• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Everyday Homemade

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Spring
  • Appetizers
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Spring
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Fall

    Published: Nov 3, 2022 by Ashley Petrie · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is the perfect side dish for your next holiday meal. Made with only 4 ingredients, you can have this sweet, tart, and citrusy holiday condiment ready in just 20 minutes. It's jam-packed with flavor and can easily be made ahead.

    A small white bowl filled with cranberry sauce with orange juice. The cranberry sauce is garnished with fresh orange zest and two slices of orange.

    Living in a town with more cranberry bogs than people (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but not by much), it feels wrong to use canned cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. And, honestly, after experiencing homemade fresh cranberry sauce, I don't think I can go back to the canned stuff anyway.

    And, honestly, after tasting homemade cranberry sauce, I can't imagine going back to the canned stuff anyway. That's how much better fresh cranberry sauce truly is.

    Making cranberry sauce from scratch is super easy and takes no time at all. It's also ideal for making ahead since it needs time to chill in the refrigerator.

    This cranberry sauce with orange juice is made with tart cranberries, freshly-squeezed orange juice, granulated sugar, and a pinch of orange zest. It's a fun little twist on classic cranberry sauce and will taste delicious with your next holiday dinner.

    >> Need something to pair with your cranberry orange sauce? Try this Oven-Braised Turkey Breast with Gravy or this Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken.

    Some links throughout this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you’re willing to use them, it helps fund this site and allows me to continue to provide content. I appreciate your support!

    Table of Contents -
    Why You'll Love This Recipe
    Ingredient Notes
    Step by Step Instructions
    Tips for Success
    Substitutions and Variations
    Substitutions
    Variations
    What to Serve with Cranberry Sauce
    How to Use Up Leftovers
    Storage and Reheating
    How to Store
    How to Reheat
    Make Ahead
    Frequently Asked Questions
    Let's Connect!
    More Holiday Side Dish Recipes
    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
    Equipment
    Ingredients
    Instructions
    Notes
    Nutrition

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Fresh- When it comes to cranberry sauce, there's no contest that fresh is so much better than canned. Fresh cranberry sauce highlights the subtle flavors of the cranberry that you just can't taste with the canned version.
    • Reduced Sugar- Traditional cranberry sauce recipes usually call for a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar to liquid for every 12 ounces of cranberries. I played around with the ratio during testing and found that ¾ cup of sugar works just as well. Even better - using less sugar means the other flavors can shine through.
    • Quick & Easy to Make- When planning your Thanksgiving menu this November, adding scratch-made cranberry sauce to the list can seem like too much extra work. But, it really isn't! This recipe is made with only four ingredients and comes together in just 20 minutes.
    • Make-Ahead Friendly- I love a recipe I can make ahead knowing it's going to be just as good (or even better) after a few days. You can make this cranberry sauce with orange juice up to one week before Thanksgiving Day. Then, let it chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    Ingredient Notes

    Here are some notes on key ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card below.

    • Cranberries- I've used both fresh and frozen cranberries to make this recipe and they both work perfectly. You'll need one 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries or about 4 cups of frozen cranberries.
    • Fresh Orange Juice- You'll need about 4 fresh oranges for 1 cup of freshly-squeezed orange juice. Use a citrus squeezer or orange juicer to squeeze as much juice as you can from each orange.
    • Granulated Sugar- Most recipes call for 1 cup of sugar, but I found that ¾ cup works just as well. Using less sugar means the tartness of the cranberries and the brightness of the orange shines through a little more.
    • Orange Zest- For an extra punch of orange flavor, I love adding fresh orange zest to my orange juice cranberry sauce. Use a microplane or cheese grater to zest the orange peel, taking care not to grate any of the bitter white rind.
    The ingredients to make cranberry sauce with orange juice on a butcher block counter. There is text labeling each ingredient. They include cranberries, orange juice, sugar, and orange zest.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Here is how to make cranberry sauce with orange juice.

    Step 1: Dissolve the sugar. In a medium saucepan, bring the orange juice and sugar to a boil over medium heat, whisking continuously to dissolve the sugar.

    Fresh orange juice and sugar in a saucepan on the stove.

    Step 2: Cook the cranberries. Reduce heat to low and add the cranberries to the pot. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst. You can use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the cranberries until you achieve your desired consistency.

    Cranberries being cooked with sugar and orange juice in a saucepan on the stove.
    Homemade orange cranberry sauce thickened in a saucepan. There is a wooden spoon running through the sauce, revealing the bottom of the pot.

    Step 3: Stir in orange zest and chill. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the orange zest. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a dish to chill in the refrigerator. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it chills.

    Orange zest being stirred into fresh cranberry sauce with orange juice.

