This homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce uses just 5 simple ingredients and puts any store-bought canned sauce to shame. It’s sweet and tangy, flavored with orange juice and orange zest, and makes a delicious side for any classic holiday dinner.
If you love cranberry season, be sure to also try our Cranberry Baked Brie, Cranberry Muffins, and our Cranberry Salsa Recipe.
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Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce
If you have never made fresh cranberry sauce, I highly recommend you give it a try. It’s a breeze to make and oh-so-delicious. This recipe for cranberry sauce with orange juice has an extra bright flavor that makes it a perfect side dish for all of your favorite Thanksgiving sides.
It can be made with fresh or frozen cranberries, and then entire recipe can be made in advance. Feel free to nix the orange if you would rather have plain cranberry sauce. Or, try one of the easy variations below.
Cranberry Sauce Ideas
Other than serving alongside turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, here are a few of our favorite ways to serve cranberry sauce:
- Spooned over waffles, Classic French Toast or Buttermilk Pancakes.
- Swirled into ice cream.
- Make Cranberry Honey Butter with the leftovers.
- Baked Brie with Cranberries, an easy Appetizer
- Used to top No-Bake Cheesecake or this Orange Cheesecake.
- Eaten as a parfait with yogurt and our Easy Homemade Granola.
- Spread over a toasted bagel or slice of toasted Homemade White Bread.
- Blended into a fruit smoothie.
- Mixed into Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip.
- Brie Bites are a quick and easy, savory appetizer.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Cranberries - you can use fresh cranberries or frozen. We prefer fresh, but frozen will work great too.
- Sugar - regular granulated sugar works best. You could try substituting a portion of the sugar with maple syrup for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Orange Juice - we used fresh since you will also need orange zest. If you would rather make this sauce plain cranberry, you can omit the orange juice and substitute more water.
- Water
- Orange Zest - use an orange zester, making sure to get only the zest and none of the white pith which is bitter.
How to Make Cranberry Sauce With Orange Juice
- Simmer the sauce. In a medium saucepan, add the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 8 minutes or the cranberries have burst.
- Cool. Remove from the heat and let the Cranberry Orange Sauce cool for about an hour before serving.
- Serve. You can also make this ahead of time, keep in the refrigerator and then warm slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Whether you prefer it sweet, tangy, or spicy, here are a few cranberry sauce ideas to mix things up:
- Add warm spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to give a cozy and festive touch to the traditional recipe.
- Grate some fresh ginger and simmer it with the cranberries, sugar, and water.
- Add diced apples to the cranberry mixture and let them cook down until they become soft and tender.
- Experiment with adding savory ingredients to your cranberry sauce, such as minced shallots, balsamic vinegar, or a pinch of black pepper.
- For those who enjoy a little heat, add diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to your cranberry sauce.
- Replace sugar with maple syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! To freeze, make sure to cool completely and then transfer to freezer bags or another type of airtight container. You can store frozen for up to 2 months.
To reheat, all you need to do is transfer to a pot or skillet and reheat over medium low. Once completely thawed, you may want to simmer for a few minutes to evaporate a bit of the extra water that comes from freezing.
We love the simplicity of this five ingredient recipe, but sometimes it’s nice to spice things up (literally!). Some ideas for variations would be:
-Cinnamon Sticks
-Crystallized Ginger (minced)
-Apples (peeled and diced)
-Nuts (walnuts and pecans)
-Bourbon or Red Wine
-Dried Fruit (cherries and cranberries would taste great)
Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz Cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1 Cup Sugar
- ⅓ Cup Orange Juice
- ⅓ Cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Orange zest
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 8 minutes or the cranberries have burst.
- Remove from the heat and let the Cranberry Orange Sauce cool for about an hour before serving.
- You can also make this ahead of time, keep in the refrigerator and then warm slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes
- Crockpot Turkey Breast with 3 Citrus Marinade
- Herb-Crusted Top Round Roast
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
- Oven-Roasted Green Beans
- Ham and Cheddar Cheese Ball
- Zucchini Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting
- No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
- More Thanksgiving Recipes
- More Easy Sides
This Cranberry Orange Sauce is sweet and tangy, quick and easy, and makes a delicious side at any holiday dinner. It uses just 5 simple ingredients and puts any store bought canned sauce to shame.
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