Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

This recipe for classic Cranberry Sauce is so easy and made with just 3 ingredients. No matter how many batches of cranberry sauce I’ve made, I always come back to this one. It’s simple, it’s classic, and it’s really the best.

Once you try homemade cranberry sauce, there’s just no going back to storebought. It’s better in taste, texture, and presentation. Pair this iconic holiday side dish with your Juicy Roast Turkey for a burst of sweet-tart flavor in every bite.

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (1)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

We love cranberries for the holidays, from Sugared Cranberries (and you can use leftovers to make this cranberry sauce!) to moist and fluffy Cranberry Bread. If you are looking for a go-to cranberry sauce, this is it! Plus, you can change it up in so many different ways and make it your own (see variations below).

Classic Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Homemade Cranberry Sauce is iconic for the holidays and a staple of our Thanksgiving menu every year. Nothing pairs better with Thanksgiving Turkey. The combination of sweet and tangy with savory meats is irresistibly good.

Read on for our tips on how to sweeten this recipe the natural way, without processed sugar. We’ve also included some fun variations to really make this recipe your own because there are a hundred ways to make cranberry sauce.

Ingredients

You don’t need much to make a good cranberry sauce (scroll down to get the full amounts available in the recipe card):

  • Sweetener – Use your choice of granulated sugar or a natural sweetener, like honey or maple syrup. My favorite is maple syrup because it adds a nice layer of maple flavor.
  • Cranberries –We love making this recipe with whole fresh cranberries. Many grocery stores will carry bags of fresh cranberries when they’re in season.
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2)

Pro Tip: You don’t need cornstarch to set this perfect cranberry sauce. Cranberries contain pectin, a natural thickener that is released when the berries are heated. If you simmer the sauce long enough, it will thicken all on its own.

Can I Use Frozen Cranberries?

Yes, this recipe will work with frozen cranberries, too. Frozen cranberries will take a little longer to come to a boil and simmer, but the texture always turns out just as delicious.

It’s easy to freeze fresh cranberries in the bags they came in (or transfer them to a freezer bag). They’ll keep frozen for up to a year, and we almost always have a stash in our freezer.

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (3)

How to Make Cranberry Sauce from Scratch

We just love how quickly this recipe comes together on the stovetop. It’s just 3 steps:

  1. Dissolve the Sugar – In a saucepan, combine your sweetener of choice with water on the stovetop, and bring it to a simmer. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
  2. Add Cranberries and Cook –Add the cranberries to the pot and let them come to a low boil, then cook, uncovered, until the sauce thickens. Remember to stir occasionally.
  3. Cool and Serve –Stir in additional sweetener to taste, then leave the cranberry sauce to cool. See below for easy serving suggestions.
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (4)

Pro Tip: If your cranberry sauce still tastes a bit bitter or too tart after it’s cooked, you can add more sweetener to taste.

Easy Variations

My favorite variation is this classic and simple version, but there are so many ways you can change up and enjoy this sauce. Below are more easy variations and add-in ideas (see the recipe card for more detailed instructions):

  • Cranberry Orange Sauce
  • Lemon zest and freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • Orange zest and orange juice
  • Dried cherries and pecans

Common Questions

What is the difference between Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Relish?

Cranberry relish is generally more bitter, made from raw cranberries that are minced up in a food processor.

Can I add less sugar?

Yes! Less sugar or added sweetness will result in a more tart and tangy sauce. Start with ½ cup of sweetener and add more to taste.

Can I double the recipe?

Homemade cranberry sauce freezes beautifully (see below), so go ahead and make a double batch if you’d like to have extras.

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (5)

Ways to Serve Cranberry Sauce

We’ll often serve this homemade sauce cold or at room temperature. Here are just some of the many ways to enjoy it:

  • Roasts –Pair it with succulent roasts like your Roast Turkey, Beef Tenderloin, or Pork Tenderloin.
  • Stuffing – it pairs great with Thanksgiving stuffing.
  • Bread – Spread the sauce over fluffy Dinner Rolls or even over toast in the morning. It’s also great to spread in a Chicken Salad sandwich.
  • Topping –Cranberries make a great topping for desserts like Cheesecake.

Make-Ahead

This classic condiment keeps well for days after it’s made. Here’s how to store your leftovers:

  • To Refrigerate: Store the cooled cranberries airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • Freezing: You can freeze homemade cranberry sauce for up to 2 months. Seal it in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag to store, and defrost it in the fridge before serving.
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (6)

We can’t wait for you to try this simple, yet unbelievably tangy and tasty 3-ingredient cranberry sauce.

More Cranberry Recipes

Can’t get enough cranberries for the holidays? Check out even more easy cranberry recipes:

  • Sparkling Cranberry Pineapple Punch
  • Cranberry Orange Scones
  • Cranberry Bundt Cake
  • Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Cranberries
  • Apple Cranberry Danish

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe

5 from 67 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (8)

Homemade Cranberry Sauce is an iconic Thanksgiving side dish made with just 3 ingredients. You can sweeten it with sugar or use a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup (our favorite!).The sweet and tangy flavors pair perfectly with savory turkey.

