Cranberry Sauce

The go-to classic, make-ahead cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 04, 2024
Elise Bauer

Do you like cranberry sauce? My father can't get enough of it during the holiday season. He'll even stock up on fresh cranberries when they become available in late October, and freeze them to eat all year long.

I think he looks forward to Thanksgiving just because he knows he can have as much cranberry sauce as he wants with his slices of turkey, and plenty left over for turkey sandwiches.

When he finally runs out of frozen cranberries sometime in May, he'll start buying the cans. He'll hide the cans in a remote corner of the pantry and eat up the canned cranberries all by himself. Yes, he's a little obsessed.

A bowl of cranberry sauce on a table with a spoon.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

For me it's been an acquired taste. As a kid I just couldn't understand why something so beautifully garnet colored didn't taste like berry pie filling!

Cranberries are tart, very tart, and need sugar to balance their tartness. But even with the sugar, the tartness comes through. As an adult, I have come to love cranberry sauce in all forms, including a cranberry relish that you don't even have to cook.

A white and red bowl of cranberry sauce on a table with a spoon.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Cranberry Sauce Is Perfect with Thanksgiving Turkey

Cranberries are absolutely perfect with turkey. Sort of like lemons and chicken. Something about the flavors, they're just made for each other. Which is why the sauce is so good to spread over turkey in your leftover turkey sandwiches.

The following is a simple and easy recipe for cranberry sauce, one that you can easily dress up with extras. If you have a favorite way of making yours, please let us know about it in the comments!

A Thanksgiving table set with a bowl of cranberry sauce next to a platter of turkey and other sides.

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Swaps and Substitution Suggestions From Our Readers

  • Ole: "Substituting OJ for the water is nice, a little oomph without overwhelming."
  • Joe: "I added cherry juice and it was very delicious!"
  • Dianna: "I added dried orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. The smell and flavor is one of the BEST!"
  • Jan: "I added a good amount of blueberries and a smaller amount of pecans. Topped off with a bit of cinnamon. the whole dining party said they were the best cranberries they had ever tasted!"
  • Jennifer: "I use apple juice, brown sugar and peeled and diced apple. I add the apple when I add the cranberries. It is less tart than regular cranberry sauce, but not too sweet. It is a great balance."
  • Michelle: "Then after the sauce is slightly cooled, I add a couple glugs of Grand Marnier or other orange flavored liquor and mix in thoroughly."
  • Bonny: "Decided to play with it a bit. I used orange juice and chopped apple. I also chopped some fresh Italian basil and cooked it with the apples and berries. Put that altogether with a couple of shots of Crown Royal and it's beyond great."

How Far Ahead Can You Make Cranberry Sauce?

For the best consistency, make sure the cranberry sauce is thoroughly chilled before serving so it has time to set up. Making it the day before Thanksgiving gives it plenty of time to chill and saves you a task on the day itself.

You can make this cranberry sauce up to 1 week before serving.

How to Store & Freeze Cranberry Sauce

Refrigerate leftover cranberry sauce for up to 2 weeks. Or freeze the sauce for up to 6 months.

Love Cranberries? Try These Recipes!

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Cranberry Sauce

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 9 servings
Yield 2 1/4 cups

The recipe calls for a cup of water. You can easily substitute that with 1/2 cup of orange juice and 1/2 cup of water if you want to increase the orange note in the sauce (cranberries and oranges play well together!)

You can also reduce the sugar if you want. Start out with half as much and add more if you think it needs it. If you use less sugar, reduce the amount of water you add as well.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup (200g) sugar

  • 1 cup (250ml) water

  • 4 cups (one 12-ounce package) fresh or frozen cranberries

  • Optional: pecans, orange zest, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice

Method

  1. Rinse the cranberries:

    Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse them. Pick out and discard any damaged or bruised cranberries.

  2. Boil the water with sugar:

    Put the water and sugar in a medium saucepan on high heat and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

    A dutch oven with simmering water and sugar

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  3. Add the cranberries, cook until they burst:

    Add the cranberries to the pot and return to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst.

    Fresh cranberries being poured into a Dutch oven

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Fresh cranberries boiling in a Dutch oven

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  4. Stir in the mix-ins, if using:

    Once the cranberries have burst you can leave the cranberry sauce as is, or dress it up with other ingredients. We like to mix in a half a cup of chopped pecans a pinch or two of orange zest.

    Some people like adding raisins or currants, or even blueberries for added sweetness. You can also add holiday spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice. If adding spices, start with a pinch of each and add more to your taste.

  5. Cool:

    Remove the pot from heat. Let cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to a bowl to chill in the refrigerator. Note that the cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

    Did you make the recipe with any special twists? Tell us about it and leave a comment below!

    A glass bowl of cranberry sauce on a table with a spoon.

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
103 Calories
0g Fat
27g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 9
Amount per serving
Calories 103
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 31mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.