Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce is what needs to be on your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. With a twist of orange flavor, this isn't your Mom's cranberry sauce! This classic side dish recipe is so easy to make and can be made ahead of time.

I would always bypass the cranberry sauce in the Thanksgiving food line. Pickles were never passed by, in fact, they are a must every Thanksgiving. (Dill, of course.)

However, I wasn't sure how I felt about cranberry sauce and I didn't really want to try it when there were plenty of other delicious items that I knew I like. Not adventurous, I suppose. That said, this easy homemade cranberry sauce will be the talk of your dinner. And I will forever try cranberry sauce so I don't miss out.

What makes this easy homemade cranberry sauce special? Well, it has a twist in the recipe that gives the sauce an extra punch, extra flavor, extra...depth.

Cranberry sauce can have depth.

Like Cranberry? How about Easy Cranberry Slush

The ingredients

• Whole cranberries
• Water
• Sugar
• Orange Juice Concentrate

Orange juice concentrate is the hero in this recipe. That's right, not just orange juice, but orange juice concentrate. The depth of orange flavor sets off the cranberries beautifully. Like in my Orange Cranberry Mini Loaves or in this Cranberry Orange Pound Cake.

The Instructions

The cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time which is a big help on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning to have a few of the side dishes already done so you can focus on the main course.

All you need to make the Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a medium sized pot, spoon for stirring and measuring cups and spoons.

If you are in need of a new serving bowl, I found this copper one here. If you aren't a fan of copper, here is another one that has a cool stand.

Simply boil the water and sugar together. Then add the cranberries. The cranberries will break down while cooking and make them soft. After 8 minutes of cooking, stir in orange juice concentrate and let cook for another 4-5 minutes.

I'm telling you, you will want to let it cook all day on the stove because the smell is A-MAZ-ING!

But don't, the sauce won't end well. ;-)

So, are you going to give it a try? That is all it takes to cooking the cranberry sauce. It simply needs to let cool then keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Storage

This sauce will need to be stored in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Easy (and homemade)!

Need some more Thanksgiving side dish recipes? Try: Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans or Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

📖 Recipe

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