Cranberry sauce tends to conjure up images of Thanksgiving holiday meals. But you don’t have to wait for the holidays to put this fresh homemade cranberry sauce recipe on the table. It’s great with roast chicken and sweet potatoes, a wonderful sweet and refreshing side dish that my husband and kids love to see on our dinner table any time of year!
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Best Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Are you still buying the stuff in the can? I always did until I started reading the labels. All those preservatives and other things are a hard-pass from me. It’s way better when you make cranberry sauce homemade from scratch, and once you do, you’ll never open another can of cranberry sauce again.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- Fresh cranberries – The best way to make your whole cranberry sauce homemade.
- Orange juice – Citrus adds the perfect touch to so many cranberry recipes!
- Orange zest – From on orange to add into the cranberry sauce as it cooks as well as for garnishing at the end.
- Sugar – Helps bring out the sweetness.
- Salt – Just a pinch helps balance the taste.
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
With just 5 minutes of prep time and only 15 minutes on the stove, this easy Thanksgiving cranberry sauce side dish comes together lightning-quick. Make room for it at your table tonight!
Lets get lost in this sauce!
Megan
How do you Make Cranberry Sauce from Scratch?
- To make this fresh cranberry sauce recipe, start by rinsing and draining your cranberries.
- Then in a medium saucepan over high heat, add water, sugar, and orange juice until it boils.
- Then add the cranberries, salt, and orange zest.
- Keep cooking until you see most cranberries burst, roughly 10 minutes.
- Let it cool then chill in the fridge.
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Yes, you can use frozen cranberries! If you have them in your freezer, that’s great. You don’t need to thaw them before starting this recipe either.
- Orange juice takes the bitterness away. Don’t skip adding it or you’ll have a very bitter side dish!
- You can use any sugar or sweetener you like, even honey or maple syrup.
- It should thicken up nicely, but if it doesn’t even after chilling, you can heat it to a simmer for a few minutes until it does, then let it cool.
What can I do with fresh cranberries?
You can make cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries. It only takes a few minutes and a few ingredients to turn fresh cranberries into everyone’s favorite side dish.
How many cranberries does it take to make one cranberry sauce?
In that canned stuff, there are about 200 cranberries. A bag of fresh cranberries will likely have more if it is a larger portion than the can.
Is homemade cranberry sauce worth it?
Absolutely! It’s super simple and it tastes so much better than anything in a can. Plus, it keeps well so you can make it in advance.
How do you get the bitterness out of cranberry sauce?
The orange juice will chase the bitterness away and balance the flavor for your cranberry sauce.
How do you make cranberry sauce better?
Cranberry sauce will taste bitter unless you add orange to it. Orange juice is the best way, plus adding orange zest further enhances the flavors. Don’t forget the sugar or it won’t be sweet!
How do you make a cranberry sauce set?
Chilling it in the fridge should help it thicken up after allowing it to cool on the stove.
How do you make cranberry sauce thicker?
Your cranberry sauce should thicken up after you chill it. If not, you can simmer it on the stove for 5 more minutes and let it cool. It should be thick enough after that!
What goes well with Cranberry Sauce?
It’s the best with turkey or roast chicken, though cranberry sauce can be served with many other things too. Try it with pork, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, on top of meatballs for something sweet and savory, or make it a topping for your ice cream night!
How to Store Cranberry Sauce?
Cranberry sauce needs to go in the fridge once you’re done cooling it and serving it. Keep it in an airtight container.
How Long Does Cranberry Sauce Last?
You’ll get plenty of longevity out of your homemade cranberry sauce when you keep it in the fridge. It’s safe to eat up to 2 weeks. That means you can make it well in advance of gatherings if you’d like to save time.
Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?
Yes, yes, and yes! Even better, you can freeze your cranberry sauce for up to 6 months. Talk about planning ahead for the holidays!
How to Reheat Cranberry Sauce?
You should let it thaw in the fridge and then it will be ready to serve. If you’d like it warm, simply bring it to a simmer on the stovetop.
