Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (2024)

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This is the best homemade cranberry sauce with orange juice! It is super easy to make and way surpasses the canned version in flavor. Be sure to use whole cranberries for the most delicious side dish for your Thanksgiving or holiday table!

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (1)

Original post: November 2016 | Updated: November 2022

Why This Recipe Works

Cranberry sauce is a staple on every Thanksgiving table, am I right?! It is one of the first things my boys ask for when we sit down for dinner.

We’ve got steaming hot turkey and gravy, succulent asparagus and piles of fluffy mashed potatoes and my boys are asking for cranberries!

Are you one of those people who likes to plop a blob of cranberry sauce into a bowl? Or do you prefer to make fresh cranberry sauce? I think there is such a huge difference in texture and flavor and I will personally never buy the canned sweet sauce ever again.

There is nothing like homemade, friends, and it doesn’t even compare to anything you can buy at the grocery store. Make this recipe for your next holiday meal and come back and let me know how many rave reviews you get!

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (2)

50+ Make-Ahead Recipes For Your Holiday Table

Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about planning a holiday menu? Then you anticipate the exhaustion that comes after the meal has been eaten?

Within each recipe in this ebook are tips for making the recipe ahead of time to open up space for the people you’re excited to spend the holiday with.Sample menus included, along with mouth-watering photos and tried-and-tested recipes!

Recipe Ingredients for Cranberry Orange Sauce

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (3)

Orange juice – Buy the variety you’ll most enjoy adding to a mimosa on Thanksgiving morning! Or consider using freshly squeezed orange juice for a super fresh side dish.

1 bag fresh cranberries – Fresh cranberries are only available during the few months leading up to the holdays but freeze really well so grab an extra bag!

Sugar – Granulated sugar is typically used for this recipe, but swap part or all for brown sugar for a yummy twist! Adjust sweetness by using more or less of this ingredient.

Cinnamon and nutmeg – Add these delicious spices to your cranberry sauce recipe!

How To Make Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

Step 1

Pour 1 cup orange juice into a medium saucepan over high heat and add 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil on the stove top, stirring occasionally.

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (4)

Add the cranberries to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer at medium-low for 10 minutes or until cranberries start to burst.

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (5)

Step 2

Add 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well. Remove from the heat and let cool completely to room temperature. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to serve!

Recipe Tip: Making cranberry sauce in your Instant Pot is super easy, too!

Recipe Notes

  • For added freshness, stir in 1 teaspoon of orange zest after removing the orange juice cranberry sauce from heat.
  • Replace fresh cranberries with frozen cranberries, if desired.
  • This side dish is 100% gluten free!
  • For extra flavor, consider adding 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or brown sugar or a couple vanilla beans to the mixture before boiling.
  • When storing homemade cranberries, press plastic wrap directly onto its surface before refrigerating. This will prevent a film from forming on the surface and it will keep the sauce fresh.

How To Freeze Cranberry Sauce

You can absolutely freeze cranberry sauce with amazing results. Place in airtight container and store in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. When ready to defrost, let thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight.

What To Do With Leftover Cranberry Sauce

You might think that once Thanksgiving dinner has passed, your cranberry sauce should pass, too. This is not the case! There are many options for repurposing the delicious, red sweet sauce. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Throw it into a Thanksgiving Leftovers Stromboli. This is a favorite in our house!
  • Smear it over leftover turkey.
  • Build a Thanksgiving Leftovers Grilled Cheese Sandwich! YUM!
  • Use it as a sauce for your next sweet pizza, maybe with brie cheese, pear slices and honey.
  • Replace it with the jelly in this Crockpot Meatballs recipe.
Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (6)

Can Dogs Eat Cranberry Sauce

In small quantities, cranberry sauce is perfectly safe for dogs. Be aware, however, that it can have a fairly high sugar content, which can lead to stomach issues if consumed in large quantities.

Also, if the sauce is canned, read the label! Some versions contain grapes or raisins, which are toxic to canines.

How Long Does Cranberry Sauce Last

When stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade cranberry sauce will last up to 10 days.

FAQ About Cranberries

Can you eat fresh raw cranberries?

Yes, you can safely eat raw cranberries but they taste better when combined with other ingredients.

How do cranberries taste?

Cranberries are a tart fruit, similar to a lemon that have a wonderful flavor once you combine them with something sweet to offset it.

Are cranberries good for you?

Cranberries are good for you; they are often called a superfood. High in antioxidants, they are also shown to help with gut health and help with urinary tract health. Did you know they also keep your mouth healthy? They help control harmful acids in your body.

When can you buy fresh cranberries?

Fresh cranberries are harvested in the fall in the United States. They are typically available at the grocer September through January.

Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!

Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

  • This is my Mom’s Mashed Potatoesrecipe and it is the best potato recipe ever. Great with any main dish, any time of year. You’ll never need another mashed potato recipe again!
  • Take the heat out of the kitchen by creating air fryer broccoli and cauliflower for your holiday table in minutes!
  • This Classic Sweet Potato Casseroleis great on your Thanksgiving table and also a perfect side dish that can be enjoyed any time of the year.
  • Throw just a few ingredients in your slow cooker to createcrockpot green bean casserole. Great Thanksgiving or any-time as a side dish!
  • This deliciousCrockpot Stuffing with Leeks and Sausageis made easier in a slow cooker! The addition of leeks and sausage makes it unique and delicious. Don’t limit this to Thanksgiving fare.
  • If you really love having low carb options at your table, try thisCauliflower Stuffing recipe! It’s an easy, healthy side dish for your next holiday meal.

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

  • Mashed Potatoes with Red Potatoes Recipe
  • Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Recipe
  • Crockpot Creamed Corn Recipe

Homemade Sauces

  • Easy Blueberry Sauce is super easy to make and goes great on pancakes, waffles or works great as a pie filling!
  • Homemade Chocolate Fudge Sauce – Enjoy spoonfuls of this gooey chocolate fudge sauce perfect for summer treats!
  • Apple Butter is worth the wait! Not to be confused with butter, it’s awesome to spread on everything (like butter)!
  • Salted Caramel Sauce – Only 4 ingredients are needed to make this sweet and salty sauce.
  • Crockpot Applesauce is fun to make and better than the store stuff! Plus it’s the perfect fall treat. Let your slow cooker do the work for you.

Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (10)

Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange

This is the best orange cranberry sauce recipe! It is super easy to make and way surpasses the canned version in flavor.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: sides

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 131kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries rinsed
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Instructions

  • Pour orange juice into a medium saucepan over high heat and add sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.

  • Add cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to serve!

Notes

  • For added freshness, stir in 1 teaspoon of orange zest after removing from heat.
  • Replace fresh cranberries with frozen cranberries, if desired.
  • This side dish is 100% gluten free!
  • For extra flavor, consider adding 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or brown sugar or a couple vanilla beans to the mixture before boiling.
  • When storing homemade cranberries, press plastic wrap directly onto its surface before refrigerating. This will prevent a film from forming on the surface and it will keep the sauce fresh.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is orange juice and cranberry juice good mixed together? ›

Both cranberries and oranges are good sources of vitamin C and combined into juice, the mixture packs a large dose of this important nutrient.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

How long does orange cranberry sauce last? ›

To refrigerate, transfer to a covered glass or plastic container, and it'll keep for 10 to 14 days. To freeze, transfer to a covered, airtight container or freezer-safe bag, and it'll stay fresh-tasting in your freezer for about 1 month. Beyond that, it's still safe to eat (though less fresh-tasting) for up to a year.

What are the two types of cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce can be served either as a gooey liquid or as a solid jelly. The jellied version is solid enough to retain the shape of the container in which it's placed whereas the sauce version is much more fluid. The difference between the fluid sauce and the jelly versions comes down to pectin.

What not to mix with cranberry? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  • Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  • Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

Which juices should not be mixed? ›

Avoid mixing your watermelons, muskmelons, cantaloupe and honeydews with other fruits. Try not to mix acidic fruits, such as grapefruits and strawberries, or sub-acidic foods such as apples, pomegranates and peaches, with sweet fruits, such as bananas and raisins for a better digestion.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

How do you enhance canned cranberry sauce? ›

Canned cranberry sauce is delicious on its own, but there are ways you can dress it up for any meal. Adding fruits like oranges or berries brings different flavors and acidity to the sauce. Folding in crushed nuts at the end adds texture variety.

How do you fix bland cranberry sauce? ›

Maple syrup, brown sugar and even honey can make your cranberry sauce more dynamic. And don't forget the spices! Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, citrus zest and star anise all work well with cranberries and can be added while the sauce cooks to infuse your sauce with flavor.

Does cranberry juice taste good with orange juice? ›

Cranberries and orange juice combine with agave to create a festive drink that's a beautiful holiday red, has all the sweet and tangy flavors of the season, and just makes the holiday feel so much more merry and bright. It's a great drink to serve to family and friends around the fire on a cold Christmas day.

What juices are good to mix together? ›

Stay hydrated with these easy, refreshing, & nutrient-dense fresh juice combinations:
  • Watermelon+ Raspberries.
  • Apple + Blueberries.
  • Pineapple + Ginger.
  • Orange + Carrot.
  • Pear + Cucumber.
  • Papaya + Nectarine.
  • Cantaloupe + Kiwi.
  • Grapefruit + Mandarin Orange.

What mixes well with orange juice? ›

What goes well with orange? Zesty orange flavor blends really well in co*cktails using pretty much any spirit, as well as mixing it with lemon or lime juice for an extra kick. Orange juice and grenadine syrup is also a lovely combination, as well as herbs like mint and rosemary!

Can you mix vitamin C and cranberry juice? ›

No interactions were found between cranberry and Vitamin C.

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