Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
This Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a family-friendly recipe that balances tart fresh cranberries with bright orange and warm spices. It’s simple to make and offers a tangy-sweet addition to your holiday table.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries rinsed and sorted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp fresh orange zest
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract optional
- 1 cinnamon stick optional
Instructions
- Rinse and sort the cranberries, discarding any soft or damaged berries. Zest the orange and then juice it, setting zest aside for later.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, brown sugar, water, fresh orange juice, and cinnamon stick if using. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to low-medium and cook for 12 to 15 minutes until most cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove the cinnamon stick.
- Remove from heat and stir in the reserved orange zest, vanilla extract if using, and a pinch of salt. Let the sauce cool to room temperature, allowing it to thicken further.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with your favorite dishes. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Always sort and rinse cranberries to avoid bitterness from damaged fruit.
- Add orange zest at the end of cooking to prevent bitter flavors.
- Make the sauce ahead of time to allow flavors to meld and improve.
- Reserve some whole cranberries to stir in at the end for a chunkier texture if desired.
- The sauce freezes well for up to 3 months.
