Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce

You can quickly make a batch of Cranberry-Orange Sauce with this simple 30-minute recipe. You can even make it ahead and stash it into the freezer if that helps your sanity. It’s so convenient and so yum!

Cranberry-Orange Sauce

For years, I’ve been making a version of this healthy cranberry sauce, which relies on fresh orange for sweetness and flavor. I love it as a side dish for Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham but also as a way to enjoy the cranberry flavor throughout the winter. It’s so good stirred into yogurt and oatmeal, as well as a side for savory meats and dishes.

This recipe uses a combination of orange juice and fresh oranges that get blended up for a nice mix of flavor and texture. The citrus helps to balance out the tartness in the berries.

I use fresh cranberries here to make this homemade cranberry sauce, but frozen cranberries would work, too, if that’s what you have access to.

Ingredients You Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe.

• Navel oranges: Peeled with as much white pith removed as possible (since that part of the orange is bitter). You can add some orange zest for more flavor if you’d like.
• Fresh cranberries: Look for these in the fall in the produce aisle.
• Honey or maple syrup: Avoid honey for kids under age 1. I kept the amount in a range so you can add what you prefer. Cranberries are very tart, so you will likely want some of one of these to balance them out.
• Orange juice: This provides the liquid in which the berries simmer.
• Cinnamon: You can add a dash of cinnamon for more flavor if you like.

TIP: You can use maple syrup instead of honey if you prefer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make this easy cranberry sauce. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe.

1. Add the oranges and orange juice to a blender.
2. Blend until mostly smooth.
3. Add with the rest of the ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
4. Bring to a simmer (or a low boil) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries start to pop, are softened, and mostly broken down. Remove from heat and taste for sweetness. Stir in cinnamon. (You can also add a cinnamon stick in Step 1.)

TIP: If it’s too tart for your liking, add honey to taste.

Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce

To store this cranberry-orange sauce to serve later, let it cool to room temperature. Spoon it into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can make this up to a week ahead of when you plan to serve it. It stores really well.

How can I serve this orange cranberry sauce recipe?

You can serve it with turkey on Thanksgiving or as a side for chicken recipes, but we also love it stirred into yogurt and oatmeal. And serving cranberries that way can be a fun way to introduce the flavor!

How to Store

This fresh cranberry sauce can be made up to 1 week in advance. Store in an airtight container or two (or storage jars) in the fridge until ready to serve. Or place into freezer bags, press as much air out as possible, and freeze for up to 6 months.

Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Leftover homemade cranberry-orange sauce can be stored in the fridge for about a week.

Best Tips for Success

• Blend the peeled oranges to break them down to ensure this cooks quickly.
• You can use maple syrup instead of honey if you prefer.
• Other types of oranges will work. Just make sure they taste good and sweet to you.
• Taste the finished sauce and adjust the sweetness as needed.
• Serve as a side dish for Thanksgiving turkey, pork, Christmas dinner, on leftover turkey sandwiches, or as the fruit in Fruit-on-the-Bottom yogurt.

Related Recipes

Breakfast

Fresh Cranberry Orange Bread

Breakfast

Favorite Cranberry Orange Muffins

Desserts

Easy Berry Crisp Recipe

Desserts

Favorite Cranberry Apple Pie

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This post was first published November 2019.