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Cranberry Sauce

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This Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s easy to make and adds a delicious tartness to your Thanksgiving feast.

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a white bowl of cranberry sauce with a gold serving spoon closeup and a red and white napkin on the side

Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange

Cranberry Sauce is one of my favorite things for Thanksgiving. But one of the things I don’t like about the classic cranberry sauce is that it’s loaded with sugar.

Instead, I like using freshly squeezed orange juice and less sugar, which makes it a bit healthier and adds a bright, tart flavor to the recipe.

Cranberries are tart, so the orange juice adds a citrus tang and sweetness, and increases the depth of flavor.

You also get even vitamin C from the freshly squeezed orange juice, so it’s a win-win situation.

Love dips and sauces? Try our In n Out Sauce (Copycat), 3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce, Spicy Honey Mustard, Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip, and Mango Chili Sauce.

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.
  • (Optional) Orange zest
bowls of whole cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, orange juice, and sugar.

a sauce pan with cranberries, orange juice, sugar, and orange zest

Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until all the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened – about 10 minutes.

the cooked cranberry sauce in the saucepan

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.

a white bowl of cooled and thickened cranberry sauce ready to serve with a gold serving spoon

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • 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.
  • Use up to 1 1/2 cups of sugar instead of orange juice for a more traditional Cranberry sauce.

Make ahead and Storage Instructions

This sauce 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.

You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

a white bowl of cooled and thickened cranberry sauce ready to serve with a gold serving spoon

Get the Full Cranberry Sauce Recipe Below

a white bowl of cooled and thickened cranberry sauce ready to serve with a gold serving spoon

Cranberry Sauce

This Homemade cranberry sauce with orange juice is perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner! It's easy to make and the perfect make ahead dish for your holiday feast. Plus, you'll love the added flavor of using freshly squeezed orange juice (and less sugar) in this recipe.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish, sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 129 kcal

Equipment

  • medium saucepan

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces (1 bag) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 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.

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.
  • Use up to 1 1/2 cups of sugar instead of orange juice for a more traditional cranberry sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!
a white bowl of cooled and thickened cranberry sauce ready to serve with a gold serving spoon


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