Homemade Cranberry Sauce – Perfect for Thanksgiving!
This homemade cranberry sauce is bursting with flavor, thanks to the sweet-tart balance of fresh cranberries and orange juice. It’s simple to make and can be prepared ahead of time!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Sauce, Holiday
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz fresh cranberries (rinsed)
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup pure orange juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together water, orange juice, granulated sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon over medium-high heat.
- Once the mixture comes to a boil, gently add the cranberries and reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries begin to pop.
- Once most of the berries have popped, use a potato masher to mash the cranberries. For a smoother sauce, blend the mixture in a blender until smooth.
- Simmer for another 3 minutes, then turn off the heat, leaving the pot uncovered on the burner to cool and thicken for 20-30 minutes.
- Transfer the cranberry sauce to an airtight container and chill overnight or for at least 6 hours before serving.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar depending on your preference.
- For a smoother sauce, blend it in a blender after mashing the cranberries.
- This cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time, which makes it great for busy holiday meals!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg