Skip the store bought and serve this fresh and flavorful Homemade Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving. It’s quick and easy and so delicious!

This recipe comes together in no time at all and tastes so much better than canned or store bought cranberry sauce. It has hints of orange and rosemary and goes perfectly with all your turkey day recipes.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I have been making this homemade cranberry sauce recipe for YEARS and I’ve finally tweaked and perfected it so that it’s ready to share. It’s so flavorful and perfect for the holidays.

Cranberry sauce can be such a polarizing dish–some folks only make homemade while some are loyal to the canned stuff. I am personally team homemade cranberry sauce!

If you’ve never made cranberry sauce, it could not be easier. Everything gets dumped into a little saucepan and simmered until the cranberries are tender and that’s it!

This homemade cranberry sauce is perfect alongside roasted turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and any other Thanksgiving dishes!

If you need more dishes for turkey day, check out all my Thanksgiving recipes.

How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Homemade cranberry sauce couldn’t be easier to make! All you need is a zester for the oranges and a small saucepan.

Tools Needed

• Saucepan
• Zester
• Measuring Cups
• Citrus Juicer

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Cranberries. You can use fresh or frozen here.
• Orange. You need some orange zest and a bit of freshly squeezed orange juice.
• Cinnamon. I like using a cinnamon stick, but you can use a pinch of ground cinnamon.
• Sugar. I use white granulated sugar, but you can use brown sugar as well.
• Rosemary. A sprig of rosemary adds such a special flavor, but you could skip it.
• Grand marnier. Any orange liqueur would work, or you can omit it.

The Process

1. Mix the ingredients. Combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, zest, cinnamon stick, grand marnier, and water in a small saucepan and stir well.
2. Simmer. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard the rosemary. Even if the sauce looks thin, it’ll thicken up in the fridge. If you like a very thick cranberry sauce, simmer a little longer.
3. Cool and refrigerate. Let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container in the fridge for 2 hours before serving. The cranberry sauce can be made several days in advance and stored in the fridge.

Storage Instructions

Homemade cranberry sauce can be made several days in advance to take the work off your plate!

Simply follow the recipe instructions and store in an airtight container for 7 days. You can also freeze cranberry sauce and thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce FAQs

Can I make cranberry sauce with frozen cranberries?

Yes! I prefer fresh when they’re in season, but you can use frozen as well. You may need to simmer a touch longer to cook the extra water out.

Can I make cranberry sauce in advance? How long does it last?

One of the great things about homemade cranberry sauce is that you can make it an advance to take some work off your plate for the big day. Store cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.

How can I make my cranberry sauce thicker?

If you like your cranberry sauce a bit thicker, simmer a little longer and mash the cranberries up as they cook. Cranberries naturally contain pectic which helps make cranberry sauce thicker.

How can I make cranberry sauce less bitter?

Cranberries are naturally very sour and sometimes bitter. I don’t recommend reducing the sugar in this recipe as it helps balance out the tartness. Make sure to add the orange zest which also helps keep cranberry sauce from being bitter.

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a must for every Thanksgiving table! This recipe totally blows the store bought stuff out of the water. If you do give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know. Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Cranberry Recipes to Try

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
Cranberry Ricotta Cake
Almond-Cranberry Danishes
Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars
Cranberry Baked Brie
Dutch Baby with Cranberry Compote

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