3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video (2024)

My Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe will make your holidays even more magical! Homemade cranberry sauce is so easy to make and tastes better than anything from a can. Using fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange juice, it’s ready in just 10 minutes!

3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video (1)

Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe

You only need 3 ingredients for a simple cranberry sauce that’s so delicious, you could eat it by itself.

Using fresh orange juice instead of water adds extra flavor and sweetness and just makes the whole thing a little brighter.

Learn how to make homemade cranberry sauce in no time, then serve it alongside all your favorite holiday side dishes for an easy Thanksgiving meal!

Recipe Video

To see us make this fresh cranberry sauce recipe from start to finish, watch the video in this post!

We have plenty more recipes with fresh cranberries for you to choose from — so stock up when you’re at the store!

How about a sweet cranberry punch that will delight your guests? Or Super Quick Cranberry Orange Bread to tide everyone over until the meal is ready?

My cranberry Christmas cake is the perfect sweet and tart dessert… but I won’t tell if you have it for breakfast!

3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video (2)

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Fresh Cranberries – Empty the bag into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cool water. This removes any sediment that may have made it into the bag.

    Pick through the strainer, removing any stems and discarding any berries that are mushy or discolored.

  • Orange Juice – I prefer freshly squeezed, but a high-quality bottled version would work too — though you may need to reduce the amount of sugar.

    You can also replace this with water or apple juice if you prefer!

  • Sugar – Brown sugar can be used in place of granulated for this fresh cranberry sauce recipe, or you can use a mixture of both. If needed, coconut sugar will also work.

    Or, use natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, but reduce both the juice and sugar measurements to 1/2 cup.

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How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

  • Watch the berries.

It’s much more important to go by what’s happening with the fresh cranberries than to go by set cooking times.

Once most of them have burst open, it’s time to reduce the heat and let them simmer.

  • Make a smooth sauce.

You can use a stick blender in the pot and blend until smooth. Or, transfer everything to a blender but leave the lid offset for the steam to escape.

If it’s tightly sealed, the lid may pop off from the pressure and cause the mixture to splatter all over your kitchen.

  • Add spices.

If you’d like, add a pinch of your favorite warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or allspice.

Even cardamom would taste great with the flavor from the orange juice.

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Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

  • Large Saucepan – Choose a heavy-bottomed pan so the heat is more evenly distributed. This will prevent your sauce from burning.
  • Mesh Strainer – Even if the bag of cranberries says they’ve been cleaned, it’s always a good idea to rinse them again just to be safe.

    It also makes it easier to pick out any damaged berries, as well as sticks and stems.

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Ways to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce

There are so many possibilities to choose from! Try one of the following or come up with your own creations.

  • Use as a spread for leftover turkey sandwiches
  • Mix into yogurt or oatmeal
  • Top fresh pancakes, waffles, or French Toast
  • Blend and brush over grilled meats
  • Spoon over ice cream or cheesecake
  • Use as filling for oatmeal bars
  • Blend into smoothies
  • Mix with club soda or alcohol for a tasty drink
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Homemade Cranberry Sauce FAQ

Can you make this recipe with frozen cranberries?

Frozen work just as well for sauce (and most recipes with fresh cranberries), plus they don’t even need to be defrosted first!

Just keep an eye on them since it might take a little longer for the sauce to cook.

You’ll still need to rinse them and remove any stems and damaged berries, otherwise, they can go straight into the pan.

How to make homemade cranberry sauce thicker?

The mixture will naturally thicken as it cools, first in the pan and then again in the refrigerator.

If it still seems too loose, put it back on the heat and stir in a slurry — a mixture of 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water.

Simmer and stir for a few minutes, and it should thicken right up!

Can I make this fresh cranberry sauce recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! In fact, the longer the flavors have to meld together, the better it tastes.

Keep it tightly covered or in an airtight container, and it will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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Storing and Freezing Leftovers

Homemade cranberry sauce freezes beautifully. Transfer to an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag and let it chill in the refrigerator first.

Then, place in the freezer and use it within 2 months for best flavor — though it will remain safe to eat for at least a year.

Thaw in the refrigerator for a day or two and give it a good stir before serving.

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Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video

Donna Elick

This Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe is so easy to make and better than anything from a can. Homemade cranberry sauce is ready in 10 minutes!

