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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Fresh Cranberry Sauce

    October 28, 2020 | Updated March 22, 2021 | Heather Warburton

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Click HERE to read my policies.

    A simple homemade recipe for Fresh Cranberry Sauce, with only 5 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes. This perfectly sweetened and slightly tart sauce will be your new go to for holiday meals!

    I've come to figure out that you either love cranberries or hate them. At least that is the way it is in this house. We are a split household when it comes to cranberries. Half of us love them, the others are scouring with despise when they see me making them. For the ones, that love them, this recipe is their favorite! I happen to love them, and I could smear this sauce on almost anything! And, of course eat it as is. If you are a cranberry lover, this recipe is a must try!

    Top close up view of fresh cranberry sauce.

    5 Simple Ingredients for Cranberry Sauce

    1. Fresh Cranberries
    2. Sugar
    3. Orange Juice
    4. Cinnamon Stick
    5. Salt

    Can I use frozen cranberries?

    Absolutely! I suggest thawing them before hand. Then just follow the recipe as written.

    Do I have to use orange juice?

    No, if you prefer a different juice or even water you could use that. I prefer to use orange juice, because it pairs well with cranberries. However, if you want you could use water, but the sauce won't be as sweet it will be a bit more tart. You also could use apple juice, and the sauce will have a bit different flavor profile but will still be good.

    Top view of fresh cranberry sauce in glass bowl with cinnamon stick and scattered cranberries.

    How to Make Fresh Cranberry Sauce from Scratch

    Step 1: Combine the Ingredients

    Add all the ingredients to a medium sized pot and turn the heat on to medium.

    Step 2: Cook the Sauce

    Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce has started to thicken and most of the berries have popped open.

    Step 3: Cool

    Remove cinnamon stick and let the sauce cool completely. The sauce will thicken more as it cools.

    Step 4: Serve or Chill

    Serve at room temperature or chilled.

    Seriously, that's it! So simple, yet so delicious. Well, that's if you are on side cranberry love. I sure am! Need another recipe to use fresh cranberries? Try my Fresh Cranberry Pumpkin Bread recipe.

    How to Store Cranberry Sauce

    Store in a tightly covered container in the fridge. This sauce can be made 4-5 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to serve.

    Side view of fresh cranberry sauce in glass bowl with scattered cranberries next to bowl.

    More Holiday Side Dishes to Love!

    • Roasted Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
    • Air Fryer Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
    • Easy Roasted Carrots
    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli
    • Honey Garlic Glazed Carrots
    • Garlic Parmesan Sautéed Asparagus
    • Homemade French Bread

    For all the cranberry lovers, give this Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe a try and let me know how much it's enjoyed in the comments below! Pictures encouraged on Instagram with the hashtag #heathershomemadekitchen You can also follow me on Social Media to see what other crazy things my family and I are doing! If you like what you see, please share with your friends and family!

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    Close up side view of fresh cranberry sauce in glass bowl with scattered cranberries next to it.
    Fresh Cranberry Sauce in glass bowl with cinnamon stick and scattered cranberries.
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    Fresh Cranberry Sauce

    A simple homemade recipe for Fresh Cranberry Sauce, with only 5 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes. This perfectly sweetened and slightly tart sauce will be your new go to for holiday meals! 
    Course: Side Dish
    Keyword: Fresh Cranberry Sauce
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz fresh cranberries
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ½ cup orange juice
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • pinch salt

    Instructions

    • In a medium size pot, add all the ingredients.
    • Over medium heat bring the sauce to a boil.
    • Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the sauce has started to thicken and most of the berries have popped.
    • Remove from heat and remove the cinnamon stick.
    • Let the sauce cool completely. It will thicken more as it cools.
    • Serve at room temperature or chill tightly covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please rate the recipe, leave a comment and tell me how much you loved it!
    Share the Recipe!Please share it and tag @heathershomemadekitchen and use #heathershomemadekitchen!

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    Hi, I'm Heather! A wife and mom of 3. I like to create and share homemade recipes from breakfast to dessert that the whole family will enjoy. Thank you for stopping by!

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