There’s something magical about homemade cranberry sauce that makes it impossible to go back to the canned version. This simple recipe has become one of our family’s most requested dishes every Thanksgiving and Christmas and once you taste it, you’ll understand why!
What makes this cranberry sauce truly special is the addition of fresh orange juice, which does double duty: it adds a bright, citrusy flavor that perfectly complements the tart cranberries, and it means we need less sugar than traditional recipes. The result? A refreshingly tangy cranberry sauce that’s not overly sweet, letting the natural flavors shine through.
The best part? This recipe comes together in about 15 minutes with just a handful of ingredients. Whether you’re spreading it on leftover turkey sandwiches, dolloping it onto your holiday dinner plate, or even stirring it into yogurt the next morning (trust me on this one!), this homemade cranberry sauce will quickly become a tradition at your table too.
Love dips and sauces? Try our 3 ingredient BBQ sauce without vinegar, spicy mustard sauce, and roasted red pepper feta dip.
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Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cranberries – You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries.
- Sugar – we used granulated sugar for this recipe, but you can also use honey or maple syrup if you prefer.
- Orange Juice – Freshly squeezed orange juice gives the best flavor. If you don’t have freshly squeezed orange juice, you can use store bought orange juice. Sweetened cranberry juice is also an option if you want an even sweeter sauce.
- Orange zest – This is optional, but adding just a bit of fresh zest or orange extract is a great way to add extra citrus flavor to the cranberry side dish.
Recipe Variations
- Warm spices such as allspice or nutmeg will give your fresh cranberry sauce a bit of fall flair. Or, add a cinnamon stick and some grated orange peel during the simmering.
- Use up to 1 1/2 cups of sugar instead of orange juice for a more traditional cranberry side dish.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Prepare this cranberry sauce recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge in a sealed container until you need it. I like to give it a good stir, then top with fresh orange zest or a twist before serving.
How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Fresh Cranberries
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, orange juice, and sugar.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until all the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened – about 10 minutes.
Taste and adjust sweetness as needed by adding more sugar if desired.
Once finished, remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This can be used in so many different ways. Simply serve it for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Or add it as a spread for your leftover turkey sandwich. Top it to your waffles or pancakes serve it with some sausage. You can also use this as a filling for your pop tarts.
If you have leftovers, use them to make this stuffed bun recipe. This recipe is also great for making fruit jello!
Recipe FAQs
This can easily be prepared ahead of time. Let it cool completely, and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Place cranberry-orange sauce in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
More Holiday Recipes To Love…
If you tried this cranberry sauce with orange juice recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (1 bag) fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup orange juice (for freshly squeezed, this equals 1 large orange or 2-3 mandarin oranges)
optional
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest (if using). Bring to a simmer over medium heat (3-5 minutes).
- Lower the heat to medium-low to keep a low simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally until the cranberries are soft and starting to burst (about 10 minutes).
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, the sauce will thicken as it cools. Let cool at least 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days for a make-ahead recipe.
Video
Notes
- I highly recommend using the orange zest for extra flavor.
- Add some spices such as cinnamon, allspice, or nutmeg for a festive flair. Or a cinnamon stick during the simmering.
- Warm spices such as allspice or nutmeg will give your fresh cranberry sauce a bit of fall flair. Or, add a cinnamon stick and some grated orange peel during the simmering.
- Use up to 1 1/2 cups of sugar instead of orange juice for a more traditional.
- Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- This whole berry sauce can easily be prepared ahead of time. Let it cool completely.
Nutrition
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Mahy says
It’s always nice to try another cranberry sauce. Yours looks absolutely amazing!
Dannii says
You can’t beat homemade cranberry sauce and this had the perfect balance of flavours.
DK says
Sweet, tart and slightly citrusy – this cranberry sauce is just right! Can’t wait for Thanksgiving to give this recipe a try!
MacKenzie says
I just added this to my holiday menu for fall. I love that this is made with less sugar and fresh ingredients
Naelle Yoshimura says
I love the combination of cranberry and orange, yummy! My toddler eats this like it’s jam, haha!