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Home » Holidays » Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Published: Nov 8, 2019 · Modified: Sep 10, 2021 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

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A china bowl filled with cranberry sauce.

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.

Cranberry sauce in a white china dish on top of a white napkin.
Table of Contents
Why make this recipe
Key ingredients
Step by step directions
Recipe tips
Recipe Faqs
More great holiday recipes
More cranberry recipes
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Why make this recipe

You can't have Thanksgiving dinner without cranberry sauce - at least that's true in my house.  Whole berry cranberry sauce is my favorite and it's easy to make.

I always think anything you can make from scratch is so much better and healthier than what you can buy, already prepared in the store.

This simple recipe is made with just four ingredients and it's easy to adjust the amount you make to fit the number of people you're serving.

Make this cranberry sauce ahead of time and it's one less thing you need to do for your holiday dinner.

Fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks scattered on a white board.

Key ingredients

  • Fresh cranberries
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon Stick
  • Fresh orange peel

Step by step directions

  • 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
Whole cranberries in a pot along with orange peel and a cinnamon stick.

Recipe tips

  • 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!

Recipe Faqs

Can I make this cranberry sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this sauce ahead of time. You can make this cranberry dish 3 days ahead of time. Just cool after making and then place in a container, cover and refrigerate.

Can I 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. 

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. 

You'll also want to check out this recipe for Jellied Cranberry Sauce! Another great way to enjoy those cranberries!

A fork with a bit of cranberry sauce on the tines.

If you end up with any leftover cranberry sauce, it is perfect in this Baked Cranberry Brie.

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.
A small dish filled with cranberry sauce and fresh cranberries behind the dish.

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!

  • Brunch Egg Dishes
  • Valentine Pretzels
  • Pecan Snowball Cookies
  • Spiced Pecans
Cranberry sauce in a white china dish on top of a white napkin.

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Kathy
Whole berry cranberry sauce
5 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups
Prevent your screen from going dark

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)

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 37mgFiber: 2gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 37IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cranberry sauce, cranberry sauce reduced sugar, whole berry cranberry sauce
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

This recipe was originally published in November of 2015. The pictures and content have been updated. 

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Comments

  1. Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says

    November 21, 2015 at 2:09 am

    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!

    Reply
  2. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says

    November 20, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    I love homemade whole berry cranberry sauce, Kathy. Yours looks delicious! Love the cinnamon stick.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 22, 2015 at 6:31 am

      The cinnamon definitely adds a little extra!

      Reply
  3. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says

    November 20, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    I love all the effort you put in here for so many options! So glad you finally found PERFECTION! Woot!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 22, 2015 at 6:32 am

      I'll save all that extra sugar for my dessert....not my cranberries.

      Reply
  4. Meghan | Fox and Briar says

    November 20, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    Yum, I love homemade cranberry sauce! And I love that you added a cinnamon stick to it, what a nice touch!

    Reply
  5. Danielle @ So Munch Love says

    November 20, 2015 at 10:37 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 22, 2015 at 6:34 am

      That was the same in my house growing up. My sister still prefers the canned jellied cranberry sauce...I need to convert her!

      Reply
  6. Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says

    November 19, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    I love homemade cranberry sauce. Never thought of putting an orange peel in it though!!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 19, 2015 at 9:22 pm

      It adds just a little extra touch!

      Reply
  7. Amy (Savory Moments) says

    November 19, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    I love homemade cranberry sauce. This looks perfect.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 19, 2015 at 9:22 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  8. Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says

    November 19, 2015 at 11:12 am

    I love homemade cranberry sauce! And completely agree that less sugar is better!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 19, 2015 at 9:23 pm

      There is so much sugar in so many foods already....time to cut back!

      Reply
  9. Lindsey says

    November 19, 2015 at 10:40 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 19, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      I hope you love it as much as I do!

      Reply
  10. Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says

    November 19, 2015 at 6:08 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 19, 2015 at 9:24 pm

      You'd better get cooking! Your kids will think you are their hero, cooking one of their favorites!

      Reply
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I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics..

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