Complete your Thanksgiving menu with this fresh cranberry sauce! Whether you want a sweet cranberry orange sauce or a jalapeno cranberry sauce, have this holiday classic ready in no time!
You cannot forget your other classic Thanksgiving sides like creamy Mashed Potatoes or Green Bean Casserole!
CRANBERRY SAUCE
Not only is this homemade cranberry sauce so easy to make, but it is also a healthier alternative to canned cranberry sauce! With 2 different flavor variations, this easy cranberry sauce is quickly going to become a favorite. Whether you want a sweet cranberry orange sauce or a sweet and spicy jalapeno cranberry sauce, have your sauce ready in under 15 minutes!
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Cranberries– You want to use fresh or frozen cranberries, but NOT dried cranberries.
- Sugar– Either brown sugar or granulated sugar can be used to sweeten this cranberry sauce. Cane sugar, maple syrup, or even honey will also work.
- Water– Cooking the cranberries in water is what gives you a sauce!
- Orange Juice– Adding freshly squeezed orange juice or canned juice. Oranges and cranberries combined give you the ultimate flavors.
- Orange Zest– Adding zest gives the extra flavors to this cranberry sauce, so good!
HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH ORANGE
This homemade cranberry sauce comes together effortlessly!
- Add all the ingredients into a saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer on the stove top and then simmer until sauce thickens and the cranberries break down.
- Remove from heat, cool and serve with desired sides.
| Spice it up! You can totally spice up this cranberry sauce and add ground cinnamon, all spice or cinnamon sticks to the sauce. |
JALAPENO CRANBERRY SAUCE
If you like sweet and spicy, then you need to make your cranberry sauce with jalapenos!
- Add cranberries, chopped jalapenos, water, sugar, lime zest, and lime juice to a saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer on the stove top and then simmer until sauce thickens and the cranberries break down.
- Remove from heat, cool and serve with desired sides.
SERVING IDEAS
There are so many ways that you can enjoy our delicious cranberry sauce recipe! Here are some great ways to serve cranberry sauce:
- Thanksgiving– This tart sauce is a Thanksgiving classic! Serve alongside your Turkey!
- Bread– Serve this like a jam and spread it over your buttery biscuits, cornbread or any other bread.
- Dessert– Drizzle on top of your homemade cheesecake as a sauce.
- Drink– Add this cranberry sauce to your lemonade for a cranberry lemonade instead of our blueberry sauce.
- Breakfast– Use it as a topping for your French toast, pancakes or even waffles.
- Snacks– Top over your yogurt with some granola or a delicious snack! You can also add this sauce to your charcuterie board.
- Appetizer– Make the classic holiday appetizers with this sauce! Make cranberry brie bites or this cheesy cranberry brie pull apart bread.
STORING & MAKING AHEAD
This sauce is great to make ahead of time, especially during the holiday season!
- Fridge– Once the sauce is made and completely cooled, store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!
- Freezer– You can freeze this homemade cranberry sauce! Once cool, add the cranberry sauce to a freezer safe container or freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 4-5 months. Thaw overnight and serve at room temp or chilled.
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Yes, this cranberry sauce can be frozen for up to 4-5 months!
Cranberry sauce is supposed to have a balance of sweet and tart! The cranberries give tart and the sugar gives sugar.
Yes, you can make this sauce up to 2 weeks ahead of time.
Typically, cranberry sauce is served chilled, but it’s based on preference. You can enjoy it chilled or warmed.
We do recommend that you add orange juice, but you can leave out the orange zest.
There is a slight kick of spice, but it is not overly spicy.
For the best results, use finely chopped fresh jalapenos!
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
Cranberry Orange Sauce-
- 12 oz cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 2 Tbsp orange zest
Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce-
- 12 oz cranberries fresh or frozen
- 1/3 cup fresh jalapenos finely chopped
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- 2 Tbsp lime zest
Instructions
Cranberry Orange Sauce-
- Add cranberries, water, sugar, orange juice and orange zest to a saucepan and mix.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, cooking on medium low heat.
- Once simmering, simmer for about 8-10 minutes until the sauce thickens and the cranberries break apart.
- Remove from heat and bring to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer to a bowl and store in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce-
- Add cranberries, water, sugar, chopped jalapenos, lime juice and lime zest to a saucepan and mix.
- Bring to a simmer on medium low heat.
- Continue to simmer for about 8-10 minutes, until the cranberries break apart and sauce begins to thicken. (If the water evaporates before the cranberries break up, add couple splashes of water.)
- Remove from heat and bring to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer to a bowl and store in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
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