Go Back
+ servings
cranberry sauce in a glass bowl
Print Recipe
5 from 22 votes

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

It's easy to make delicious cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or any time of the year.  Trust me this is so much better than having it plop out of a can and it only take minutes to make!
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
cool and chill4 hours
Total Time32 minutes
Course: side dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 73kcal
Author: Chef Dennis Littley

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest or lemon zest

Instructions

  • place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, allow to continue a slow boil for 5 minutes
  • reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, the sauce will thicken
  • allow to cool for about 20 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.
  • Cranberry sauce will become jellied when fully chilled.

Notes

To Make Jellied Cranberry Sauce:
  • Pour the hot whole-berry cranberry sauce into a fine-mesh strainer over a heat-proof bowl.
  • Using a large spoon, mash the cranberries with the back of a spoon, frequently scraping the outside of the strainer until no pulp is left.
  • Stir the cranberry sauce and pour the strained sauce into a smaller container. Allow to cool at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg