This 5-minute cranberry sauce recipe calls for both fresh and dried cranberries to make it a tart, sweet, and jammy side dish, with a dash of orange flavor for brightness.
There are few, if any, Thanksgiving recipes that are tolerated straight from the can. Jellied cranberry sauce, in all its jiggly glory, may be the only exception, and for some, only in a pinch (hello turkey, brie, and cranberry grilled cheese). That is, until you’ve tasted the sweet tang of this homemade, 5-minute cranberry sauce added to your forkful of the best juicy turkey with my mom’s classic stuffing. One bite and I promise you’ll never go back to canned. Personally, I think this is the best cranberry sauce recipe. It features two types of cranberries: Fresh cranberries for tartness and dried cranberries for texture and sweetness. It’s jammy with chunks of fruit and a hint of orange thanks to grated orange zest, and orange liqueur. It’s the best cranberry sauce in my book, and Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without it.
What’s in This Cranberry Sauce Recipe
If you follow the recipe on the back of the bag of fresh cranberries, you’ll see three basic ingredients: Cranberries, sugar, and water or other liquid like orange juice. This recipe follows the same idea, but adds in dried cranberries that plump and soften as they cook down in the jammy sauce, adding more texture and sweetness to the sauce. I don’t add any spices to my cranberry sauce, but adding a cinnamon stick, fresh sage, or rosemary would be delicious.
Here’s what you’ll need for this cranberry sauce recipe:
- Fresh cranberries—for tartness
- Dried cranberries—for sweetness
- Sugar—you could use brown sugar if you wanted, or a mix of sugar and maple syrup
- Water
- Kosher salt
- Orange for zesting—this adds complements the tartness of the cranberries without thinning the sauce.
- Orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier, if desired—this adds an extra bump of citrus, but if you don’t care for the taste, you can leave it out.
How to Make This Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Making this cranberry sauce is super simple and takes mere minutes.
Here are instructions for how to make it:
Bring water, sugar, and kosher salt to a boil. Use a medium saucepan or pot (I like using one with a heavy bottom) to boil the water and dissolve the sugar and kosher salt.
Add the fresh and dried cranberries and orange zest and liqueur. Cook at a boil for a moment, then reduce to a simmer over medium heat and stir occasionally. The cranberries will soften and pop as they cook and release their natural pectin to make the jammy sauce, The fresh cranberries are cooked when the skins break and pop, and the dried cranberries plump and soften—this will take about 5 minutes.
The sauce thickens as it cools. Like any jam or sauce, the cranberry sauce thickens as it cools. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
How to Jazz up Cranberry Sauce
I love this cranberry sauce recipe exactly as is (but I’m more of a purist). If you want to play around with adding different flavors, here are some ideas:
- Add cinnamon stick
- Try lemon zest instead of orange zest
- Add some freshly grated ginger
- Add vanilla bean or vanilla extract
- Stir in some raspberry or cherry preserves (if doing this, you probably want to cut back on the sugar a bit)
Make It Ahead of Time
This homemade cranberry sauce will stay good in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks, making it a perfect task to make ahead of the big serving day.
Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?
Yes, you can freeze cranberry sauce. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziploc gallon bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To use, defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
What is the Difference Between Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Relish?
The main difference is cranberry sauce is cooked, while cranberry relish is typically not. Cranberry relish is often finely chopped in a food processor and sometimes has nuts and citrus peel. Cranberry sauce is a thicker consistency (closer to a jelly).
Do You Serve Cranberry Sauce Hot or Cold?
Serving this cranberry sauce hot, cold, or at room temperature is totally up to you, but it’s traditionally served chilled from the fridge (and that’s how I like it). If you need to reheat it, simply do so in the microwave.
Ideas for Leftover Cranberry Sauce
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself with leftover cranberry sauce, here are some fun ideas for how to use it up:
- Make a breakfast parfait with yogurt and granola
- Spread it on melty brie cheese or add it to a cheese board
- Mix with mayo and spread on leftover turkey sandwiches
- Use in a bourbon or gin cocktail
- Use in a vinaigrette for salads
- Add to grilled cheese sandwiches or paninis
- Spoon over pound cake
THE BEST Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups fresh cranberries 12 ounces
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon orange flavor liqueur optional, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring sugar, water, and kosher salt to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Stir in the fresh and dried cranberries, orange zest, and orange flavor liqueur. Bring to a boil then reduce to a rolling simmer. Cook until the fresh cranberries soften and pop open, and the sauce thickens and becomes jammy, about 5 minutes. Set aside and cool before serving.
