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    Home » Sides » Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe

    Published: Nov 22, 2024 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This is the best homemade cranberry sauce with orange juice and so much texture! The best part is that it’s made with just a few ingredients and that it’ll be the most low-maintenance side dish to make an appearance on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Make it the day ahead and pull it out when dinner is ready!

    Spoonful of cranberry sauce hovering over serving bowl.

    Original post: November 2016 | Updated: November 2022 and November 2024

    Why This Recipe Works

    • The orange flavor makes this recipe unique and oh so delicious.
    • Made with just a few simple ingredients, it’s the easiest, most low-maintenance recipe that’ll don your holiday table. Make it the day ahead and pull it out when dinner is set!
    • Amidst the steaming hot turkey and gravy, succulent asparagus and piles of fluffy mashed potatoes, my boys ask for this delicious sauce!
    • This is a massive step up from the canned stuff. Tart cranberries combined with sweetness from the sugar and orange juice is the perfect delicious match.
    • Make this fresh cranberry sauce for your next holiday dinner and I promise you will get tons of rave reviews.

    Recipe Ingredients for Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

    Fresh cranberries in a bowl next to orange juice, spices and sugar.

    Orange juice – Buy the variety you’ll most enjoy adding to a mimosa on Thanksgiving morning! Or consider starting with fresh oranges to create freshly squeezed orange juice for an extra fresh side dish.

    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. You can also replace a portion of the sugar with pure maple syrup, honey or agave nectar.

    Cranberries – Fresh cranberries are only available during the few months leading up to the holidays, but they freeze really well so grab an extra bag of cranberries for a future holiday!

    Cinnamon and nutmeg – This powerhouse combo of delicious spices will spruce up this easy recipe. Consider adding a cinnamon stick to the pan while cooking for an extra cinnamon punch of flavor.

    How To Make Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice 

    Step 1

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

    Fresh cranberries in a saucepan being stirred with a wooden spoon.

    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 cooking in a saucepan.

    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 with plastic wrap pressed into the top of the mixture. Transfer to a serving dish when dinner is ready!

    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 needed. 
    • This side dish is 100% gluten free! 
    • For extra flavor, consider adding a couple vanilla beans or a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture before boiling. 
    • When storing homemade cranberry orange sauce, 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. 
    • Use a potato masher or immersion blender for a smooth sauce.

    When Can You Buy Fresh Cranberries

    Fresh cranberries are only harvested in the fall and are typically sold in grocery stores from about September through December each year in the United States. Thankfully they can be frozen for up to 1 year, so buy an extra bag and freeze it for next year!

    Can You Freeze Fresh Cranberries

    Place cranberries directly in the freezer (still in the bags they came in from the grocery store) for up to one year. Let them sit at room temperature until thawed before using them. Alternatively, you can rinse them first, then transfer to a resealable heavy duty bag to store in the freezer.

    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.

    How To Freeze Cranberry Sauce

    Homemade cranberry sauce freezes well! Transfer it to an airtight container or freezer ziploc bag and store in the freezer for up to 4 months. When ready to defrost, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Top view of cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks next to bowl.

    What To Do With Leftover Cranberry Sauce

    Just because Thanksgiving day is done, it doesn’t mean your leftovers need to be! There are ways to repurpose this 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 a few slices of turkey.
    • Use the leftover sauce as cranberry relish on just about anything, including dinner rolls, pork, waffles or chicken.
    • Build a Thanksgiving leftovers grilled cheese.
    • Use as a spread on leftover turkey sandwiches.
    • 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. 

    Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving

    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.

    Best Thanksgiving Recipes

    • This is my Mom’s Mashed Potatoes recipe 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!
    • Roasted Sweet Potatoes are the perfect side dish to sit next to your Thanksgiving turkey.
    • This Classic Sweet Potato Casserole is 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 create crockpot green bean casserole. 
    • This delicious Crockpot Stuffing with Leeks and Sausage is made easier in a slow cooker! The addition of leeks and sausage makes it unique and delicious. 
    • If you really love having low carb options at your table, try this Cauliflower Stuffing recipe! It’s an easy, healthy side dish for your next holiday meal.

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    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice Recipe

    This is the best homemade cranberry sauce with orange juice and so much texture! The best part is that it's made with just a few ingredients and that it'll be the most low-maintenance side dish to make an appearance on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Make it the day ahead and pull it out when dinner is ready!
    5 from 4 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    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!

    Video

    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 needed. 
    • This side dish is 100% gluten free! 
    • For extra flavor, consider adding a couple vanilla beans or a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture before boiling. 
    • When storing homemade cranberry orange sauce, 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. 
    • Use a potato masher or immersion blender for a smooth sauce.

    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!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shirley

      January 13, 2025 at 6:55 pm

      5 stars
      We love this cranberry sauce. It has so much flavor!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        January 14, 2025 at 8:14 pm

        I’m so glad you love it, Shirley!

        Reply
    2. Coleen

      November 26, 2024 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      The homemade cranberry sauce is so good I make it every Thanksgiving. No more canned cranberry sauce.

      Reply
    3. shirley

      December 02, 2023 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for Thanksgiving (refused to buy the can jell stuff). It was delicious and so easy to make. Its a keeper

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        December 04, 2023 at 12:37 pm

        I love easy recipes. It’s a game changer homemade, much more tasty than a canned variety.

        Reply
    4. Gretta

      November 24, 2019 at 1:31 am

      I made this last year for Christmas and am making it again this year for Thanksgiving for about 30 people. It really is the best. I’ve never been a fan of canned cranberry sauce. It just seems kind of gross. This really is delicious and is even better on top of ham or turkey.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        November 25, 2019 at 8:13 pm

        Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it and are making it again. I’ll have it at our table as well! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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