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Quick and easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe, made from scratch with 5 simple ingredients in one pot in 20 minutes on stovetop. Loaded with orange juice and zest.
Thanksgiving is approaching quickly and this homemade cranberry sauce recipe is a classic side dish or condiment that you need to serve, along with my Easy Cranberry Relish Recipe. This sauce is fresh, flavorful, beautifully red with a hint of orange flavor as well. It’s sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving feast.
Thisfresh cranberry sauce beats canned cranberry sauce recipe in flavor and texture!
![Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (1) Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
How to make cranberry sauce? How do you make the best cranberry sauce recipe? How do you make a simple cranberry sauce?
- Combine orange juice, water and sugar in a saucepan and cook until combined.
- Mix in cranberries, cinnamon and zest.
- Cook for 10 minutes until you have a chunky mixture.
- Cook on medium high heat until liquid is reduced and you are done.
Is cranberry sauce supposed to be hot or cold?
It can be served either way. I believe that it should at least be warm or at room temperature, when being enjoyed with a hot turkey.
Can you make cranberry sauce with dried cranberries?
Yes, you can use dried cranberries but you would need to add more juice/water to add more moisture to the recipe. However, I still prefer the fresh version over the dried version because it’s fresh and it looks better and is also quicker to make.
Cranberry Orange Sauce / Cranberry sauce with orange juice and orange zest
Both, juice and zest, are required in this recipe to give it that amazing citrus flavor and aroma. However, if you don’t have orange zest, you can replace that with 1-2 tablespoons of orange marmalade. It’s still not as strong as using zest but still very good.
Use this cranberry sauce for pork, meatballs, turkey, chicken!
![Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (2) Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (2)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Tips for easy cranberry sauce
- Use fresh cranberries because they yield the best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the amount of sugar, based on your preference.
- Adjust the amount of cinnamon and zest, based on your spice preference.
- If you prefer a very smooth sauce, you can use a hand-held blender and puree it into a smooth consistency. I highly recommend the chunky texture because it’s the BEST!
- Use a nonstick pot to prevent burning and sticking.
- Get creative and use other juices and zests for a different flavor profile.
- If sauce is too thin, cook for longer until liquid is reduced and sauce thickens.
- If sauce is too thick, add some more water to thin it out.
Thanksgiving cranberry sauce
This is a classic side dish for Thanksgiving but it’s also great side for serving at a Christmas dinner party too.
Jellied cranberry sauce
That usually requires the addition of some gelatin to give it the jelly-like consistency.
Cranberry apple sauce
Add 1/2 cup leftover applesauce to this recipe and it won’t affect the flavor or texture at all.
![Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (3) Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (3)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Sugar free cranberry sauce
Replace granulated sugar with artificial sweeteners like Splenda. You can also use agave syrup, molasses and even honey.
Healthy cranberry sauce
To make this recipe healthier, replace sugar with honey or molasses.
Other One Pot Sides/ Side Dishes
- Oven Roasted Green Beans (One Pan)
- Oven Roasted Broccoli (One Pan)
- Oven Roasted Asparagus (One Pan)
- Quick Oven Roasted Tomatoes (One Pan)
![Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (4) Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (One Pot) (4)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
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One Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Quick and easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe, made from scratch with 5 simple ingredients in one pot in 20 minutes on stovetop. Loaded with orange juice and zest.
Yield: 8 People
Instructions
In a nonstick saucepan, mix together orange juice, water, sugar and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until everything is fully combined.
Add cranberries, cinnamon stick and orange zest.
Continue cooking on medium high heat for about 8-10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have popped and liquid has reduced to your desired consistency.
Remove from heat and let it cool down completely.
Then, cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 100kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 67mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 55IU, Vitamin C: 14.4mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 100
Author: Abeer
Happy cooking everyone!
One Pot Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
posted November 5, 2018 by Abeer Rizvi //10 Comments
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FAQs
One 12-ounce bag of cranberries makes about 2 1/4 cups of basic cranberry sauce—in my house, that's enough for about five people. Going the canned route? You'll need at least one can for six people.
How many cranberries are needed to make one can? ›
The average number of cranberries used per can of sauce is 200. If you lay out all the cans of sauce consumed in a year from end to end, it would stretch 3,385 miles.
How do you take the bitterness out of homemade 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)."
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 much sauce do I need for 2 people? ›
When calculating how much sauce for pasta per person, generally about 2 to 4 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 cup) of sauce for each 2 ounce (about 1 cup cooked) serving of pasta would be needed.
How many gallons of sauce do I need for 100 people? ›
A serving portion of spaghetti sauce is one half of a cup, so based on that, you would need close to six gallons. That said, if you're doing the job right, a half cup serving isn't gonna cut it. Eight to ten gallons should do it.
How much is 3 cups of cranberries? ›
One 12-ounce bag of cranberries equals 3 cups.
How many cranberries for 10 people? ›
One 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries yields about 2 1/4 cups of cranberry sauce, which should be enough for about 8 to 10 people, Hartigan says, adding that you can half that amount of cranberries when making a cranberry-apple or -orange sauce since the alternative fruit will bulk up each serving.
How many cranberries does it take to make a gallon? ›
More Fun Cranberry Facts: There are approximately 440 cranberries in one pound. It takes about 4,400 berries to make one gallon of juice. fresh berries.
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.
Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny
You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.
How to tell when cranberry sauce is done? ›
Add the cranberries to the pot and return to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst. Stir in the mix-ins, if using: Once the cranberries have burst you can leave the cranberry sauce as is, or dress it up with other ingredients.
How to improve 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.
Does homemade cranberry sauce thicken when it cools? ›
The sauce will thicken as it cools. If you want a cranberry mold that holds its shape, continue to boil the mixture so that more pectin is released from the fruit, additional water evaporates, and the sauce becomes thick enough to set into a firm gel.
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 one serving of cranberry sauce? ›
Sweetened, canned
Nutrition Facts |
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For a Serving Size of 1 cup (277g) |
How many calories are in Cranberry sauce? Amount of calories in Cranberry sauce: Calories 418.3 | Calories from Fat 3.7 (0.9%) |
| % Daily Value * |
How much fat is in Cranberry sauce? Amount of fat in Cranberry sauce: Total Fat 0.4g | - |
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How many jars of sauce per person? ›
For tomato-based sauces, a good rule of thumb to follow is to use one jar of 24-ounce pasta sauce for every 16-ounce package of pasta. When calculating how much sauce for pasta per person, generally about 2 to 4 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 cup) of sauce for each 2 ounce (about 1 cup cooked) serving of pasta would be needed.
How many slices of cranberry sauce in a can? ›
Cranberry sauce, canned, sweetened, 1 slice (1/2" thick, approx 8 slices per can) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center.
How do you serve cranberry sauce from a can? ›
Plating a Can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce
The traditional way of serving jellied cranberry sauce is sliced into rounds. With the column set on its side, slice into ¼-inch thick rounds and then arrange the slices on a serving platter. Serve the slices plain, garnished as desired, or read on for easy upgrades.