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.

A bowl full of orange cranberry sauce.

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.

Fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange zest in a small pot to make cranberry and orange sauce.

Cranberry Sauce Ideas

Other than serving alongside turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, here are a few of our favorite ways to serve cranberry sauce:

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.
A pot full of fresh cranberry sauce.

How to Make Cranberry Sauce With Orange Juice

  1. 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.
  2. Cool. Remove from the heat and let the Cranberry Orange Sauce cool for about an hour before serving.
  3. Serve. You can also make this ahead of time, keep in the refrigerator and then warm slightly before serving. Enjoy!
A white bowl full of cranberry sauce with orange.

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

Can You freeze cranberry sauce?

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.

What can you add to cranberry sauce?

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)

5 from 2 votes

Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Author The Carefree Kitchen
This cranberry orange juice sauce is sweet and tangy, and makes a quick and easy side for any classic holiday dinner. Using just 5 simple ingredients, it puts any store bought canned sauce to shame. 
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yields10 people

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1/3 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 sauce cool for about an hour before serving. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Storing instructions: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheating: transfer to a pot or skillet and reheat over low heat, stirring frequently.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 9.5mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
Course Sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine American
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More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes

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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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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