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Home » Dips, Dressings, Sauces & Spreads

Published: Dec 7, 2018 · Modified: Apr 30, 2020 by Libby Bloom · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment · 828 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce (naturally sweetened!)

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce - tangy, naturally sweetened and perfect for Thanksgiving dinner and beyond.

homemade cranberry sauce

I didn’t grow up eating cranberry sauce. It wasn’t a staple at our house, but when we did have it, it came from a can... That gelatinous blob was never my favorite turkey topping.

Years later I decided to try making it for myself to see what all the hype was about. Let me tell you, this Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a new staple for every Thanksgiving!

This Homemade Cranberry Sauce is made with whole-food ingredients, zero refined sugar and it’s totally delicious. Made with real fruits and spices, and a dash of rum 😉 for the adventurous among you!

Great with turkey, chicken, on a sandwich, even swirled in yogurt or oatmeal. It even comes together in about 20 minutes! A homemade cranberry sauce fit for the holidays, and frankly whenever else you want it too. 

Hi there! Below you’ll find affiliate links to great products that we enjoy using in our own kitchen.

  • homemade cranberry sauce
  • homemade cranberry sauce

Ready to get to it and make this Homemade Cranberry Sauce? Let’s do it!

1 - Prepare cranberries. Rinse cranberries, removing any that are soft or squishy. 

2 - Simmer. In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, honey, water, orange juice and zest, rum/bourbon, cinnamon, ginger, rosemary, salt, allspice and cloves.

Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and let it simmer 15-20 minutes or until the cranberries have all popped and the sauce begins to thicken. You may need to mash some of the berries with a fork if they don’t pop on their own. 

3 - Remove from heat and taste. This cranberry sauce isn’t sweet so feel free to add more honey to reach your desired sweetness. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Enjoy! 

homemade cranberry sauce

Homemade Cranberry Sauce: Tips, Tricks and Tools 

This cranberry sauce is about as easy as it gets, but there are a couple tools and tips I recommend: 

Eco-friendly cookware: You’ll need a medium saucepan for this recipe - I like to use my stainless steel pan.

Recipe variations: Feel free to change it up - use lemon juice, apple juice or pomegranate juice. Also add in other spices like nutmeg. Or try different herbs like thyme or mint. 

This recipe is not super sweet; if you’d like it to be sweeter, feel free to add in more honey.

Make it in advance: This cranberry sauce can be made 3-5 days ahead of time and stored until you’re ready to serve! 

homemade cranberry sauce

We hope you love this simple Homemade Cranberry Sauce, it’s a Thanksgiving staple in our house!

Want more Thanksgiving recipes? Check out our other delicious Thanksgiving recipes like this Epic Cranturkey Sandwich or our Roasted Pear & Parsnips.

Did you enjoy this Homemade Cranberry Sauce as much as we do?

Comment below! And rate the recipe to let us know how it turned out! Not cooking today? Save this Homemade Cranberry Sauce for later by pinning it to your Fall Recipes Board and make sure to tag us at The Crooked Carrot Instagram to show us your Homemade Cranberry Sauce creations!

"1 billion people in the world are chronically hungry. 1 billion people are overweight." - Mark Bittman

📖 Recipe

homemade cranberry sauce

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Cranberry Sauce - tangy, naturally sweetened and perfect for Thanksgiving dinner and beyond.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Author: The Crooked Carrot

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries rinsed
  • ½ cup honey Vegan: use maple syrup
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 orange juiced
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons rum/bourbon optional
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 1-inch knob ginger
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon cloves
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare cranberries: Rinse cranberries and drain any excess water. Pick through the cranberries and remove any soft/squishy ones. 
  • Simmer: In a medium sauce pan, combine cranberries, honey, water, orange juice and orange zest, rum/bourbon, cinnamon, ginger,  rosemary, salt, allspice and cloves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer 15-20 minutes or until the cranberries have popped and the sauce has thickened. 
  • Remove from heat and taste – keep in mind, it’s supposed to be a bit tart! The mixture will continue to thicken as it cools. Enjoy!

Equipment

  • Stainless Steel Pan

Notes

LEFTOVERS/STORAGE: Let cranberry sauce cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Freeze for up to two months. 
NUTRITION NOTES: Cranberries are a good source of fiber and antioxidants. This cranberry sauce recipe is lower in calories and sugar compared to pre-made or canned cranberry sauces.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: This is great swirled in oatmeal or yogurt, paired with crackers and goat cheese/brie, or with our Epic CranTurkey Sandwich!

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 19mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @crooked.carrot or tag #thecrookedcarrot!

Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that should you purchase something through the link, The Crooked Carrot will receive a small commission. The item cost remains the same regardless of whether you purchase through our link or not. Any commission earned simply helps us continue to provide all our great content to you. From seasonal recipes to simple nutrition insights & sustainable zero waste tips, we have lots more to give!

« Epic Cranturkey Sandwich
Honey Sesame Tofu with Roasted Asian Vegetables »

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About Libby

Welcome! I'm Libby, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, photographer & co-adventurer with my husband Dalton. We love all things outdoors, making a mess in the kitchen, and exploring the adventure of life! Read more ↠

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Hey, I'm Libby!

Hi, I'm Libby! Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. I help people find food freedom, learn to nourish and reconnect with their bodies so they can live a fuller life.

About Libby

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The Crooked Carrot sits on the traditional lands of the Diné Bikéyah (Navajo), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), and Pueblos people, both past and present, now called Durango, Colorado. I acknowledge the wounds of the past in hopes of being able to heal for a better tomorrow.


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