Side Dishes
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce brings a bright, sweet-tart flavor to holiday dinners. Made with just a few ingredients, this simple recipe offers a fresh alternative to canned cranberry sauce. It pairs beautifully with roasted turkey, dressing, and other traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas favorites.
Prep time
5 min
Cook time
15 min
Cooling
30 min
Total time
50 min includes about 30 minutes of cooling; the sauce thickens as it cools
Servings
8
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- 1
Rinse cranberries and discard any damaged berries. Frozen cranberries may be used without thawing.
- 2
Combine sugar, orange juice, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- 3
Stir until sugar begins to dissolve.
- 4
Add cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon if using, and salt.
- 5
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.
- 6
Simmer uncovered for approximately 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will begin to burst and the sauce will thicken.
- 7
Remove from heat when most berries have burst and the sauce has reached a spoonable consistency.
- 8
Allow to cool for approximately 30 minutes. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
- 9
Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Notes
- Suggested pairings: Southern Cornbread Dressing with Chicken, Smothered Turkey Wings or Brown Sugar Pineapple Glazed Ham.
Heritage Kitchen Tips
- Frozen cranberries: work just as well as fresh.
- Texture: mash some berries for a smoother sauce or leave them mostly whole.
- Leftovers: try as a spread for turkey sandwiches.
Ingredient substitutions
- Extra sugar, a tablespoon at a time to taste
- the listed sugar, for a sweeter sauce
- Slightly less sugar
- the full cup, for a less sweet (more tart) sauce
Storage and reheating
Make ahead: refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Round out the meal
Complete the meal
Helpful kitchen tool
Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
Plan your turkey roasting time, check safe cooking temperatures, and work backward from dinner time with confidence.
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