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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Published: Nov 9, 2021 · Updated: Dec 22, 2021 by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 5 Comments

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    Pin for homemade cranberry sauce.

    This simple recipe for easy homemade cranberry sauce is a holiday classic. Made with fresh cranberries and sweetened with maple syrup and fresh orange juice, this recipe is a must-have for your next holiday meal.

    A bowl of cranberry sauce.

    Skip the canned cranberry sauce and make a batch of homemade cranberry sauce instead. It's one of the easiest things to make this staple for your holiday meal.

    Fresh cranberries will start to appear in stores early November and sometimes as soon as late October. If you pick up a few bags of cranberries, you can even freeze them for later.

    What should cranberry sauce taste like?

    Homemade cranberry sauce has the following characteristics:

    • It's tart and tangy
    • Because cranberries are naturally very tart, you'll want to sweeten them. but be sure not to add too much sweetener.
    • It should balance and complement the rest of your Thanksgiving meal
    Bowl with cranberry sauce with a cloth in the background.

    Ingredients you'll need

    You only need a few ingredients to make cranberry sauce.

    • Raw cranberries: You'll need a 12-oz bag of fresh cranberries, which is approximately 3 cups of berries.
    • Maple syrup: To naturally sweeten the cranberry sauce.
    • A cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon
    • Zest from orange
    • Juice from orange:- this makes about ¼ cup of orange juice
    • Sea salt: a pinch of salt to add flavor
    • Water

    Pro-Tip: While some cranberry sauce recipes use just water and skip the orange juice, I recommend using both. The juice adds flavor and helps cut down the bitterness from the cranberries.

    How to make homemade cranberry sauce

    Once you have the ingredients, making the cranberry sauce takes only 20 minutes using the following steps:

    1. Combine ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, water, cinnamon, orange zest, maple syrup, and salt. Squeeze in the juice from one orange.

    Pot with fresh cranberries and cinnamon stick

    2. Simmer: Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes, until the cranberries start to pop and get soft, stirring frequently.

    Pot with fresh cranberries and wooden spoon

    3. Cool cranberry sauce: Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

    Cranberry sauce is usually served at room temperature.

    Cooked cranberry sauce in pot

    Storing and reheating

    To store: Store in the refrigerator for a few weeks in an air-tight container.

    To reheat: If you'd like to reheat the sauce later, warm in a saucepan over medium heat.

    Making ahead of time

    This sauce can be made up to a week in advance. Be sure to store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

    Serving suggestions

    This homemade cranberry sauce will last for weeks in the refrigerator. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

    • Add a layer on your sandwiches. I love adding some to my grilled cheese sandwiches!
    • Use it on your next cheeseboard or snack board
    • Use it in cupcakes and other baked goods
    • Add to pancakes and waffles as a sweet topping
    • Use in your next yogurt bowl with some granola!
    A bowl of sauce with a spoon, sitting on a linen napkin.

    More Thanksgiving recipes

    Here are more holiday recipes that are easy to make and delicious:

    • Vegan Collard Greens
    • Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Pumpkin Chai Smoothie

    If you tried this Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe or any other recipe, be sure to rate the recipe and let me know what you think! Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more delicious recipes.

    Editor’s note: This recipe was originally published on November 13, 2019. Since then, it’s been freshened up with new pictures and more details to help you make the recipe.

    Bowl of cranberry sauce with golden spoon and napkin.

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep time: 5 minutes
    Cook time: 20 minutes
    Total time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 51kcal
    Author: Sapana Chandra
    A simple recipe for easy homemade cranberry sauce.  Made with fresh cranberries, maple syrup, and orange juice, this is a must-have for your next holiday meal.

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz cranberries, rinsed and drained well
    • ½ cup water
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup orange juice
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or 1 cinnamon stick
    • ⅛ teaspooon salt

    Instructions

    • Combine cranberries, water, maple syrup, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, and salt in a medium saucepan.
    • Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes, until the cranberries start to pop and get soft, stirring frequently.
    • Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. 

    Notes

    The sauce will thicken as it cools down.
    While some cranberry sauce recipes use just water and skip the orange juice, I recommend using both. The juice adds flavor and helps cut down the bitterness from the cranberries. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 51kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 9mg, Potassium: 74mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 41IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 1mg
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @realandvibrant and hashtag #realandvibrant!

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    About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

    Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janell says

      November 22, 2021 at 8:31 am

      I used all juice and added zested orange as well! Love lt!

      Reply
    2. Kate says

      November 14, 2019 at 10:56 pm

      Made this tonight to test it for Thanksgiving and it was perfect!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        November 19, 2019 at 11:06 am

        So happy to hear, Kate!

        Reply
    3. Haley Hoover says

      November 13, 2019 at 11:32 am

      Everyone's thankin'!
      The whole world's thankin' you!

      (This is a quote from Bobs Burgers that I think of every time I see cranberry sauce)

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        November 19, 2019 at 11:06 am

        Haha I love it, Haley!!

        Reply

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    Sapana Chandra

    Hi, I'm Sapana! I’m a recipe developer and author of the cookbook Plant Power Bowls. Here you'll find simple, delicious, vegetarian recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Learn more about me

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