A little tart and a little sweet this easy homemade cranberry sauce is a great addition to your holiday menu and baked goods.
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I love cranberry sauce, if it’s whole berry cranberry sauce recipe even better. A few years back I decided to try making my own homemade cranberry sauce and it was so easy. Every year before Thanksgiving I make a batch to use for the holiday but also for leftovers. I understand not everyone likes the whole berry sauce but even if I make it just for me I still consider it a win. Of course I always have the jellied kind on the table for those who love that instead.
What I like most about this recipe is that you can make it a few days ahead of time. You can also make it more sweet or more tart based on your preference.
Ingredients
Fresh Whole Cranberries – you can buy a small bag or double the recipe and buy a large one.
White Granulated Sugar – Because cranberries are tart the sugar will help make it sweet
Light Brown Sugar – Also for sweetness but also flavor
Orange Juice – To enhance the flavor of the cranberries, and help thicken the sauce
Cinnamon – For added flavor
Maple Syrup – It gives the cranberry sauce a nice smooth taste.
How To Make Cranberry Sauce
- Begin by washing your cranberries and making sure you sort out any that are mushy.
- Then in a medium sized saucepan, over medium heat, dissolve both sugars in the orange juice.
- Once the sugars are dissolved stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop. Pressing down using a spoon, fork, or potato masher, crush the cranberries slightly.
- Once the cranberries have popped remove from the heat and add the cinnamon and maple syrup. Stir and taste making any adjustments you want.
- As the cranberry sauce cools it will thicken.
Ways to Serve Cranberry Sauce
Sandwiches
Serve with butter and biscuits, toast, bagels, etc.
Stir it into your oatmeal or yogurt, or chia pudding
As a side to roast turkey, pork, or chicken.
Storage Tips
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to five days.
Freezing Tips
I find that you can freeze the cranberry sauce for a few months and it still tastes fresh and delicious. Here’s how to do it:
- Make the cranberry sauce as directed and let it cool slightly in the pan.
- Use a glass Ball canning jar or your preferred canning jar that can be frozen and fill it with the cranberry sauce leaving at least an inch at the top for expansion. Let it continue to cool without a lid.
- When the cranberry sauces is still warm (but not hot) loosely cover the jar and transfer it to the refrigerator to cool down overnight.
- The next day close the jar all the way and freeze.
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz Whole Fresh Cranberries
- 1/2 cup White Sugar
- 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 1/8 tsp Cinnamon
- 1-2 tbsp Maple Syrup
Instructions
- Rinse cranberries and pick out any that are mushy.
- In a medium size sauce pan over medium heat dissolve the white and brown sugars in the orange juice.
- Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries pop (approx 10 Min). The cranberries will foam but will go away as it cools. Slightly crush with a potato masher, fork, or spoon.
- Remove from heat and add the cinnamon and 1 tbsp of maple syrup. If it is too tart for you add another tablespoon until desired sweetness.
- Stir slowly to help the foam disappear. It may take a bit for that to happen but it will disappear. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Cool and store in a jar or container.
