Easy Homemade Cranberry  Sauce is a classic accompaniment for holiday meals, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas. This easy homemade version combines fresh or frozen cranberries with a touch of citrus zest, creating a sauce that’s tangy, sweet, and bursting with flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Homemade Cranberry  Sauce

You’ll love this cranberry sauce because it’s:

1. Quick and Easy: Made with just a few simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes.
2. Customizable: Adjust the sweetness to your liking and add your favorite citrus zest.
3. Versatile: Perfect for holiday dinners, but also great on sandwiches, desserts, and more.
4. Make-Ahead Friendly: Can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Ingredients For Easy Homemade Cranberry  Sauce

• 16 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
• ⅓ cup water
• ⅓ cup sugar, plus more if needed
• Zest of one lemon or orange

How to Make Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Instructions

1. Prepare Ingredients: Set aside ½ cup of the cranberries.
2. Combine Ingredients: Add the remaining cranberries, water, sugar, and citrus zest to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
3. Cook: Bring the mixture to a slow simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
4. Adjust Sweetness: Taste the sauce and add more sugar if desired. Add the reserved cranberries.
5. Simmer Again: Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring often.
6. Cool and Store: Let the sauce cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks.

Tips

• Taste Test: Adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar if the sauce is too tart for your liking.
• Stir Often: Stir the sauce frequently to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
• Make Ahead: This sauce can be made a few days in advance, making holiday meal prep easier.

Variations

• Spiced Cranberry Sauce: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves for a warm, spiced flavor.
• Citrus Twist: Use a combination of lemon and orange zest for a more complex citrus flavor.
• Alcohol-Infused: Add a splash of orange liqueur or red wine for a boozy twist.

What to Serve with Cranberry Sauce

• Roasted Turkey or Chicken: The classic pairing for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Sandwiches: Spread on turkey or ham sandwiches for a tangy contrast.
• Desserts: Spoon over cheesecake, ice cream, or yogurt for a fruity topping.

Storage

Store the cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last for a few weeks, but discard if it smells funny or you see mold.

Yield: 8

EASY HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE

Print

Easy homemade cranberry sauce, tart and sweet, perfect for serving on Thanksgiving and all your other holidays!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 16 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
• ⅓ cup water
• ⅓ cup sugar, plus more if needed
• the zest of one lemon or orange

Instructions

1. Set aside a ½ cup of the cranberries.
2. Add the remaining cranberries and the rest of the ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
3. Bring to a slow simmer and cook about 10 minutes, stirring often.
4. Taste and add more sugar if desired and the cranberries you set aside earlier.
5. Simmer another 10 minutes, stirring often.
6. Store in the refrigerator. It should last a few weeks - discard if it smells funny or you see mold.

Notes

Approximate Nutrition Information

Per serving (based on 8 servings):

• Calories: 70
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Protein: 0g
• Fiber: 2g
• Note: Nutrition values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredients used.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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