Easy Cranberry Sauce that only takes 15 minutes to make! Made with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and sugar – plus a secret ingredient!
Your holiday table won’t be complete without this simple homemade cranberry sauce recipe. It’s so easy and delicious!
An Easy Holiday Side Dish
Are you ready to learn how to make cranberry sauce? This simple side dish just might steal the show!
I think we can all agree that eating cranberry sauce straight from a can just isn’t as appealing as cranberry sauce made from scratch. Just think of all the flavors that you’re missing out on when you open a lid and eat versus whipping up this recipe instead?
This is one of our favorite holiday recipes because it literally goes perfectly with EVERYTHING. Top it on your mashed potatoes, pair it up with your fluffy biscuits and rolls, or scoop it up with a hearty bite of turkey as well.
You’re going to love this simple and easy recipe for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
The ease of this cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries will literally blow your mind. The three main ingredients that you need are fresh cranberries, orange juice, and sugar. How simple is that?! Plus I add in a secret ingredient at the end…a dash of real Maple Syrup!
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Cranberries – 1 bag
- Orange Juice
- Sugar
- Maple Syrup (the secret ingredient)
Did I mention that this cranberry sauce recipe is crazy simple?!
How To Make Cranberry Sauce
How To Make Cranberry SauceStep 1. Combine sugar, orange juice, and water in a medium-size saucepan and cook over medium heat until it begins to simmer.
Step 2. Continue cooking, for about 10 minutes, or until all or most of the cranberries have popped. Stirring frequently.
Step 3. Remove from the heat and stir in maple syrup.
Step 4. Allow to cool for 30 minutes and then add to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat.
Commonly Asked Questions
Is cranberry sauce served hot or cold?
You’re going to want to serve this at room temperature or slightly chilled from taking it out of the fridge as well. This isn’t meant to be a hot side dish or condiment.
What do you eat cranberry sauce with?
I like to eat it with just about anything! Turkey, green beans, and I’ll even add some to my Ham + Cheese Sliders, as well! Some of my favorite side dishes to pair it with are Cheesy Mushroom and Onion Green Bean Casserole, Cheesy Potatoes, and Classic Sweet Potato Casserole.
Does homemade cranberry sauce need to be refrigerated?
It does. Once you’re done making it, you’re going to want to store it in the fridge to enjoy later. As long as you keep it stored properly, it should stay good in your fridge for up to 10 days or so.
Why is cranberry sauce not a jam?
Even though I tend to use it as a jam and have it on my toast and other bread items, it’s technically not a jam. This mainly has to do with the fact that cranberry sauce is liquid in texture while a jam tends to be more solid.
If you’re good at canning and creating recipes, there is probably a way that you can turn this homemade cranberry sauce recipe into a jam but I just haven’t had the chance to sit down and try and figure it out!
More Simple Side Dishes
Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Fresh Cranberries - 1 bag
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 Tbs. Maple Syrup
- orange peel optional - I like to throw in a little orange peel for flavor brightness
Instructions
- Combine sugar, orange juice, and water in a medium-size saucepan and cook over medium heat until it begins to simmer.
- Continue cooking, for about 10 minutes, or until all or most of the cranberries have popped. Stirring frequently.
- Remove from the heat and stir in maple syrup.
- Allow to cool for 30 minutes and then add to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator until you're ready to eat.
Sharon
This recipe sounds tasty. I plan on fixing it Saturday. I was wondering about the water though. It lists it in instructions but not in recipe ingredients. Thanks so much.