Easy Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce (2024)

Just like Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without stuffing, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without this homemade cranberry orange sauce – it’s a little bit tangy, a little bit sweet, and a lot bit delicious!

When I’m menu planning for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a random mid-August dinner party with a winter holiday theme, cranberry sauce is the last recipe to cross my mind. I’m usually so preoccupied with the larger tasks at hand: don’t burn the bird, casserole, stuffing, array of desserts, appetizers, theme-appropriate co*cktails, something kids will eat, etc. …that the cranberry sauce is forgotten until the last minute.

If you’re like me, worry not. I’ve got your hostess-with-the-mostess hiney covered. The ingredients in this fail-proof cranberry orange sauce are probably already in your house, and this deliciousness can be prepared the night before or just 15 minutes before. It’s up to you!

In addition to this paleo cranberry sauce being lick-the-spoon tasty, it’s actually healthy too! So put that canned cranberry sauce down – food shaped like a can is scary – and let’s get going on this easy, healthy alternative!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Ingredients

Just a few really simple ingredients bring this tasty side dish together. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Orange Juice – to start, you’ll need a ½ cup of orange juice (the juice from about three medium oranges). Fresh is best, so go for fresh orange juice whenever possible!
• Lemon Juice – in addition to the orange juice, you’ll also need the juice of 1 small lemon,…
• Honey – …a ¼ cup of honey,…
• Raw Cranberries – …5 cups of raw cranberries,…
• Orange Zest – …1 tablespoon of orange zest (note that if you’re particularly sensitive to bitter flavors, you may want to leave the zest out),…
• Salt – …a pinch of salt, and…
• Fresh Thyme – …fresh thyme for an (optional) garnish.

How to Make Orange Cranberry Sauce

This dish is as easy as it is tasty! It can be done in just 15 minutes…here’s how you’ll do it:

1. Add the Juice + Honey to a Pot – pour the orange juice, lemon juice, and honey into a medium saucepan or pot over medium heat, and let simmer for a few minutes.
2. Add the Cranberries – next, add the fresh cranberries, stir, and simmer to let the cranberries burst for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the Salt – add the salt, stir again, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
4. Add the Orange Zest – add the orange peel, stir, and either pour in a loaf pan to chill overnight in the refrigerator or into a bowl to serve warm.

Variations

Though this Cranberry Orange Sauce is stunning as written, there are a few things you can do to really make it your own. Here are a few variations worth trying:

• Add Spices – if holiday spices are your thing, simmer a cinnamon stick or add a dash of ground cinnamon and cloves to your cranberry sauce.
• Spike It – for an adult cranberry sauce, add a few tablespoons of spiced rum, cognac, or brandy!
• Switch Up the Sugar – if honey isn’t your thing (or you just don’t have any on hand), use a 1/4 cup sugar (brown or white granulated sugar) or maple syrup in its place.
• Use Frozen Cherries – if you like a less-tart cranberry sauce, try substituting half the cranberries with frozen pitted cherries.

Can cranberry sauce be made in advance?

Sure! Cranberry sauce keeps for at least a week in the fridge, so feel free to check this side dish off of your holiday dinner to-do list ahead of time!

Can you freeze cranberry sauce?

You can! No more throwing away these delicious leftovers. Instead, freeze any uneaten leftovers for later use! Cranberry sauce will keep frozen for up to 3 months.

How To Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce

There are SO many ways to use cranberry sauce leftovers. Here are a few of our very favorite ways to enjoy cranberry sauce after the big holiday feast:

• Cranberry Pork Shoulder – this recipe is simple, but the flavors are BIG. Our favorite way to enjoy this cranberry pork shoulder? On a bed of leftover mashed potatoes!
• Cranberry Bison Meatloaf – this paleo meatloaf is the perfect healthy winter comfort food. Swap out the 4 ingredient cranberry sauce in the meatloaf recipe for your leftover cranberry orange sauce!
• Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich – combine leftover stuffing, gravy, turkey (or ham!), and cranberry sauce between two pieces of bread for an epic sandwich.
• Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole – this casserole is great for anyone who would prefer a fresh dish over leftovers.
• Serve it with Pork Tenderloin – serve your leftover cranberry sauce alongside juicy, tender slices of pork tenderloin!
• Serve it with Breakfast – for a REALLY yummy breakfast, top a warm bowl of oatmeal or a stack of pancakes with a dollop of cranberry sauce, a sprinkle of granola, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

We hope that this easy cranberry sauce recipe makes it onto your holiday table this year and that you get creative with the leftovers afterward!

More Thanksgiving Recipes

• Perfect Oven-Roasted Turkey
• Baked Turkey Breast Tenderloin with Garlic Herb Marinade
• Semi-Homemade Thanksgiving Stuffing
• Baked Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow Pecan Topping
• Traditional Turkey Gravy
• Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Oven-Baked Mac and Cheese
• Simple Sauteed Green Beans