Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Fresh Cranberry Sauce tastes amazing with every other dish on your Thanksgiving table. Make it ahead of time for less stress!

Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without Fresh Cranberry Sauce! Smother it on your Turkey, Rolls, and Mashed Potatoes for some sweet and saucy cranberry flavor.

Fresh Cranberry Sauce in a small white bowl topped with fresh rosemary.

Homemade cranberry sauce

I just love Thanksgiving. There’s nothing better than food and family! Especially when that meal involves turkey, rolls, and mashed potatoes!

Cranberry sauce is as much a necessity as the rolls and potatoes. With that being said, forget about the gelatinous canned Cranberry Sauce and go straight for the homemade stuff! It’s worth it—trust me.

This Fresh Cranberry Sauce recipe is super simple and perfect to make ahead of time. It lasts in the fridge for a while so it’s great for making leftover Turkey Sandwiches. YUM!

You really gotta go homemade for this because it’s better than any canned version. And honestly, it will become a staple at your holiday get-togethers.

Cranberries being cooked in a saucepan for fresh cranberry sauce.

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

BERRIES. You need about 1 pound of fresh cranberries for this recipe. Wash and dry first!

COOK. Combine the cranberries, sugar, and water in a medium pot over medium heat. Bring everything to a boil and reduce the mixture to a simmer. Mix in the cinnamon stick, allspice, and nutmeg.

Simmer for 5-7 minutes (some cranberries will burst and some will remain whole-this is totally normal). After about 5-7 minutes, stir in the orange juice and orange zest.

COOL + SERVE. Cool the cranberry sauce before serving. Done and done!

Fresh cranberry sauce breaking down in a pan.

Recipe Tips

Prep berries. Wash and remove any old or bruised berries. Let dry. Alternatively, use an equal amount of frozen cranberries without needing to thaw them first. Note it will take a couple of extra minutes to bring them to a boil.

How to zest an orange. It’s easier to zest the orange and then juice it, but you can do the opposite. Using a citrus zester makes it super easy, but the small side of a cheese grater can be used, or a small paring knife. 

Tart sauce. The tartness increases the longer the sauce cooks. Some people love the tangy taste while others don’t. There are a few ways to counteract the tart flavor, but not eliminate it.

Try adding more sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Stir in a pinch of baking soda. Allow it to chill in the fridge for a few days so the flavors meld together more and dampen that tang.

Thicken the sauce. Before making adjustments to thicken the sauce remember that it will thicken as it cools. With that said, the easiest way to remedy a runny sauce is to allow it to simmer longer before you chill it in the fridge. However, be aware that the longer it cooks the more tart it can become.

You can also add cornstarch to aid in thickening the sauce.

  • In a separate bowl mix together 1-2 teaspoons of cold water with an equal amount of cornstarch. Once smooth, add it to the simmering sauce.

Tips for Serving and Storing

Fresh Cranberry Sauce tastes amazing with pretty much every other Thanksgiving/holiday dish out there.

Serve it on the side of your Roast Turkey. Slather it on a soft Homemade Roll. Mix it in with your Mashed Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole. Use it to make leftover Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches. However you eat it, it’s the tastiest side dish that never goes out of style!

Make ahead of time. Make-ahead dishes make my life so much easier this time of year. That’s one of the reasons why I love this Fresh Cranberry Sauce recipe. Make it up to one week ahead of time and keep it in your fridge in an airtight container. Perfection!!

FREEZE. To prevent freezer burn, make sure it is kept in an airtight freezer-safe container. Use it within two months for the best results. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before ready to serve.

Homemade fresh cranberry sauce in a white dish.

For more classic Thanksgiving recipes:

Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe

5 from 14 votes
Fresh Cranberry Sauce tastes amazing with every other dish on your Thanksgiving table. Make it ahead of time for less stress!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 1128 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

  • 1 lb fresh cranberries washed & dried
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 orange zested & juices

Instructions
 

  • Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a medium pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
    Reduce to a simmer and mix in the cinnamon stick, allspice, and nutmeg. Simmer for 5-7 minutes (some of the cranberries will burst and some will remain whole).
  • Stir in the orange juice and zest. Cool before serving.

Like this recipe?

Pin it now to remember it later! Share it with your Facebook friends (you know they’ll love it). Or tweet it to the world. Maybe even email it to your favorite cousin!

Related Posts

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad is fresh, naturally sweet, colorful, and absolutely delicious. Serve it as a quick lunch or a dinner side! This tasty salad is similar to our Strawberry Harvest…

1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

5 from 7 votes

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Quick and simple, this Strawberry Vinaigrette is delicious. It’s sweet, tart, and goes wonderfully on top of a bed of greens. Homemade dressing beats store-bought any day! This Strawberry Vinaigrette…

5 minutes minutes

5 from 18 votes

Yogurt Fruit Dip

In just minutes, mix together an amazingly sweet and creamy vanilla Yogurt Fruit Dip. Serve with your favorite fruit! Yogurt Fruit Dip is a perfect treat for a date night…

5 minutes minutes

4.89 from 17 votes

Buffalo Sauce Recipe

This homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe is quick, easy, and ready in minutes. You’ll never buy it from the store again! While perfect for Buffalo Wings, this homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe…

10 minutes minutes

5 from 1 vote

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

Join the Conversation

Rate and Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    HOmemade is the way to go! I have honestly never been the biggest fan of cranberry sauce, but my family loves it. This is super quick & easy!

  2. 5 stars
    I’m supposed to bring cranberry sauce to the family gathering this year, so I tested this out and it’s great! Thank you!

  3. 5 stars
    Such a classic dish and recipe. everyone should seriously make it homemade for thanksgiving, especially when it’s so easy.

  4. 5 stars
    This is way more appealing and tasty than the lined glob that comes frOm a can. Youre recipe tastes great alone or spread on the tuRkey or rolls.

  5. 5 stars
    I am so glad I saved your recipe. Made for Thanksgiving and was a big hit. Going to make another batch, freeze for Christmas and see how it will taste on my homemade cheesecake.

    Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

  6. 5 stars
    This is hands down the BEST cranberry sauce ever!!! My family loves it so much, I keep some made up in the fridge all fall and winter long! ❤️

  7. 5 stars
    Oh my is all I can say. So good. All the spices really give this Cranberry sauce a kick. My family was raving about it.