Best Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This Cranberry Sauce recipe is the best version of an easy holiday favorite that will please everyone at the table!

For more delicious Thanksgiving sides, try my popular recipes for Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Traditional Homemade Stuffing, and Perfectly Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits.

Why This Recipe Works

A healthier alternative: My recipe for cranberry sauce is healthier than most. That’s because, first of all, the act of making your cranberry sauce from scratch automatically makes it healthier. You aren’t putting in any of the preservatives and extra sugars that are packed into the canned stuff. From there, you have your cranberries, which are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Plus, cranberries are naturally low fat and low calorie. 

Pineapple juice and applesauce are two more ingredients that sweeten your sauce naturally (be sure to read the labels to make sure you’re getting pure juice and applesauce — nothing with added sugars there, either).

While we do add just a touch of honey and brown sugar, it’s way less than most recipes — and will taste plenty sweet. 

Make ahead: You can make cranberry sauce ahead of time by following the directions as listed below. Then, let it cool before transferring to a dish, covering, and putting in the fridge for up to five days. I recommend reheating it before serving, but it’s good cold, too.

So easy: This cranberry sauce only takes 25 total minutes and there’s no special prep. AND everything cooks up together in one pot. Perfecto! 

Delicious: If you grew up thinking the cranberry side consisted of that jello-like substance you find in a can, boy have I got a surprise for you. That’s NOT it! THIS recipe, THIS is the one you want to be eating from here on out. It’s tart, a little sweet, and has an amazing texture. You’ll want to eat it alone and as a topping on turkey.

Ingredients

Get together these few simple ingredients and you’re halfway to a delicious cranberry sauce.

• Fresh Cranberries —  These are easy to find this time of year in the produce department. They should definitely be refrigerated and not dried out. 
• Pineapple Juice — A natural sweetener, pineapple juice gives these cranberries just a little help in the tartness department. 
• Applesauce — Applesauce acts as another natural sweetener plus a little extra texture. 
• Water — A little water is added to counteract the thick, gel-like substance you’ll find coming together as the cranberries cook with the juices. 
• Honey — Just a dash is all that’s needed. 
• Brown Sugar — Brown sugar offers that earthier sweetness that works so well with cranberries. Again, just a touch goes a long way. (Optional)
• Juice of One Orange + Zest — And, for that final zing, I add the juice of one orange and its zest. If you only have bottled OJ that’s okay too but I do think fresh squeezed tastes much better. 

Here’s How You Make It

I hesitate to even say there are two steps to making this cranberry sauce because they go so quickly you can hardly call them steps. But, first: 

1. Add the fresh cranberries to a large saucepan. Turn the heat up to medium and add to the cranberries the pineapple juice, applesauce, and water and bring all of this to a boil. Stir the mixture for about 10 minutes, or till the cranberries start to burst.
2. Next (and last) stir in the orange juice, orange zest, honey, and brown sugar if you’re including it. Simmer the sauce for 10-15 minutes longer and remove the pan from the heat. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely in the pot before serving.

Expert Tips + Tricks

• Save even more time by making the cranberries ahead of time and storing in a microwave-safe dish for easy reheating. Take it from the fridge to microwave to table, and then hopefully right into the dishwasher. 
• My easy cranberry sauce pairs perfectly with all the Thanksgiving main dishes, side dishes, and desserts, of course.
• The cranberry sauce can be made up to 3-5 days in advance. Keep it covered and store it in the fridge.  
• You can freeze cranberry sauce for up to 3 months. Keep in an airtight container.

More Holiday Recipes

• Best Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
• Best Easy Turkey Breast Recipe (Instant Pot)
• Traditional Homemade Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe
• Green Bean Casserole