This Easy Cranberry Sauce recipe combines fresh cranberries and orange to create a tangy-sweet addition to your holiday spread. Quick to make with just a few simple ingredients, it offers vibrant flavor and color that elevate any meal. Perfect with turkey, ham, or even as a spread for leftovers, it’s a delightful alternative to canned options for a cozy holiday feast.

Cranberry Sauce in the bowl on the table with oranges and cinamom sticks next to it

Step By Step Video Guide

About Cranberries

Cranberries aren’t just for sauces! Their bright, tangy flavor and striking color make them an exciting addition to both sweet and savory dishes. Toss them into salads for a pop of tartness, use them in baked goods like muffins and bread, or even try them roasted as a side dish. Cranberries are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, making them a nutritious choice as well as a tasty one. Embrace cranberries this season for festive, fresh flavors in all kinds of dishes.

plate with turkey, cranberry sauce, green peas

Ingredients:

½ cup water
fresh orange juice, from two oranges (about ½ cup)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 bag of fresh or frozen cranberries (12 oz)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

How to make Cranberry Sauce with Orange:

mash cranberry sauce with masher and transfer the sauce to the container

Tips:

Texture: For a smoother sauce, blend it after cooking. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, use a potato masher instead.
Thickening: This cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. Let it cool in the pan to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container to chill completely in the refrigerator.
Make Ahead: Cranberry sauce stores well, so you can prepare it in advance.
Adjust Sweetness: If you like it sweeter, add a bit more sugar or honey while it’s still warm.
Citrus Zest: Add a hint of orange or lemon zest at the end for extra brightness.
Spices: Enhance the flavor with a pinch of nutmeg, cloves, or ginger.
Crunch: For added texture, mix in chopped pecans or walnuts once the sauce has cooled.

Storing and Freezing Tips:

Storing: Keep cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Freezing: To freeze, store cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

plate with turkey, peas and cranberry sauce

Try these next time:

Balsamic Roasted Carrots

Whipped Ricotta

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken

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Cranberry Sauce with Orange

Cranberry sauce with Orange is a sweet and tangy side dish made from cranberries, sugar, water, and orange juice, perfect for holiday meals.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Ingredients

½ cup water
fresh orange juice from two oranges (about ½ cup)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 bag of fresh or frozen cranberries 12 oz
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

In a medium sauce-pan, whisk the water, orange juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon together
When the mixture boils, add the cranberries and stir.
Turn the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries start to pop.
Cook until most berries burst, then mash with a potato masher.
Transfer to a container and let it cool before storing.

Keyword cranberry sauce, thanksgiving

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