5 stars from 3 reviews

Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 7 minutes mins

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Method Stovetop

Servings 12 Ounces

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice

Instructions

  • Place cranberries in a strainer and rinse. Then pick through them for any bad cranberries. Remove any sticks or stems.

  • Combine ingredients in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. As the cranberry sauce comes to a boil, the berries will begin to burst, about 5-7 minutes.

  • Reduce the heat to simmer. Stir occasionally as the cranberry sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.

  • Refrigerate and serve cold or at room temperature.

Video

Donna’s Notes

If you prefer your cranberry sauce smooth, you can use a stick blender in the pot and blend until smooth. You can also transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until smooth.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 87cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 20g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video (15)

Originally published November 2016, updated and republished October 2023

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

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3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video (2024)

FAQs

3 Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe + Video? ›

Bobby Deen's recipe

Cooking is as simple as combining the sugar, orange juice, ½ cup of water, the cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes - and then let cool before serving.

How do you make Bobby Deen cranberry sauce? ›

Bobby Deen's recipe

Cooking is as simple as combining the sugar, orange juice, ½ cup of water, the cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes - and then let cool before serving.

What takes the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

How do you cut the tartness out of cranberry sauce? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

Their sharp tang counteracts bitter flavors without having to add extra sugar. While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce not thickening? ›

One possibility is that you may not have used enough sugar: Sugar helps the sauce firm up, so be sure to use the full amount called for in a recipe. Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency.

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

As long as it's refrigerated, cranberry sauce is fine for 2–3 weeks if you have any left over once eaten with the hot turkey and the cold turkey sandwiches the next day/s.

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

The sugar in the syrup helps the mixture thicken. It could also be because you haven't cooked the mixture long enough. The cranberries need to cook long enough to burst so that they release plenty of pectin which is a thickener naturally found in cranberries.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Top with dried or fresh fruits

Sure, you can go all meta with some dried cranberries or sliced fresh raw cranberries, but I also like to think about complementary flavors — dried cherries, dried mulberries, golden raisins, chopped apricots. All work great with cranberry sauce.

Why do you open cranberry sauce upside down? ›

But why? Ocean Spray says this is to get the cranberry sauce out in one intact piece. “The rounded part of the can that looks like the bottom has an air bubble in it,” Ocean Spray's representative explains. The bubble is there so you can “break the seal the sauce makes with the can.”

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Though they won't tolerate runny sauce, so it's time to fix that. The simplest reason that your cranberry sauce is too runny is that it has too much liquid in it. Usually, this is just water, but some people use orange juice or other flavored fluids. No matter what you're using, the answer is to cook it longer.

What cancels out tartness? ›

How Do You Neutralize Sour Taste in Food? If a dish is too sour, add a little bit of sugar! Sweetness balances out sour flavors, so if something makes your mouth pucker, a dash of sugar may help soften the blow of the sour food.

What if I add too much water to cranberry sauce? ›

What to do if the cranberry sauce is too thin or loose. If you inadvertently added too much water, simply bring the cranberry sauce back to the stove top and bring it to a low boil, cooking it down just a bit to help thicken it up.

Why are my cranberries so tart? ›

Cranberries are just about always sweetened. In their natural state, they are extremely tart. They're safe unsweetened, just not pleasant.

Does homemade cranberry sauce thicken when it cools? ›

Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

Can you cook cranberry sauce too long? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

Why is my cranberry sauce seedy? ›

Why is my cranberry sauce so seedy? Cranberries do have seeds inside them. Sometimes, when using frozen cranberries, if it does not cook long enough, the seeds may not break down. This can cause the sauce to taste seedy.

What is in Bobby Flay's Bobby sauce? ›

His fry sauce in particular has become a staple of Flay's, reflecting his signature style with a spicy twist. The best part about the recipe for Bobby Flay's fry sauce? It requires just three ingredients: mayonnaise, roasted red pepper puree, and adobo sauce.

Are you supposed to cook canned cranberry sauce? ›

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Is canned cranberry sauce better than homemade? ›

While there are some editors who prefer homemade cranberry sauce, the canned variety also has quite a following. "There's something so beautifully perfect about the texture of canned cranberry sauce, and none of those homemade mess will ever compete," says Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland.

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