Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This amazing homemade fresh cranberry sauce comes together in minutes and is the perfect complement to your turkey dinner.

Cranberry sauce has been around for over 2 centuries in the United States. Some late 18th century writings reference a simple cranberry sauce using water, sugar, and cranberries created by Native Americans and was officially recognized by cookbook author Amelia Simmons in 1796.

Cranberry sauce became popularized in a can in the early 1940s with the mass preserved food era to help get American soldiers fighting in WWII food that would last. However, there is no comparison when it comes to flavor between to canned jelly version and homemade fresh cranberry sauce.

Ingredients with this recipe:

• 1 cup water
• 1 ¼ cup sugar
• 12 ounces or about 4 cups fresh cranberries
• zest of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Serves 10

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Procedures:

1. Add the water and sugar to a medium-size pot and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
2. Next, add in the cranberries and return them to a boil. The cranberries will begin to pop.
3. Once boiling, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until it becomes very thick.
4. Remove the pot from the stove and add in cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest and using a rubber spatula mix everything together but also press on the cranberries a little bit to help break them up more.
5. Add the cranberry sauce to a container and cool in the refrigerator until cold, which takes about 30-45 minutes.

Chef Notes:

Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 2 days ahead of time. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can freeze it covered for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator until soft.

The sauce will thicken up a lot once it is cool.

You can use frozen cranberries in this recipe.

[Ps]

Every year my contribution is REAL cranberry sauce. I like adding a diced apple.

[SusanSmith-hliv]

My favorite fruit! Thanks for this recipe. I’m like you…never eat the canned! The orange and spices will add a new dimension. Pecans…oh yeah!

[anualphonse]

I needed to hear this. I feel very convicted and yet empowered watching this. Love this video!

[Meloncito]

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE RIGHT! This year I'm going to make the cramberry sauce from scratch, . No more cans! You convinced me. THANK YOU!!! Love your video, and LOVE YOUR RECIPE!

[mikes]

I've been doing this for years. I like to add a shot of Drambuie, or Grand Marnier with wedges of clementines. My family loves how the cranberry and orange compliment each other.

[sarahlang]

This cranberry sauce was delicious! Everyone loved it!

[schnappsie]

fabulous my friend👌 you know what is good😌😌😌aaaand health

[dineshhingoo]

This is my first thanksgiving I’m hosting, and this recipe is so simple that im going to use it!

[jbrown]

I make fresh cranberry sauce every year. Add a lil grand marnier and candied oranges, omg so good

[Justgabs-wnvv]

Thank you, I love the info about cranberry sauce food history is awesome keep it coming!!!! Happy holidays

[Rosco]

I try this recipe last Saturday. It was best cranberry sauce I ever had!!!.

[Aboz]

My mom's cranberry sauce was the BEST. There was even a special dish to serve it in.

[jocraig]

Thank you for sharing this recipe! I am making it now according to your recipe! Your videos are awesome and inspire me to feel like a chef in my own kitchen! My family enjoys it! Blessings to you!

[shortiilove]

This is exactly how I do my cranberries, my first time viewing your videos I’m going to check out more !!!! This is the correct way to make homemade cranberries my favorite part is hearing them pop lol

[JaneDoe]

Thank you so much, I'm making this today for the first time.

[mariaskitchenbymariaevans]

I made this and add a little bit of salt to enhance more the flavor of cranberry sauce.. it’s really good… Thanks Chef Billy 🙌🏻

[rosemarykarlsson]

When I've served or taken homemade cranberry sauce to pot lucks people love it, ask me how I made it & think I'm so smart. I use just sugar, water & cranberries but will try this recipe.

[reneeedwards]

Thank you for the recipe will try it out soon.

[DarksouIjah]

Happy Thanksgiving... Unsure if you remember me from your Live Q&A earlier but I made this recipe and it's friggen BANGING. I think you're batting a 100% with me so far...Nice job Chef...nice job.

[jmchau]

but I LOVE canned cranberry jelly! really truely love it. We have it every year, mostly for me. I think everyone else eats the cranberry orange relish.