Homemade Cranberry Sauce
There’s nothing quite like Homemade Cranberry Sauce to brighten up a holiday table. Fresh cranberries simmer with citrus, warm spices, and a touch of vanilla for a sauce that’s sweet, tart, and so much more flavorful than anything from a can. It’s incredibly easy to make, comes together in under 30 minutes, and adds the perfect pop of color and zing to roasted turkey, ham, biscuits, or even a leftover sandwich. One batch and you’ll wonder why you ever bought it premade.
What You Need to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Fresh cranberries
- Water
- Orange juice
- Brown sugar
- Orange zest
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Combine ingredients
In a medium saucepan, add the cranberries, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and water.
Bring to a boil
Heat over medium-high until the mixture reaches a full boil.
Simmer until thickened
Reduce heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will burst and the mixture will begin to thicken naturally.
Cool and store
Remove from heat and let the sauce cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make cranberry sauce ahead of time?
Yes! It keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to a week and tastes even better the next day.
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Absolutely — no need to thaw them first.
What can I use instead of orange juice?
Try lemon juice, apple cider, or even pineapple juice for a fun twist.
Can I reduce the sweetness?
Yes, adjust the brown sugar to taste or use a mix of white sugar and honey.
Can this be canned or frozen?
It freezes extremely well for up to 3 months.
What if the sauce seems too thin?
It thickens significantly as it cools. For a thicker sauce, simmer an additional 2–3 minutes.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine cranberries, sugar, orange zest and juice, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and water in a saucepan.
- Heat the mixture until it boils, then lower the heat to medium and let it simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- The cranberries will burst and the mixture will thicken slightly.
- Once removed from heat, let it cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
