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Home » Food » Classic Cranberry Sauce

Classic Cranberry Sauce

November 9, 2019 by Kimberly Killebrew · 29 Comments

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Cranberry sauce is a staple at the holiday table and as with most things, NOTHING beats homemade.  This homemade cranberry sauce recipe is so easy and will become your go-to from now on!

cranberry sauce recipe best classic homemade orange cloves cinnamon

The holidays simple aren’t complete without homemade cranberry sauce – every dining table needs a bowl of it.  Right?

If you’re like me your reaction has generally been, “Eww, cranberry sauce.  That jelly-like gelatinous stuff that makes an unpleasant suction sound as it oozes its way out of the can.”  I agree:  The canned stuff just really isn’t very appetizing.  Homemade cranberry sauce on the other hand….totally different story.  It’s fresh, vibrant and absolutely delicious.  There just isn’t any comparison and so if like me you’ve always hated the canned stuff, give this homemade cranberry sauce a try and you may just change your mind.

This cranberry sauce is not only the perfect accompaniment to your roast turkey, it also makes a great glaze for chicken, pork and even beef.  Spread it on your sandwiches, add it to your wraps, put some in the crock pot along with your usual ingredients for pulled pork, or enjoy it in sweet baked goods like muffins, scones and tarts.  You can even add your favorite BBQ sauce to it for a fun and tasty holiday twist on BBQ sauce.  Let your imagination run free!

This classic cranberry sauce recipe will take you less than 15 minutes to whip this up and it will store in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks.

cranberry sauce recipe best classic homemade orange cloves cinnamon

Let’s get started!

Bring the orange juice, sugar, salt, cinnamon (see note in recipe box) and cloves to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

how to make cranberry sauce

Add the cranberries and orange zest and simmer over medium-low for about 12 minutes until the cranberries have popped and are soft.

If you prefer your cranberry sauce extra chunky, add in another 1/4 cup or so of cranberries and simmer for another minute or two.

homemade cranberry sauce
Let the cranberry sauce cool completely and then refrigerate in a non-reactive airtight container for up to two weeks.

cranberry sauce recipe

Let cool completely and then store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Enjoy!

cranberry sauce recipe best classic homemade orange cloves cinnamon

If you’re both a cranberry and a salmon fan, be sure to try our delicious Salmon with Cranberry Ginger Mustard Sauce!

Classic Cranberry Sauce

Kimberly Killebrew
Cranberry sauce is a staple at the holiday table and as with most things, NOTHING beats homemade.  This homemade cranberry sauce recipe is so easy and will become your go-to from now on!
Print Recipe
4.34 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course condiment
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 99 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cinnamon stick (optional, see Note)
  • 3 whole cloves (most easily retrieved if you put them in a muslin spice bag or cheesecloth while simmering)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

Instructions
 

  • Bring the orange juice, sugar, salt, cinnamon and cloves to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the cranberries and orange zest and simmer over medium-low for about 12 minutes until the cranberries have popped and are soft. *If you prefer your cranberry sauce extra chunky, add in another couple of tablespoons of cranberries and simmer for another minute or two.
  • Let the cranberry sauce cool completely and then refrigerate in a non-reactive airtight container for up to two weeks.

Notes

*The cinnamon is optional depending on whether you want that flavor profile in your cranberry sauce. You may wish to leave it out if you're using this sauce as a condiment for turkey or as a sandwich spread. The cinnamon is a great addition though if you're using the cranberry sauce as a glaze for roasted meats or in baked goods like muffins and scones.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 13.8mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Keyword Cranberry Sauce
Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet

 

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29 Comments →

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29 Responses

  1. Patti Brehm says

    November 23, 2019 at 11:13 pm

    This Texas girl loves spice so I put in 1 finely chopped and seeded jalapeno. So good!!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      November 23, 2019 at 11:24 pm

      Great addition, Patti!

      Reply
      • Bruce Rogers says

        November 29, 2021 at 1:40 pm

        Put this cranberry sauce on vanilla ice cream spiced up with powdered cayenne pepper in the sauce just give it a little bit of heat. That little bit of heat would go good with that COLD ICE CREAM… THE HEAT AND COLD WOULD GO TOGETHER.

        Reply
  2. Bobby says

    November 22, 2017 at 9:21 am

    I made this today it’s very good, has a little bite to it. Very easy, Thanks

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      November 22, 2017 at 11:20 am

      Awesome, Bobby, thank you!

      Reply
  3. joan jacobowski says

    December 19, 2016 at 8:18 am

    That’s what I read while subbing in a high school food class, Ha!!! Love your recipes!!!! I’m a wild foods forager so I use wild cranberries:)

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 19, 2016 at 10:23 am

      Thanks, Joan! :) And wild cranberries – that’s awesome!

      Reply
  4. joan jacobowski says

    December 18, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    Sure, of course. Gotta follow the safe food guidelines. As I know from personal experience, food poisoning is no joke! But they’re so funny! Do you know they say whole grains will last for 6 months when tightly sealed, properly stored grains/ seeds will last for years! Just checked: Wiki says a 2,000 yr old date seed germinated. Ha!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 18, 2016 at 9:34 pm

      Geez, do they really say only 6 months?? That’s such nonsense. We have a lot of food storage that we’ve collected over the years – lots of years-old bins of grains and other dried foods, including some things we got from our parents that are over 20 years old and still perfectly good. And yes, the wheat found in ancient pyramids still sprouted after 2000 years. Though I play it safe when it comes to the guidelines I post in my public recipes, in our own home we take much of the USDA’s guidelines with a grain of salt.

      Reply
  5. Joan says

    December 17, 2016 at 9:09 am

    Actually, it’ll last for months in the fridge.

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 17, 2016 at 10:24 am

      In actuality, yes it likely will, Joan. I just provide the recommendations based on USDA guidelines.

      Reply
  6. Mary Ellen says

    December 13, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    I like homemade cranberry sauce, pretty much any version I’ve tasted. However, I also like the canned which has the virtue of being easily available all the time. I like to slice it and put it on sandwiches, turkey for sure, but others too. I just love cranberries in all forms…Craisins over raisins!!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 13, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      YES, craisins over raisins any day, Mary Ellen!

      Reply
      • Bruce Rogers says

        November 29, 2021 at 1:45 pm

        Watch out for all of that added extra sugar in craisins. Added sugar is just another nail in your coffin.

        Reply
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