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Once you try this homemade, fresh cranberry sauce with orange & cinnamon, you’ll be upset that you’ve gone so many Thanksgivings without it.

Ordinary store-bought cans of “cranberry sauce” simply pale in comparison.

The tartness of the berries is perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the sugar and elevated with a hint of orange and cinnamon. It’s not too sweet though. If you like the texture and bite of whole berries in your sauce, take it off the heat as soon as all the berries have popped.

For a smoother cranberry sauce, continue cooking it a bit longer than suggested. This is sure to be a Thanksgiving table staple for years to come.

If you’re looking for something with less sugar, try our Best Ever Low Carb Cranberry Sauce (Keto, Paleo, Diabetic Friendly)

Need help getting your home ready for Thanksgiving? Get our printable Ultimate Thanksgiving Home Cleaning Checklist

Get the recipe!

FRESH CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH ORANGE & CINNAMON

Heather LaCorte
Making this fresh cranberry sauce couldn't be easier and it's the perfect combination of sweet and tart. Not only will it become a staple of your Thanksgiving table but it is great to keep in the fridge for things like sandwiches, pairing with cheeses, spreading over toast, pancakes, muffins and scones.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Sauce Pan
  • Spoon
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Citrus Squeezer or Reamer

Ingredients
 

  • 1 12-ounce package fresh cranberries
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 oranges, zested and juiced, (about 1/2 cup) or sub (1/2 cup orange juice)
  • 1 cinnamon stick or 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
 

  • Begin by washing the cranberries and removing any bad berries.
  • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat.
  • Once boiling, immediately reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for approximately 20 minutes or until you hear the berries start to pop.
  • Remove the cover, give the sauce a stir and continue cooking for 5 more minutes to thicken. Remove from heat.
  • Allow the cranberry sauce to cool fully and then chill until ready to serve. If your cranberry sauce doesn't look as think as you like not to worry. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools and chills.
  • I like to serve my cranberry sauce chilled, but if you can also serve it room temperature or slightly warmed. Enjoy!
Keyword cranberry, homemade, sauce, Thanksgiving
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A Pinterest collage featuring fresh cranberry sauce in different serving vessels. The top image shows a chunky cranberry sauce in a rustic ceramic bowl. The middle has text reading "FRESH CRANBERRY SAUCE" on a deep red background. The bottom image displays cranberry sauce in a white gravy boat, garnished with fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.