    Tips for Success

    • Use fresh or frozen cranberries. If you can't find fresh cranberries, frozen cranberries work just as well. There's no need to thaw them either. Keeping cranberries in your freezer can be a great way to quickly make a batch of cranberry sauce for your next holiday dinner party.
    • Mix orange juice with water for a less intense flavor. If you're worried the orange flavor will be too strong for you, try using ½ cup water mixed with ½ cup orange juice instead. You can also leave the orange zest out altogether.
    • Know your desired thickness. The more cranberries that burst while cooking, the more pectin is released into your cranberry sauce. Pectin is a natural thickener and it is what allows cranberry sauce to gel. If you prefer a thicker sauce, break up the cranberries with a wooden spoon. For a thinner sauce, leave some of them whole.
    • Make ahead. Not only is it convenient that cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time, it's also necessary. Cranberry sauce needs time to thicken up and should be served chilled. So, plan on making your cranberry sauce early in the morning on Thanksgiving or, better yet, the day before.

    Substitutions and Variations

    Here are a few ways you can customize this cranberry sauce with orange juice recipe to fit your diet and taste preferences.

    Substitutions

    • Cranberries- While I haven't tested it myself, you can try making cranberry sauce with either dried cranberries or cranberry juice. However, these methods require you to use a thickening agent such as cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
    • Fresh Orange Juice- Bottled orange juice, cranberry juice, apple juice, or water can be used in place of the fresh orange juice.
    • Granulated Sugar- For a richer, more caramelized sweetness, swap the granulated sugar for brown sugar. Alternatively, use ½ cup of maple syrup or honey and reduce the amount of orange juice to ½ cup.
    • Orange Zest- Feel free to use dried orange zest or 1 teaspoon of orange extract in place of fresh orange zest.
    A small white bowl filled with orange cranberry sauce. The dish is garnished with two orange slices and orange zest.

    Variations

    • Spiced- Stir in ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg.
    • Nuts- A ¼ cup of toasted and chopped walnuts or pecans will give your cranberry relish a tasty crunch.
    • Dried Fruit- For cranberry sauce with a little something extra, stir in ¼ cup of dried cranberries, cherries, raisins, or apricots.
    • Spicy- Add 1-2 fresh minced jalapeños to give your cranberry sauce a little kick.

    What to Serve with Cranberry Sauce

    The acidity and sweetness of this cranberry sauce with orange juice compliments many savory, hearty dishes quite well. Try pairing this condiment with some of these recipes.

    • Oven-Braised Turkey Breast
    • Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken
    • One-Pot Chicken and Vegetables
    • Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie
    A plate filled with turkey dinner. On the plate is turkey, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, and cranberry sauce.

    How to Use Up Leftovers

    • Baked Goods- muffins, bars, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, crisps, pies, or cheesecake
    • Glaze for Protein- chicken, turkey, pork, fish, or meatballs
    • Spread- sandwiches, charcuterie boards, crostini, toast, bagels, muffins, pancakes, waffles, or french toast
    • Thanksgiving Leftovers- pizza, egg rolls, pot pie, croissant ring, sandwiches, casseroles
    • Cranberry Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing
    • Smoothies
    • Oatmeal
    • Ice Cream Topping

    Storage and Reheating

    How to Store

    • Room Temperature- Never leave perishable food out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. If serving cranberry sauce as part of a holiday spread, keep an eye on how long it sits on your counter. After 2 hours, perishable foods at room temperature likely have unsafe levels of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.
    • Refrigerator- Store leftover cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 10-14 days.
    • Freezer- Cranberry sauce can be frozen and will maintain optimal quality for up to 2 months. Be sure you store any leftover cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

    How to Reheat

    Generally, cranberry sauce is served chilled or at room temperature so there is no need to worry about reheating it. If your cranberry sauce has been stored in the freezer, leave it in the refrigerator overnight to defrost before serving.

    Make Ahead

    Homemade cranberry sauce is the perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish.

    When stored properly, it lasts for what seems like forever in the refrigerator. If necessary, you can make cranberry sauce up to 10 days before you want to serve it. However, for the freshest-tasting cranberry sauce, I recommend making it 1-2 days before Thanksgiving.

    A small serving dish filled with fresh orange cranberry sauce.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do orange juice and cranberry go well together?

    Orange and cranberry are flavors that pair beautifully together. In fact, cranberry orange is quite the popular holiday flavor combination in everything from drinks and appetizers to desserts. The natural sweetness and acidity of orange juice balance the tartness of the cranberries.

    Why did my cranberry sauce not gel?

    If your cranberry sauce turned out thin, there could be a few issues. You either used too much liquid, the cranberries themselves released a lot of liquid (this sometimes happens if you use frozen cranberries), or you didn't use enough sugar.

