Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: Nov 1, 2019 · Modified: Oct 31, 2023 by Erin Henry · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

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The easiest and tastiest 4-ingredient best Cranberry Sauce Recipe! Anyone can make this recipe! This tart yet sweet side dish is perfect for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

We like to use leftover cranberry sauce in our Cranberry Oatmeal Bars!

Either you love homemadecranberry saucewith fresh cranberries, or you don't. We love it and gobble it up, so it's a must-make every year for our Thanksgiving dinner (and sometimes for Christmas).

It's a holiday staple, like pumpkin pie.

It pairs nicely with the meal's other flavors and is part of the holiday tradition, so it stays on the menu no matter how many guests eat it!

It's vegan and gluten-free, so it's a good option for most people coming for dinner.

Another side dish we serve on Thanksgiving isRoasted Brussels Sprouts. This Baked Cranberry Brie is a favorite appetizer for sure! Mmmmm!

If you want to know why we eat cranberries this time of year, Martha Stewart has some ideas.

Turkey is the main attraction during Thanksgiving, so check out these tips on roasting your Thanksgiving turkey and keeping it moist.

Our guide to what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers is very helpful after turkey day. To get ready for the big day, grab your printable Thanksgiving Planner. Here's what you do with leftover cranberry sauce if you have any.

Ingredient Notes

With its simple ingredients, you really can't mess up this Thanksgiving cranberry sauce recipe!

Fresh Cranberries: you can buy these in advance and store them in your freezer until ready to use. They can be in stores as early as the end of October.
Sugar: To sweeten the tart cranberry, you use white granulated sugar.
Water: A liquid is needed to thin the recipe and make it the perfect consistency.
Orange Zest: The zest gives this side dish the perfect flavor.

How To Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Dissolve Water & Sugar: Bring water and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Simmer Cranberries: Turn heat down to medium, add cranberries, and simmer, occasionally stirring, until berries pop for 10 to 12 minutes.
Let Set: Stir in zest, then cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Warning: The sauce tends to splatter when cooking. An apron is recommended.

Can You Make Cranberry Sauce in Advance?

Cranberry Sauce is a recipe you can make ahead so that you're free to make other sides (or watch some football) on the day of Thanksgiving.

How far in advance can you make cranberry sauce? Cranberry sauce is good for up to 10-14 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can also freeze cranberry sauce for up to a month.

PRO TIP: Freezing the sauce introduces more water into the mix, so your cranberry sauce will not be as thick as when you originally made it. Boil for a few minutes to evaporate some of the liquid and thicken it up.
Erin

Recipe FAQs

How Do You Make Cranberry Sauce Thicker?

The thickness of your sauce is a personal preference. The longer you cook your cranberries, the thicker your sauce will be, but it will also thicken up after standing, so plan accordingly.

Can You Freeze Homemade Cranberry Sauce?

For those who like to plan ahead, you can make your cranberry sauce a month ahead of time and keep it in the freezer until ready to use. Make sure you prevent your sauce from getting freezer burn, though.Reheat your cranberry side dish over medium heat in a saucepan.

More Thanksgiving recipes

Candy Pretzel Turkey Bites
Pumpkin Pie Turkeys
Mini Cranberry Brie Bites
Crockpot Stuffing Recipe
Turkey Stuffing Meatballs
Pumpkin Pie Bombs
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

Leftover Cranberry Recipes

Apple Cranberry Muffins
Quick Cranberry Nut Bread
Cranberry Baked Brie

Eat it for breakfast with yogurt and nuts!

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Printable Recipe

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

The easiest and tastiest 4-ingredient Cranberry Sauce Recipe! The perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 about 2 ½ cups

Calories: 77kcal

Author: Erin Henry

Equipment

▢
saucepan
▢
Spatula or cooking spoon

Ingredients

▢ 12 ounces fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
▢ 1 cup sugar
▢ 1 cup water
▢ ½ teaspoon freshly grated orange zest

Instructions

Dissolve Water & Sugar: Bring water and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Simmer Cranberries: Turn heat down to medium and add cranberries and simmer, stirring occasionally, until berries just pop, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Let Set: Stir in zest, then cool to room temperature. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

Notes

MAKE-AHEAD: You can make this cranberry sauce up to 10 days ahead of time.
STORING: It keeps in an airtight container for about 10-14 days and is great for leftovers. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet Gluten Free

Tried this recipe?Mention @Suburban_Simplicity or tag #suburbansimplicity!

What to Serve with Leftover Cranberry Sauce

Leftover cranberry sauce goes well onturkey sandwiches, turkey meatballs, panini sandwiches, or even turkey quesadillas, so it's wonderfulto make extra 🙂

Here's an extra yummy list of What to Do With Your Leftover Cranberry Sauce.