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Modified: Dec 18, 2021 Published: Oct 10, 2020· Cathy Brak · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Home » Recipes by Type » Recipes

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

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Cranberry sauce may be my favourite part of a holiday dinner! After I learned how to make cranberry sauce, I wondered why I had ever bought it in a can! With only three ingredients and few minutes of prep time, the result is fabulous!

cranberry sauce in white bowl

I love this basic cranberry sauce recipe because...

  • it works with either fresh or frozen cranberries
  • you control the sugar
  • leftovers are great with cold turkey on salads or sandwiches

What You'll Need

cranberries, water, and raw sugar
  • Cranberries - Use either fresh or frozen cranberries. Make sure they are rinsed before you use them.
  • Sugar - Even though I use organic, raw cane sugar, I consider one cup to be a lot of sugar of any kind! That's why I developed the recipe for Easy Cranberry Sauce with Mango. However, when you're also making turkey, gravy, pie, and all the fixings, and just want quick and easy cranberries, this is your recipe!

Moderation is key here. Let's enjoy this alongside our turkey, but have just a little of it. Since this recipe has a cup of sugar in it, I'm not recommending you eat it by the bowlful!

How to Make Gluten Free Cranberry Sauce

Bring water to a boil. Stir in the sugar which will dissolve quickly. Once the water has returned to a boil, add the cranberries.

whole cranberries in stainless saucepan

Bring the cranberries back to a boil. Then, turn down the heat a little and let them simmer, stirring occasionally, until the skins start to pop and the sauce begins to thicken. Turn off the heat, and just let the dish sit. The sauce will thicken up as it cools.

cooked cranberry sauce in saucepan

Recipe FAQ's

Can I make cranberry sauce ahead of time?

This is a great dish to make a day or two ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator until up to an hour before serving.

Is cranberry sauce served warm or cold?

I usually serve my cranberry sauce cold or at room temperature.

What is cranberry sauce good for?

Cranberries are considered to be a superfood due to their high antioxidant content. Studies link them to a lower risk of urinary tract infection, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and slower progression of certain types of cancer.

Is cranberry sauce supposed to be sweet?

Cranberry sauce needs some kind of sweetener to balance the tartness of the berries. I've chosen raw cane sugar, because it doesn't change the flavour as much as coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup would.

What do you eat cranberry sauce with?

Cranberry sauce is traditionally eaten alongside roasted turkey, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas in Canada and the United States. It's also great with leftover poultry on sandwiches or salads.

Is cranberry sauce gluten free?

Yes, cranberry sauce is gluten free as long as it has been protected from cross-contamination by other foods.

Can you freeze cranberry sauce?

Yes, if you should happen to have any sauce left over, it will freeze well. Seal it in an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you're almost ready to use it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

rich, red cranberry sauce in white bowl with silver spoon

More Gluten Free Cranberry Recipes

  • Cranberry Almond Biscotti
  • Cranberry Apricot Bars
  • Festive Cranberry Salad with Chicken and Pecans
  • Cranberry Sauce with Mango
  • Christmas Fruit Salad (with dried cranberries)

Recipe

cranberry sauce in white bowl

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is the ideal accompaniment for roasted chicken or turkey.
4.93 from 13 votes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: Christmas, cranberry sauce, easy, holiday, simple, Thanksgiving, vegan, whole
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 9
Calories: 102.2kcal
Author: Cathy

Equipment

  • stainless steel saucepan
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups (12 oz/340 g) cranberries fresh or frozen
  • 1 cup (250 g) raw sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water

Instructions

  • Bring water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.
  • Stir the cranberries into the boiling water. As the water returns to a boil, turn the heat down to medium. Allow the cranberries to simmer until the skins start to pop and the sauce begins to thicken, about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Turn off the heat. There's no need to remove the sauce from the stovetop unless you need the space. Either serve it warm or refrigerate your sauce once it has cooled to room temperature.

Notes

Serve cranberry sauce either cold or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 102.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 25.2g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.04g
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MagVan says

    December 21, 2021 at 8:47 am

    I just nade it. So easy, even for me and boiling sauces ha

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 21, 2021 at 9:47 pm

      Isn't it great! Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica says

    December 08, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    5 stars
    I love cranberries. I have never eaten the tinned version but I know that there are many who like it and never make it from fresh berries. I love making it just the way you are sharing here.. Sometimes I had some orange juice, just a little, and yes I also use less sugar (coconut sugar usually)
    It's SO good!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 09, 2019 at 9:03 am

      I like coconut sugar in cranberries, too!

      Reply
  3. Donny says

    December 05, 2019 at 5:06 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! Sometimes simple is best. Then the cranberry flavor really shines.

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 06, 2019 at 10:09 am

      I totally agree!

      Reply
  4. Stacey Crawford says

    December 05, 2019 at 11:16 am

    5 stars
    This is so much easier than I had thought it would be and so much better than the canned kind!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 05, 2019 at 1:58 pm

      I know! I don't know why it took me so long!

      Reply
  5. ChihYu says

    December 04, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    5 stars
    So great! A million times more flavorful than canned!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 04, 2019 at 8:04 pm

      Isn't it, though!

      Reply
  6. Jean Choi says

    December 03, 2019 at 9:43 pm

    5 stars
    So simple and easy! Love recipes like this. So tasty too!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 04, 2019 at 8:05 pm

      Thanks, Jean. I'm so glad you like it.

      Reply
  7. Heather Harris says

    December 03, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    I can't believe how gorgeous and yummy this looks! Your note about a cranberry mango recipe has me like, wow! I'll definitely be trying both versions.

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 04, 2019 at 8:05 pm

      That's wonderful! Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. tina says

    December 03, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! Wish I had this recipe for Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 03, 2019 at 9:27 pm

      I know! I'm sorry I didn't get it out earlier. At first I thought it was too simple to post, but then my daughter asked me how to make it. That's when I knew others would appreciate the recipe, too.

      Reply
  9. Carina says

    December 03, 2019 at 5:35 am

    5 stars
    Such a quick and easy recipe with maximum taste!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 03, 2019 at 9:25 pm

      Thank you, Carina!

      Reply
  10. Erin says

    December 02, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    YES, a holiday recipe with fewer than 5 ingredients?! Count me in for this perfect cran sauce!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 03, 2019 at 9:25 pm

      I know! It's nice to make something special that's also easy!

      Reply
  11. Joni Gomes says

    December 02, 2019 at 10:30 am

    5 stars
    Wow just three ingredients?! Will add this to my holiday menu!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 03, 2019 at 9:24 pm

      Good! It really is easy!

      Reply
4.93 from 13 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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