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Bright citrus and warm spices give this relish-like Classic Cranberry Sauce recipe a kick. This recipe is easy and comes together quickly. Make up to a week in advance and bring to room temp before serving.
Cranberry Sauce has 2 teams: Team Jiggly canned stuff and Team Chunky. Personally I prefer a chutney-like sauce vs slicing off a round of jello-like cranberry something-or-another, but to each their own! I took a poll on Instagram and the consensus was team Chunky!
This recipe is simple to make with a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry but is still elegant and a great addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table. You may even convert a few of peeps from Team Jiggly.
Ingredients you need to make Classic Cranberry Sauce
Just a few ingredients are necessary to make this easy and elegant cranberry sauce
- Fresh Cranberries
- Orange Zest and Juice
- Red Apple
- Honey
- Cinnamon & Cloves Spices
- Kosher Salt
Find the printable recipe with exact measurements and instructions below.
How to make Cranberry Sauce
This recipe comes together really quickly, like 15 minutes quick! But I highly recommend you make it a day or more ahead of the feast because if you’re anything like me, this will be the first item axed from the list when you’re overwhelmed. Words like “no one even likes cranberry sauce anyway” will come to mind but you’ll miss out on that bit of tart sweetness on the plate. So make it ahead…up to a week if you wish.
- Add all ingredients to a saucepan.
- Bring the cranberry sauce ingredients to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the cranberries have started to burst and the sauce thickens.
- Remove and cool before storing in the refrigerator.
Tips & Tricks
- For storing: in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. So make it ahead and don’t sweat it on Thanksgiving day.
- How to freeze: I’d recommend a zip top bag so you can get all of the air out. Freeze for a few months.
More Thanksgiving Sides
- Brown Butter Herbed Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Bread & Sausage Stuffing
- No Knead Cheese Studded Dinner Rolls
- Super Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Classic Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 large orange zested
- 1 red apple peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch dice
- 12 oz package fresh cranberries picked over
- ⅔ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch of Kosher salt
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan over high heat, add all ingredients. Bring to a boil and then turn down to medium and stir occasionally for 15 minutes, or until the cranberries have burst and the mixture has began to thicken.
- Remove from heat and let cool before serving. Can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.