    When liquid is the problem, just keep cooking the cranberry sauce on the stove until it reaches your desired consistency. For sugar, you may need to add a few more tablespoons to help the sauce gel.

    Why is my cranberry sauce so thick?

    On the other hand, if your cranberry sauce turned out too thick, it's likely due to the pectin. When cranberries burst, they release pectin - a natural thickener and the reason why cranberry sauce gels in the first place.

    To fix this, simply add a splash or two of orange juice or water until your desired consistency is achieved.

    Should cranberry sauce be served hot or cold?

    Cranberry sauce is meant to be served as a chilled dish. If you don't like it cold, I recommend serving it at room temperature.

    Can I freeze homemade cranberry sauce?

    Yes! Homemade cranberry sauce actually freezes quite well and will maintain its fresh flavor for up to 2 months if properly stored. To defrost it, place it in the refrigerator overnight.

    Let's Connect!

    Be sure to leave a comment below if you have any questions about the recipe. You can also connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or via email at [email protected].

    More Holiday Side Dish Recipes

    • Sourdough Stuffing
    • Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Roasted Green Beans and Carrots
    • Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Pumpkin Soup
    • Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
    • Brown Butter Cornbread
    A small white bowl filled with cranberry sauce with orange juice. The cranberry sauce is garnished with fresh orange zest and two slices of orange.
    Print Pin

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is the perfect side dish for your next holiday meal. Made with only 4 ingredients, you can have this sweet, tart, and citrusy holiday condiment ready in just 20 minutes. It's jam-packed with flavor and can easily be made ahead.
    Course Condiment, Sauces, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 9 ¼ cup servings
    Calories 94kcal
    Author Ashley Petrie

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Microplane

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (about 4 oranges) freshly-squeeze orange juice
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 12 ounces (about 4 cups) whole cranberries fresh or frozen
    • Zest from ½ of an orange

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan, bring the orange juice and sugar to a boil over medium heat, whisking continuously to dissolve the sugar.
      1 cup (about 4 oranges) freshly-squeeze orange juice, ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • Reduce heat to low and add the cranberries to the pot. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst. You can use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the cranberries until you achieve your desired consistency.
      12 ounces (about 4 cups) whole cranberries
    • Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the orange zest. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a dish to chill in the refrigerator. The cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it chills.
      Zest from ½ of an orange

    Notes

    Total Yield: 2 ¼ cups
    Make Ahead: Cranberry sauce can be made and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
    Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (¼ cup) | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 0.5g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Did you try this recipe?Let me know! Comment below, or take a picture and tag me on Instagram @enwnutrition.

    More Fall Recipes

    • A small white plate of sautéed sweet potatoes.
      Easy Sautéed Sweet Potatoes With Garlic
    • A pile of sautéed butternut squash on a small white plate.
      Sautéed Butternut Squash (How to Pan Fry Butternut Squash)
    • Stuffed portobello mushrooms on a white plate.
      Easy Vegetarian Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
    • Maple balsamic brussels sprouts on a white plate.
      Roasted Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Ashley sitting outside smiling at the camera.

    Hi, I'm Ashley!

    Welcome to Everyday Homemade, where you'll find scratch-made, comfort food recipes that will inspire you to get creative in the kitchen.

    More about me

    Follow @enwnutrition on Instagram

    Trending Recipes

    • Dutch oven corned beef and cabbage on a white dinner plate.
      Best Dutch Oven Corned Beef and Cabbage
    • A loaf of sourdough Irish soda bread on a sheet of parchment paper.
      Easy Sourdough Irish Soda Bread
    • A slice of dutch oven chicken pot pie on a white plate. There is a fork in the slice of chicken pot pie as if someone is about to take a bite. The pie is garnished with fresh chopped parsley.
      One-Pot Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie (Single Crust)
    • Two stuffed peppers without tomato sauce on a small white plate.
      Italian-Style Stuffed Peppers (Without Tomato Sauce)

    What's In Season?

    • A bowl of creamy broccoli asparagus soup drizzled with cream.
      Creamy Broccoli Asparagus Soup (10 Ingredients!)
    • Slices of dry brined roasted chicken on a dinner plate with sides.
      Roasted Lemon-Garlic Dry Brined Chicken
    • Roasted carrots and asparagus on a small white plate.
      Roasted Carrots and Asparagus (Easy 30-Minute Recipe)
    • A bowl filled with lemon dill hummus topped with extra virgin olive oil and fresh dill. The bowl is surrounded by carrots, celery, and wheat crackers.
      Easy Homemade Lemon Dill Hummus (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
    ALL RECIPES

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Affiliate Disclosure

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Everyday Homemade

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Email
    • Print