Team Homemade Cranberry Sauce
It’s not Thanksgiving to me without a side of cranberry sauce, and this orange cranberry sauce is a simply delicious take on the classic side dish.
Growing up, I think I always avoided the cranberry sauce, mostly because of the way the consistency looked. Something about the wiggly jelly always turned me off. Then adulthood came, I realized cranberries are absolutely delicious, and bam! My love of cranberry sauce arrived. The tart fresh jelly mixed with the rich foods that make up the rest of the Thanksgiving menu gives your plate so much life!
Now, I can’t imagine the holiday season without cranberry sauce. I think I’d eat it every day with every meal in November if I could. Beyond the typical Thanksgiving dinner, it’s so good on sandwiches, with roasted pork or chicken, and especially on some cream cheese. I know I’ll have a container in my fridge for the next few weeks to sneak in as much as I can.
The Supplies
Ingredients
To make this orange cranberry sauce, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Fresh cranberries
- Cane sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Freshly squeezed orange juice
- Water
- Orange zest
- Grand Marnier or bourbon, if desired
For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Equipment
In order to make this simple cranberry sauce recipe, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:
- Medium saucepan. This is my absolute favorite saucepan and use it often.
- Measuring cups. I love this set from Crate and Barrel and use them all the time.
- Silicone spatula. I find it easiest to use a silicone spatula to scrape the edges of the saucepan while the sauce is bubbling.
- Microplane. For zesting the orange.
Tips for a Delicious Cranberry Sauce
When you make this orange cranberry sauce, here are a few tips to make sure it turns out delicious:
- Near the end of cooking the cranberry sauce, it will go from full cranberries to sauce in a matter of a few minutes. Once it gets to this point, stir often to ensure the last few whole cranberries pop along the sides of the saucepan. Stirring often at the end will also help ensure the sauce doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- When making this simple cranberry sauce, the sauce will thicken significantly when cooled. While it will look runny when you first take the saucepan off of the heat, it will turn into a jelly once it reaches room temperature.
- A tip for your wardrobe: sometimes a cranberry will pop and a bit of juice will fly out of the pan. Be sure to wear an apron or dark colored shirt to save yourself from an annoying stain.
- The bourbon or Grand Marnier in this dish is completely optional! Adding either will level up the dish and add another dimension of flavor. It’s the perfect addition for a Friendsgiving, but likely isn’t very kid-friendly.
Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe Details
Simmer the Cranberry Sauce
To make the simple cranberry sauce, add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan. Place the pan over medium-high heat. Stir the ingredients together so the orange juice melds into the sugars. Bring the juices to a simmer, letting the sauce bubble up and the cranberries pop. Stir the sauce every few minutes, for about 20 minutes, until most of the cranberries have popped. At this point, the sauce should be smoother and more jelly-like. Closer to 15 minutes will give you a thicker sauce, while closer to 20 minutes will give you a smoother consistency. Take the cranberry sauce off the heat and let the saucepan cool for 15 minutes.
Storing and Serving the Cranberry Sauce
Once the sauce has cooled, transfer it to a glass, airtight container. If you’re making cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, it can be made a week in advance, and stored in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can transfer the sauce to a zip top bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
This cranberry sauce can be served cold out of the refrigerator or gently reheated on the stove top. Either way, it will be a delicious addition to your holiday table!
While this simple cranberry sauce is delicious on it’s own, you can also use this recipe to make this dishes too:
- Christmas Cranberry and Cream Cheese Cracker Spread
- Shortcut Cranberry and Cream Cheese Danish
- Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce Mule (and Mocktail)
If you make this simple orange cranberry sauce, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!
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Simple Cranberry Sauce
Description
An orange cranberry sauce recipe that's simple to make. It's tart, sweet, and citrusy. A great addition to the holiday table.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Add all of the ingredients to a large saucepan. Stir to mix and set over medium-high heat on the stove top.
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Once the liquid comes to a light simmer, cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 1-3 minutes, increasing the frequency of stirring as it becomes more jammy to avoid any of the sugar from sticking to the bottom of the pan. The sauce will bubble and thicken and the fresh cranberries will begin to pop. Use a silicone spatula or straight edged wooden spoon to stir and press the fresh cranberries to encourage popping.
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Once most of the cranberries have popped and the consistency becomes smoother, take the pan off the heat. Noting the sauce will continue to cook and thicken as it sits.
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Let the cranberry sauce cool in the saucepan for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
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If serving immediately: transfer to a serving heat-proof dish and garnish with orange zest.
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If making ahead of time: transfer to a storage container and let cool completely before covering and placing in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, either serve cold or warmed on the stovetop until your desired temperature.
