Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

5 from 7 votes

Tangy and sweet, this cranberry sauce is the perfect accompaniment to your holiday feast. Plus, it's a hassle-free side dish that you can make ahead.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: holiday recipes, Thanksgiving recipes, cranberry sauce, cranberries, cranberry sauce with orange juice

Servings: servings

Calories: 129kcal

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)

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.

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.

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.

Storing Instruction:

Make Ahead Instruction:

This whole berry sauce can easily be prepared ahead of time. Let it cool completely.