SavePinReviewPrint

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 8 servings

  • 1 cup granulated sugar, or 3/4 cup honey or maple syrup, plus more to taste
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries

Optional add-ins at the start of cooking:

  • 2 wide strips of lemon zest, plus 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 wide strips of orange zest, plus 1/4 cup juice
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries
  • 1/2 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, combine sugar (or maple syrup or honey) and water. Set over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add cranberries and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 12-15 minutes.

  • Add more maple syrup, honey, or sugar to taste if needed, then remove from heat and cool sauce to room temperature before serving.

Notes

  • To Store: Once cranberry sauce has cooled to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Per Serving

116kcal Calories30g Carbs0.2g Protein0.1g Fat0.004g Saturated Fat0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat0.01g Monounsaturated Fat2mg Sodium35mg Potassium2g Fiber27g Sugar26IU Vitamin A6mg Vitamin C4mg Calcium0.1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

116

% Daily Value*

Fat

0.1

g

%

Saturated Fat

0.004

g

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

0.02

g

Monounsaturated Fat

0.01

g

Potassium

35

mg

1

%

Carbohydrates

30

g

10

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

27

g

30

%

Protein

0.2

g

%

Vitamin A

26

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

6

mg

7

%

Calcium

4

mg

%

Iron

0.1

mg

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Condiments, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, how to make cranberry sauce

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 116

Natasha Kravchuk

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (9)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What takes the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

How do you cut the tartness out of cranberry sauce? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

Their sharp tang counteracts bitter flavors without having to add extra sugar. While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries.

What role do sugar and water play in making cranberry sauce? ›

Instead, the pectin polymers will bind to each other, giving the cranberry mixture more and more structure. The sweet sugar-water molecules get trapped in between the pectin chains, resulting in a tasty cranberry sauce!

How to thicken homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

How to enhance cranberry sauce? ›

Spike cranberry sauce with citrus

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

Why do you open cranberry sauce upside down? ›

But why? Ocean Spray says this is to get the cranberry sauce out in one intact piece. “The rounded part of the can that looks like the bottom has an air bubble in it,” Ocean Spray's representative explains. The bubble is there so you can “break the seal the sauce makes with the can.”

What cancels out tartness? ›

How Do You Neutralize Sour Taste in Food? If a dish is too sour, add a little bit of sugar! Sweetness balances out sour flavors, so if something makes your mouth pucker, a dash of sugar may help soften the blow of the sour food.

How to make cranberry sauce less tangy? ›

If the sauce is too sour, add more sweetener.

If you find the recipe as written is a bit too tart, keep adding honey 1 tablespoon of honey until you reach your desired sweetness.

What do I do if my cranberry sauce is too sweet? ›

To use citric acid to save over-sweetened cranberry sauce, simply use it like you would MSG in a savory dish, and stir in little pinches until your sauce is as tart as you desire. But don't stop there. You can use citric acid in a cloying apple pie filling, a one-note turkey brine, or heavy, stodgy stuffing.

What is the difference between cranberry sauce and jellied cranberry sauce? ›

The major variation you're likely to come across is "whole berry" versus "jellied." The only difference between them is that the jellied sauce is cooked until the berries have completely broken down. They both slide out of the can as a wobbly red cylinder.

What are the two types of cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce can be served either as a gooey liquid or as a solid jelly. The jellied version is solid enough to retain the shape of the container in which it's placed whereas the sauce version is much more fluid. The difference between the fluid sauce and the jelly versions comes down to pectin.

Why is canned cranberry sauce so good? ›

I love the texture, shape, ridges, and dependability of the cranberry sauce that comes from a can. Each year, no matter what happens or may go wrong, I know the cranberry sauce will taste exactly as it has for as long as I can remember.

What happens if you cook cranberry sauce too long? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

How long will homemade cranberry sauce last? ›

When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

How do you fix a sauce that is too bitter? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps.

How do you neutralize bitterness? ›

The Fix: Balance bitter flavors by introducing something salty, sweet, or sour. For naturally bitter foods such as kale, you can soften the flavor by add a lemony vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese, and pomegranate seeds. You can also elevate kale by tossing it olive oil and salt, then roasting it in the oven until crispy.

How do you make cranberry juice less bitter? ›

10 Ways to Make Cranberry Juice Taste Better
  1. Add Fruits and Veggies.
  2. Dilute with Water. ...
  3. Add Coconut Water. ...
  4. Add Ginger Ale. ...
  5. Add Other Fruit Juice. ...
  6. Sprinkle in Salt. ...
  7. Add Sweeteners. ...
  8. 10 Ways to Make Cranberry Juice Taste Better. Cranberry juice is a very healthy, yet tart-tasting drink. ...
Feb 21, 2024

Why do my cranberries taste bitter? ›

This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 5947

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.