Best Cranberry Sauce

Easy, 4-ingredient Cranberry Sauce has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. This is the best cranberry sauce recipe! This Cranberry Sauce can be made ahead of time and is perfect to serve alongside turkey on Thanksgiving or on turkey sandwiches.

It is almost Thanksgiving and it wouldn’t be complete without homemade cranberry sauce.

Growing up, we only had cranberry sauce straight from the can. We would open the can and literally dump it in a bowl and call it good. No one hardly touched the cranberry sauce. No surprise there! It was one note and boring.

Thanksgiving is all about cherished traditions, family gatherings, and, of course, a delicious feast. And no Thanksgiving feast is complete without cranberry sauce. While store-bought cranberry sauce may be convenient, making it from scratch is surprisingly simple and incredibly rewarding.

I will be sharing how to craft your own homemade cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, from the fresh ingredients you’ll need to a few creative variations that will elevate your holiday meal.

Years ago, I started making Fresh Cranberry Sauce from scratch and suddenly everyone was clamoring for the sauce. It was a lovely accompaniment to the turkey and using fresh whole ingredients made all the difference. I will never ever go back to canned again.

Why you will love Fresh Cranberry Sauce:

There’s something special about crafting your own cranberry sauce. Here are a few reasons why homemade is the way to go:

1. Freshness: Homemade cranberry sauce showcases the vibrant, natural flavors of fresh cranberries, which can’t be beaten by canned cranberry sauce.
2. Control: You have complete control over the sweetness and flavor profile, allowing you to tailor the sauce to your liking.
3. Impress Your Guests: Serving homemade cranberry sauce is sure to impress your Thanksgiving guests and make your meal unforgettable.

Best Cranberry Sauce Ingredients:

Making homemade cranberry sauce requires minimal ingredients and just a little bit of time. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
• Sugar
• Juice and Zest from Orange
• Cinnamon Stick

This is the easiest cranberry sauce recipe! You can make this cranberry relish in less than 5 minutes!

Can I use fresh or frozen cranberries in cranberry sauce?

You can use either frozen cranberries or fresh cranberries when making homemade cranberry sauce. You can start to find fresh cranberries in the produce section in October but you can usually find frozen cranberries year-round 

Frozen cranberries are picked at their peak ripeness so they usually have the perfect tartness and firm texture.

Can I make Cranberry Sauce ahead of time?

Yes! You can make this cranberry orange sauce ahead of time, up to two weeks. The cranberry sauce will firm up once it is chilled.

How to make homemade Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce:

This cranberry orange sauce is so easy to make. 

This famous Thanksgiving holiday condiment starts off with fresh cranberries, sugar, orange zest, and a touch of cinnamon. It is slow-simmered on a stove until the cranberries began to burst and give off their natural juices.

The smell in the house is downright heavenly and so festive.

1. In a medium saucepan, cook cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest over medium heat. Add cinnamon stick. One orange squeezed is about 1/4 cup of juice. Bring to a boil, stirring often.
2. Let cook for 8 – 10 minutes or until cranberries begin to burst and soften.
3. Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and carefully remove cinnamon stick.
4. Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl, cover, and chill.

If you don’t have a cinnamon stick, you can add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

This fresh cranberry relish will transform your holiday table. It is made in less than 15 minutes and is worth the minimal effort and time.

Variations:

While the classic cranberry sauce is a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving meal, you can also get creative and add some twists to impress your guests. Here are a few ideas:

1. Orange Zest and Cinnamon: Add a burst of citrusy freshness with orange zest and a cinnamon stick for warm, spicy notes.
2. Apple and Cranberry: Combine chopped apples and cranberries for a sweet and tart fusion.
3. Spiced Cranberry Sauce: Spice things up with a pinch of cloves, nutmeg, or even a dash of ginger for an extra layer of complexity.
4. Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce: Incorporate pomegranate juice and seeds for a vibrant, jewel-toned sauce.
5. Maple Cranberry Sauce: Swap out some or all of the sugar with maple syrup for a rich, caramel-like sweetness.

For all of Modern Honey’s Thanksgiving Recipes — click HERE.

Popular Thanksgiving Recipes:

The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Perfect Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Homemade Green Bean Casserole

The Best Homemade Dinner Rolls

If you love cranberry recipes, check out my soft and chewy CRANBERRY OATMEAL COOKIES, or my light and fluffy CRANBERRY ORANGE CAKE.

Happy Cooking!