Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce is like pie without ice cream! You will never find a dish that is easier to make than Fresh Cranberry Sauce. It consists of boiling water, adding sugar and cranberries…that’s it!

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of cranberry sauce? Congealed stuff, giggling when you force it out of the can in one long, thick clump. The ridges of the can imprinted on its sides…oh my. That’s my childhood memory of cranberry sauce. Even in the congealed state, it was still one of my favorite Thanksgiving dinner items. I’m huge on sweet and salty together, and cranberry sauce is an essential holiday menu item in my book. If you haven’t tried to make cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries, you are about to be pleasantly surprised.  I love to make a few  variations of cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner.  A couple of my favorites are  Apple Spice Cranberry Sauce and  Fresh Cranberry, Orange and Dried Cherry Sauce.

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Do you want to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner this year, but don’t have time to make anything time consuming? Call up the host and volunteer to make Fresh Cranberry Sauce. If you have a pan, sugar, fresh cranberries and a few minutes, you can do this.  One tip, make sure to use a pan that holds at least 2 quarts. The mixture will boil and bubble up a bit. If you use a pan that is too small,  you’ll end up with a big mess on the stove.  It takes 15 minutes start to finish to make Fresh Cranberry Sauce.  I’m huge on make-ahead at holiday time, and this dish is the perfect make ahead dish!

Make a batch (or two) of Fresh Cranberry Sauce this weekend, and store it until Thanksgiving Day.  I always double this recipe!

Fresh Cranberry Sauce
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

5 from 5 votes
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Author: Si Foster

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup orange juice*
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 to 1 cup sugar- depending on how sweet or tart you like your sauce
  • 1 – 12 oz bag fresh cranberries, washed and remove any shriveled berries

Instructions

  • Bring orange juice, water and sugar to boil in a large sauce pan.
  • Add cranberries, cook until berries begin to pop and the skins burst.
  • Lower heat and cook until sauce begins to thicken a bit, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat.
  • When cooled, spoon into a bowl or mason jar, and store in refrigerator.

Notes

-This sauce may be made with all orange juice or all water, or half of each.

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!