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Skip the store-bought stuff this year, and make my homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce! It has the perfect combination of tart and sweet, and it’s ready in just 20 minutes.
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Orange Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce is such a classic, and the texture and flavor is so much better than canned! Flavored with freshly squeezed orange juice and orange zest, this is the perfect recipe for cranberry sauce for the holidays. I make it every year!
Cranberries pair so perfectly with orange – it’s like they were meant for each other! My cranberry sauce with oranges is foolproof and made with fresh or frozen cranberries, ready in just 20 minutes.
It’s easy to make ahead too; the longer it sits, the more flavorful this fresh cranberry sauce gets. You will love it with your Thanksgiving turkey and even for your leftover Thanksgiving recipes!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- Brown sugar
- Water
- Orange juice
- Orange zest
- Cranberries
- Salt
How to Make Cranberry Sauce
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring orange juice, water, and sugar to a boil.
- Once boiling, add in cranberries, orange zest, and salt, and return to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until most of the cranberries burst open (you may need to use a spoon to mash them a bit).
- Once cranberries are mushed, transfer them to a serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Orange Cranberry Sauce Tips
- You can use fresh or frozen cranberries, but make sure to defrost cranberries if they are frozen.
- Want to make sugar-free cranberry sauce? Substitute brown sugar for a sugar replacement like Splenda.
Cranberry Sauce Recipes FAQs
Cranberry sauce is made out of fresh or frozen cranberries boiled in sugar water until most berries burst open and the mixture thickens. You can add in other ingredients like orange juice and zest for extra flavor.
Cranberry sauce is done cooking when most of the berries have burst or split open; this usually takes about 10 minutes over medium heat.
Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce can easily be made up to a week before serving! For the best results, make sure your cranberry sauce is chilled thoroughly before serving so it has time to set.
Preparing cranberry sauce the day before Thanksgiving gives it plenty of time to chill, and saves you time on the day itself.
Freezing and Storing Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Or, freeze the cranberry sauce for up to 6 months! Thaw in the refrigerator overnight when ready to use. Make sure to label with the freezing date.
Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
- Mashed Potato Recipe
- Green Bean Casserole
- Creamed Corn Casserole
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Jalapeno Deviled Eggs
Check out my best turkey recipes!
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📋 Recipe
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup orange juice freshly squeezed from 2 oranges
- zest from half an orange about 1 tablespoon
- 16 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries defrost if frozen
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring orange juice, water, and sugar to a boil.½ cup water, ½ cup orange juice, ¾ cup brown sugar
- Once boiling add in cranberries, orange zest, and salt and return to a boil.zest from half an orange, 16 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries, salt
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until most of the cranberries burst open (you may need to use a spoon to mash them a bit).
- Once cranberries are mushed, transfer them to a serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen cranberries, but make sure to defrost cranberries if they are frozen.
- Want to make sugar-free cranberry sauce? Substitute brown sugar for a sugar replacement like Splenda.
Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!