flavors is delicious and it’s a fitting addition to a Thanksgiving menu. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas
Originally Published: October 26, 2017
