So I know I have been sharing a lot of recipes with you guys here lately (like my delicious pecan pie bars I shared earlier), but I just can’t help myself because it is Thanksgiving week! And I love to bake, cook, and host so this is all right up my alley! So today I thought I would share with y’all my easy homemade cranberry sauce that I make all the time.
The best part is, I don’t just make this recipe at Thanksgiving only, I make it year round. It is the perfect side dish to a delicious comfort meal like chicken pot pie too!
Keep on reading to see just how easy it is to make below!
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Recipe Notes:
The hardest part about this recipe is just that it has to chill overnight. That’s it! The rest of it is super simple.
When I first made this, I was so worried because it was so runny and it did not set up like I thought it would.
But after learning, it just takes time for it to set up. It gets thicker as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks a little runny right after you cook it!
I also like to use fresh cranberries when they are in season, but like I said above, I make this dish year round so sometimes fresh cranberries are hard to find. I
f that’s the case, you could totally use frozen cranberries instead. I just let them thaw out in a colander under cool running water before dumping them into the boiling water.
I used to always just use the cranberry sauce in a can because I thought making it from scratch would be too much work. But I was definitely wrong!
After making this recipe, I will never go back to jellied cranberry sauce in a can. This makes your meal feel more special and like you put in the extra effort for it, even though it’s really not that much work!
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 12 oz fresh cranberries You can use frozen cranberries too if they are not currently in season where you are located.
- 1 orange Used for the zest.
- 1/2 cup pecans
Instructions
- Rinse cranberries throughly and set aside.
- Combine the one cup of sugar and the one cup of water in a saucepan over medium high heat.
- Bring to a boil and stir to make sure all sugar is disolved.
- Once sugar is disolved, add cranberries and cook until they burst. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in your orange zest and pecans.
- Remove saucepan from heat and let cool.
- Pour mixture into a container and let it sit until it reaches room temperature.
- Place container in fridge overnight to let it set and thicken up.
End Notes:
You definitely don’t have to add in the orange zest or pecans if you don’t want to. I just find that it gives it a nice, festive touch.
I typically will add them in especially around the holidays, but sometimes I don’t throughout the rest of the year. It’s totally up to you!
Let me know if y’all try this recipe out and what you think about it! I promise it really is the easiest homemade cranberry sauce ever!
You will make it again and again because it is just so dang tasty!
I love orange zest in seasonal recipes — this cranberry sauce sounds amazing!
Yes! It is the perfect way to make a dish more seasonal in my opinion too!
Wow I love this recipe idea, and I love the idea of Cranberry sauce- I’ve never had it before and as someone from the UK, it always sounds like a very American tradition 🙂 thank you for sharing this recipe, I love it x
Yes! It is a very American tradition for sure. We always had it growing up.
Looks awesome, I’ve never tried the real cranberries,
only the dried ones..
Real cranberries are pretty tart, but adding in the cup of sugar really helps sweeten them up!
Thanks for sharing, this recipe looks easy to follow, great to have at Christmas 🙂
Yes! It is the perfect Christmas and Holiday recipe!
Wow! This seems os easy! I can’t believe I’ve never tried making my own cranberry sauce before. I am definitely going to give this one a try! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Yes, you should definitely try it! It is so easy to make!
Since I left the States 8 years ago I have not made homemade cranberry sauce! Shameful!! Great recipe that I will use during the holidays!
Oh yes! You should definitely try to make it this year then!
Hi. With Christmas coming soon, I’m going to mafe this definitely. I think Turkey or chicken needs this accompaniment. I’ve always loved cranberry sauce, but bought it in a jar usually How much more lovely this will taste cooked fresh.
Yes, it is the perfect Christmas dish to make!
Wonderful recipe! I’ve never put in pecans before. I’ll try this the next time I have a dinner party.
Yes you should try it with pecans, it’s wonderful!
Merry Christmas!!
Love that cranberry sauce is so easy to make. The fresher the cranberries (or any ingredients), the better! You can never go wrong with orange zest. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Nancy ✨ mdrnminimalists.com
Thank you so much Nancy! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas as well!
One of my favourite parts of the Christmas Dinner is the cranberry sauce, yet strangely, it’s the only time of year that I eat it! This recipe will be perfect when I fancy a treat after Christmas, thanks for sharing! x
Sophie | https://www.loveandliterature.co.uk
Lol that’s so very true. I used to only eat it around the holidays too. But trust me, this is so good anytime of the year!
I make a small amount for me since I’m the only one who likes cranberries. I like the addition of pecans.
Yes, the pecans are definitely a nice touch for sure!