Homemade whole berry cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries. This delicious sauce is made with fresh cranberries, sugar, orange and cinnamon.
Perfect for all your holiday meals.
This Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe is a Holiday Staple
Homemade cranberry sauce is a staple for our holiday dinners. Making it from scratch is fast and easy and it’s one of those dishes that you can make ahead of time.
Since I love the tart taste of cranberries, I’ve reduced the amount of sugar used in this recipe. You won’t miss it though. It still tastes amazing, but without all the sugar.
Whole Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- Fresh cranberries
- Sugar
- Cinnamon Stick
- Fresh orange peel
How to Make Whole Cranberry Sauce
- Place all ingredients in a pot
- Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes
- Remove from heat and allow to cool
- Remove cinnamon stick and orange peel
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate
Tips For Making Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- Use just the orange peel and try to avoid getting the white pith that's just under the peel. The pith can be bitter. Use a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the peel.
- Keep an eye on your cranberries while cooking and stir often to avoid scorching
- If berries become too thick, you can a touch more water
- The berries will begin to pop while they are cooking. This is normal!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe Storage Instructions
Place cooled cranberry sauce in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days. Stir before serving.
Can you Freeze Cranberry Sauce?
Yes, this sauce freezes well. Once the sauce is made, allow it to cool and then place in a freezer safe container. The sauce will maintain its quality in the freezer for up to two months.
To use, remove from freezer and allow to thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
What to Do With Leftover Cranberry Sauce
If you end up with any leftover cranberry sauce, it is perfect in this Baked Cranberry Brie.
How to Thicken Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries contain a lot of natural pectin. When the berries are cooked, the pectin is released and thickens the sauce.
Whole Cranberry Sauce Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make this sauce ahead of time. You can make this cranberry dish up to 10 days ahead of time. Just cool after making and then place in a container, cover and refrigerate.
More great holiday recipes
When planning for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner you might also want to include Green Bean Almondine, Sweet Potato Gratin, Wild Rice Salad and Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls.
Stuffed Cornish Hens with a Wild Rice Stuffing make an elegant meal for a smaller gathering.
You'll also want to check out this recipe for Jellied Cranberry Sauce and this recipe for How to Can Cranberry Sauce.
More cranberry recipes
- Cranberry Swirl Bread
- Cranberry Pecan Bars
- Cranberry Swirl Cookies
- Cranberry Muffins,
- Cranberry Scones
- Cranberry Apple Bread
- Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
- Cranberry Jalapeno Bites.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my holiday recipes!
Whole Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 strips orange peel
Instructions
- Place everything into a pot
- Bring to a boil
- Boil for 5 minutes
- Remove from heat and allow to cool
- Remove cinnamon stick and orange peel
- Cover and refrigerate
Video
Notes
- Use just the orange peel and try to avoid getting the white pith that's just under the peel. The pith can be bitter. Use a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the peel.
- Keep an eye on your cranberries while cooking and stir often to avoid scorching
- If berries become too thick, you can a touch more water
- The berries will begin to pop while they are cooking. This is normal!
- This cranberry sauce is tart. If you like it a bit sweeter, add additional sugar (½ cup - 1 cup)
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in November of 2015. The pictures and content have been updated.
Laurel says
Can I use swerve instead of sugar?
Kathy says
Hi Laurel,
I'm not familiar with swerve.
Kathy
Cheryl says
A few weeks ago I went to a nearby cranberry festival and went home with a heavy bag of fresh cranberries for $5. Fortunately I picked it up right when I was planning to go home! I didn't weigh it but around 10 pounds is my guess. Bag had handles on it! This year I decided to make cranberry sauce in the instant pot. Give it a try. I also did a combo cranberry/apple sauce in the Instant Pot. Couldn't stop eating it! Oh - I ended up pulling out a few freezer bags for the majority of those cranberries, so I have plenty more sauce coming up soon!
David @ Spiced says
Man, you weren't lying when you said this is an easy recipe! In all of my Thanksgiving travels, I don't think I've ever made cranberry sauce from scratch. I've doctored the canned stuff on occasion, but now I'm totally going to make a batch from scratch. This is almost easier than using the can opener to open the canned stuff. Haha!
Valentina says
Beautiful and delicious! I love your photos of the cinnamon sticks with the berries. Just lovely! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy says
Thank you!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
While I do have a soft spot for canned cranberry sauce, homemade is always the best and this one looks like a winner! Love cranberry and orange together. So perfect for the holidays!
Andrea says
This looks delicious! Can I make it the day before or is it better fresh? Thanks so much!
Kathy says
You can make this cranberry sauce ahead of time. I often make them 1-2 days ahead and they are perfect the day I serve them! Enjoy!
Allison says
Cranberries are my all time favorite. Thanksgiving just wouldn't be the same without them. Thanks for the recipe.
Kathy says
I love cranberries in so many different types of recipes.
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
I love cranberry sauce! This looks perfect, Kathy! I love that you've reduced the sugar content. Really like the addition of orange peel and cinnamon. Delicious!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
I love homemade whole berry cranberry sauce, Kathy. Yours looks delicious! Love the cinnamon stick.
Kathy says
The cinnamon definitely adds a little extra!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I love all the effort you put in here for so many options! So glad you finally found PERFECTION! Woot!
Kathy says
I'll save all that extra sugar for my dessert....not my cranberries.
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Yum, I love homemade cranberry sauce! And I love that you added a cinnamon stick to it, what a nice touch!
Danielle @ So Munch Love says
Growing up, my mom made a huge Thanksgiving dinner from scratch, but when it came to cranberry sauce, it always comes from a can. Go figure. Only in my adult life have I begun eating homemade. This recipe looks absolutely perfect!
Kathy says
That was the same in my house growing up. My sister still prefers the canned jellied cranberry sauce...I need to convert her!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
I love homemade cranberry sauce. Never thought of putting an orange peel in it though!!
Kathy says
It adds just a little extra touch!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
I love homemade cranberry sauce. This looks perfect.
Kathy says
Thanks!
Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says
I love homemade cranberry sauce! And completely agree that less sugar is better!
Kathy says
There is so much sugar in so many foods already....time to cut back!
Lindsey says
I love that your recipe uses less sugar!! Totally agree that most recipes call for a crazy amount of sugar, great call and can't wait to try!
Kathy says
I hope you love it as much as I do!
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
I have no clue why, but my kids favorite food is cranberry sauce. They absolutely gobble the stuff down. It's in their top 5 foods so I guess I should learn to make! Thanks.
Kathy says
You'd better get cooking! Your kids will think you are their hero, cooking one of their favorites!