This Fast and Easy Home-Made Cranberry Sauce is a classic, and honestly deserves to be on your table. Home-made Cranberry Sauce made with fresh organic whole cranberries, freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract. Cranberry Sauce is the ultimate side dish.
Did you know that home-made cranberry sauce is super easy to make at home? All you need is one sauce pan and a couple ingredients. Again, this recipe is easy.
Once you try this recipe, you will never need to buy store bought cranberry sauce again. Canned cranberry sauce doesn’t compare to home-made cranberry sauce. It just doesn’t.
Home-made cranberry sauce isn’t jelly like. It’s more sauce like, and so much more delicious because it’s home-made.
My home-made cranberry sauce is perfectly sweet and slightly tart, and you can taste the hints of vanilla and the citrus juices. The flavors just marry so well together.
Homemade cranberry sauce has to be the easiest and most colorful dish on your table. The gorgeous red color just adds the most beautiful pop of color.
CAN CRANBERRY SAUCE BE MADE IN ADVANCE?
Absolutely. Cranberry sauce can be made up to five days in advance. Just make sure you store it in an airtight container. All it needs is a minimum of 2 hours to set in the fridge for it to thicken.
IS THIS RECIPE EASY TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE?
Personally, I love cranberries so much, I tend to double or triple this recipe. This means I can have left overs and freeze some.
VARIATIONS FOR WHOLE CRANBERRY SAUCE-
- Add spices- you could add Cinnamon Nutmeg.
- Add more Orange Zest.
- Fresh Orange Juice is always a fantastic option.
- Chopped Pears or Apples would be a great addition.
- Use Brown Sugar instead of granulated or you can use 1 Cup of Granulated Sugar and 1 Cup of Light Brown Sugar
TIPS
- Buy extra bags of cranberries and freeze them. This way, you have some on hand to use for the entire year. In our area, fresh cranberries only are around during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cranberries freeze super well.
- When freezing, if you are concerned about space, you can add the leftover cranberry sauce to a freezer baggies, and make sure the baggies are flat. You can stack up a couple bags doing it this way.
- For most cranberry recipes you will see water is added. I personally feel that using fresh orange juice adds way more flavor than regular water ever could. You could definitely use water to thin out the sauce, but think about how you can addd the most flavor to this dish. Fresh juice is always best.
- Use Organic Oranges since you are using the zest. If you don’t use organic, make sure you wash really well.
CAN I FREEZE CRANBERRY SAUCE?
Of course you can. Yes, cranberry sauce can be frozen for up to three months. Freeze in an airtight container. When you’re ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge.
WHAT ELSE CAN CRANBERRY SAUCE BE USED FOR?
Cranberry sauce is usually the star with turkey, but it can be used for other dishes. You can add it to pancakes, ice cream, biscuits or even pound cake. It really is so versatile.
WHAT CAN I MAKE WITH THE LEFT OVER CRANBERRY SAUCE?
Usually after Thanksgiving, you have a lot of leftovers. I love having a turkey sandwich with brie cheese and cranberry sauce. It is so yummy. You can also add cranberry sauce to home-made dressings or vinaigrette’s. Cranberry also goes great with roast chicken and pork chops. Cranberry sauce and goat cheese spread go great together with some crackers.
TOOLS NEEDED
INGREDIENTS
- 2- 12 Ounce Bags Organic Cranberries
- Juice from one Lemon
- Zest and Juice for one larger size Orange
- 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FAST AND EASY HOME-MADE CRANBERRY SAUCE
- Take the cranberries and add it to a medium sized pan.
- Turn the burner on low.
- Sprinkle the 1 3/4 cups of sugar over the cranberries.
- Add the juice from one lemon.
- Zest 1 larger size orange. Also, use the juice from that orange and add it to the cranberries.
- Add 1 Tsp of Vanilla Extract.
- Let the cranberries cook on low for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally and let the sugar and juices fully combine.
- After the 15 minutes, bump up the heat to medium and let it cook for an additional 12 minutes.
- Let it cool for a couple minutes and using a potato masher, start smashing the cranberries until you have reached your desired consistency. I personally like them mostly smashed but do leave some chunks. The longer it cooks the thicker it will be.
- Add the final 2 tablespoons of sugar and stir to combine.
Fast and Easy Home-made Cranberry Sauce
This Fast and Easy Home-Made Cranberry Sauce is a classic and honestly deserves to be on your table. Home-made Cranberry Sauce made with fresh organic whole cranberries, freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract. Cranberry Sauce is the ultimate side dish.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 27 Minutes
- Total Time: 32 Minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Stove-Top
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2– 12 Ounce Bags Organic Cranberries
- Juice from one Lemon
- Zest and Juice for one larger size Orange
- 1 3/4 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Take the cranberries and add it to a medium sized pan.
- Turn the burner on low.
- Sprinkle the 1 and 3/4 cups of sugar over the cranberries.
- Add the juice from one lemon.
- Zest 1 larger size orange. Also use the juice from that orange and add it to the cranberries.
- Add 1 Tsp of Vanilla Extract.
- Let the cranberries cook on low for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally and let the sugar and juices fully combine.
- After the 15 minutes, bump up the heat to medium, and let it cook for an additional 12 minutes.
- Let it cool for a couple minutes and using a potato masher, start smashing the cranberries until you have reached your desired consistency. I personally like them mostly smashed but do leave some chunks. The longer it cooks the thicker it will be.
- Add the final 2 tablespoons of sugar and stir to combine.
Keywords: Fast and Easy Home-Made Cranberry Sauce, Christmas Recipe, Thanksgiving Recipe, Cranberry Recipe, Home-Made Whole Cranberry Sauce Recipe, Holiday Side Dish, Side Dish, Home-Made
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I love fresh cranberry sauce. This is so much better than the canned alternative. In fact there is no comparison. So worth the time to make. This recipe is delicious.
★★★★★
Looks so delicious and easy to make. Just on time for thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing!!!!
★★★★★