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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Other Sauce Recipes

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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

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.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce not thickening? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

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.

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

When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

How to take the bitterness out of fresh cranberries? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

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.”

Is cranberry sauce supposed to be sweet or sour? ›

Cranberry sauce is supposed to be a balance of sweet and tart. The sauce acts as a cleansing port in a tumultuous storm of fat and salt, but the effect is lost if the sauce is too sweet. Luckily, there is a very easy way to fix an over-sugared homemade sauce: You just need a little citric acid.

What to do when cranberry sauce doesn t set? ›

If you have followed these instructions, and for some reason the sauce still won't gel, add 1 envelope of unflavoured gelatin to the sauce and bring to a hard boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook an additional 5 minutes.

How do you fix bland cranberry sauce? ›

Maple syrup, brown sugar and even honey can make your cranberry sauce more dynamic. And don't forget the spices! Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, citrus zest and star anise all work well with cranberries and can be added while the sauce cooks to infuse your sauce with flavor.

How to fix too sweet cranberry sauce? ›

My cranberry sauce is too sweet now that I taste it. How do I fix it? Add a splash of red wine or apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt to lessen sweetness.

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.

How do you make cranberry sauce not sour? ›

How to make cranberry sauce less tart or sweeter
  1. If the sauce is too sour, add more sweetener. I've tested this recipe with up to 90ml of honey without any problems. ...
  2. If the sauce is too sweet, decrease the sweetener or add a dash of vinegar.

What to do when sauce is tart? ›

Add Some Baking Soda

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

What are the two types of cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce can be served either as a gooey liquid or as a solid jelly. The jellied version is solid enough to retain the shape of the container in which it's placed whereas the sauce version is much more fluid. The difference between the fluid sauce and the jelly versions comes down to pectin.

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.

What is the difference between whole cranberry sauce and jelly cranberry sauce? ›

The major variation you're likely to come across is "whole berry" versus "jellied." The only difference between them is that the jellied sauce is cooked until the berries have completely broken down. They both slide out of the can as a wobbly red cylinder.

Why is the label upside down on a can of cranberry sauce? ›

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.”

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