Skip the can and serve this classic Homemade Cranberry Sauce at your holiday feast! Cranberries, dark brown sugar and orange juice simmer together until perfection! Cranberry sauce in under 20 minutes and it’s the absolute BEST!

homemade cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Today I have for you guys, cranberry sauce.

Not cranberry jelly, this is the real deal, better-than-the-can… cranberry sauce. I was actually considering making that the title of this recipe. But changed my mind and kept it simple.

homemade cranberry sauce in white bowl with spoon.

Soooo I think it’s pretty safe to assume cranberry sauce will be gracing a lot of tables this Thanksgiving… sooooo why not make it from scratch? Did you know it only takes 6 ingredients and is probably the easiest of all the recipes that you’ll be whipping up that day, so jump on it!

homemade cranberry sauce ingredients.

To Make This Homemade Cranberry Sauce You Will Need:

  • dark brown sugarLends sweetness and caramel notes and helps balance flavors.
  • granulated sugarAlso lends sweetness and helps balance flavors.
  • orange juice –  Adds subtle orange citrus flavor.
  • water
  • kosher saltEnhances the flavors in this recipe.
  • cranberriesUse fresh whole cranberries, discarding any mushy ones you might find.

white bowl with cranberries.

First pick through the cranberries. There’s a good chance you’ll find a few cranberries that still have the stem attached or ones that are mushy. Discarding the mushy cranberries and any stems you come across, add the cranberries into a colander and rinse under cool water.

saucepan with granulated and brown sugar, water and orange juice.

In a sauce pan over medium heat add in 1/2 cup both dark brown sugar and granulated sugar, 3/4 cup of orange juice, 1/4 cup of water with a pinch of kosher salt.

sugar and juice combined.

Stir until combined.

sugars dissolved in juice.

Heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved.

fresh cranberries added to saucepan.

Then add in all the cranberries.

saucepan with the lid askew.

Place the lid on, leaving it askew.

cranberries simmering.

Simmer the cranberries for 12 to 15 minutes.

cranberries bursting.

For a slightly chunky version, mash the cranberries with the back of your spatula or spoon. And for a smoother consistency, puree in your food processor.

mashed cranberries.

I like a chunkier cranberry sauce, but that’s just me.

saucepan of homemade cranberry sauce.

That color tho!

cool completely.

Once the cranberries are soft, transfer them to a bowl to cool.

Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

homemade cranberry sauce.

How To Store Cranberry Sauce:

Once completely cooled, transfer it to a container with a tight fitting lid and pop it in the fridge. It should keep for a few weeks up to 2 weeks.

Can I Freeze Cranberry Sauce?

Yes! Once cooled, transfer to a freezr-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Any longer than that could affect the taste.

white bowl with homemade cranberry sauce.

Enjoy! And if you give this Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

perfect homemade cranberry sauce.

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Yield: 20 servings

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Skip the can and serve this classic Homemade Cranberry Sauce at your holiday feast! Cranberries, dark brown sugar and orange juice simmer together until perfection! Cranberry sauce in under 20 minutes and it's the absolute BEST! Recipe yields 2½ cups or 20 (2 tablespoon) servings.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • pinch kosher salt
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries

Instructions 

  • Pick through the cranberries and discard any stems and then give them a quick rinse.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat combine the sugars, orange juice, water and salt. Stir until the sugars dissolve.
  • Add in the cranberries and cover with the lid askew, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cranberries have burst and softened. For a chunky sauce, use the back of the spoon to smash the cranberries.
  • Transfer to a large bowl to cool, then chill until serving.
  • Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid for up to a month (maybe longer).
  • For a smoother consistency, puree it in a food processor or blender.
Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 52kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 40mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 29IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 1mg