• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Travel Palate
  • All Recipes
  • About
    • Shop
  • Travel
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • About
    • Shop
  • Travel
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • About
      • Shop
    • Travel
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home ≫ Holiday

    Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon

    Updated January 7, 2022. Originally Posted November 14, 2020 By Nikole This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

    362 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    A bowl of cranberry sauce on a wooden table set for thanksgiving.
    Cranberry sauce with cinnamon and orange.
    Cinnamon and orange cranberry sauce.
    cranberry sauce with orange zest on top.
    the best cranberry sauce
    easy homemade cranberry sauce
    easy homemade cranberry sauce

    You'll love this family favorite homemade cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries! This easy, simple recipe combines orange and cinnamon for the perfect Thanksgiving and holiday side dish. Cooks up in about 20 minutes and can be made ahead!

    A bowl of cranberry sauce on a wooden table set for thanksgiving.

    Why you'll love it

    It's quick and easy! This is such an easy recipe to add to your Thanksgiving or holiday repertoire! Even if you've never made your own cranberry sauce, you'll be so pleased with how easy it is.

    It uses easy to find fresh and pantry staples!

    It's an American classic that completes our Thanksgiving table.To be honest, I grew up on canned cranberry-no shame in it. But fresh cranberries are so easy to make and so worth the little bit of effort. And it can be made ahead, so no excuses!

    Ingredients

    fresh cranberries, sugar, orange juice, ground cloves, cinnamon stick, orange

    Step by step cranberry sauce instructions

    Zest orange (do this first) then cut orange in half and squeeze out the juice.

    Zested and juiced orange on a cutting board.

    Add orange juice (and reserved juice) along with sugar to a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir as sugar dissolves. When sugar has melted, add cranberries, zest, cinnamon stick, and zest. Stir to combine.

    Orange juice and sugar in a sauce pan. Cranberries, cinnamon stick and orange zest in a saucepan.

    Bring mixture to a boil over medium to medium high heat. Cook until cranberries burst and sauce thickens slightly-about 10 minutes. I usually start on medium high heat then turn down to medium. Let cool in pan then store covered in refrigerator until ready to serve.

    Cooking cranberries in orange juice. Cranberries sauce in a sauce pan.

    Recipe notes and tips

    Allow several hours for cranberry sauce to cool completely. Serve cold or at room temperature.

    The cranberries will pop and splatter a little as they cook. Don't stand over the pot until most of them have burst.

    Cranberry sauce is quite versatile. Add chopped pecans for a southern twist. Add chopped apple, dried cranberries, or dried cherries for variety.

    You can make this recipe with two oranges, just follow the same steps. You can use a mix of water and orange juice for the liquid, just water, or another juice like cherry, cranberry or apple.

    Keep in mind that using more or less liquid will determine how saucy the final product is.

    How do I store cranberry sauce? Make cranberry sauce up to one week ahead-store tightly covered in the refrigerator.

    cranberry sauce with orange zest on top.

    More holiday recipes

    Easy Roast Turkey

    Corn Casserole

    Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

    Pumpkin Brownies

    Thank you for reading this recipe! If you make it, I’d love for you to give it a ★ rating  below. This lets me know what you like and want to see more of.

    And since you made it this far, let’s connect on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! I appreciate your support.

    bowl of cranberry sauce on a table

    Fresh Cranberry Sauce

    Recipe by Nikole Berg
    Easy homemade cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries! You'll love this simple recipe that combines orange and cinnamon for the perfect thanksgiving and holiday side dish.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Sides
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 Servings
    Calories 69 kcal

    Equipment

    3 quart pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 orange zested and squeezed, juice reserved
    • ¾  cup orange juice plus reserved fresh orange juice
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 - 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
    • 1 stick cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse and drain cranberries; set aside.
    • Zest whole orange then cut in half and squeeze out juice.
    • In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add orange juices and sugar. Stir as sugar dissolves.
    • Add cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon stick, and cloves to sugar mixture. Bring to a gentle boil then cook until cranberries burst, and sauce begins to thicken-about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cranberries will pop and may splatter so beware!
    • Let cool in pan. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

    Notes

    • Allow several hours to cool completely. Serve cold or at room temperature. I like to make it a couple days ahead, then bring it out about on hour before serving.
    • Cranberry sauce is quite versatile. Add chopped pecans for a southern twist. Add dried cranberries or dried cherries. 
    • You can make this recipe with two oranges, just follow the same steps. You can use a mix of water and orange juice for the liquid, just water, or another juice like cherry, cranberry or apple.
    • Keep in mind that the using more or less liquid will determine how saucy the final product is.
    • Make up to one week ahead-store tightly covered in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 58mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 55IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, orange cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving recipes
    Tried this recipe?Click here to leave a helpful tip!
    « Coconut Milk Curry with Chicken
    Crockpot Cream Cheese White Chicken Chili »
    362 shares

    About Nikole

    Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise

      November 25, 2020 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      My husband loves this recipe ... it'll be our go to!

      Reply
      • Nikole

        November 25, 2020 at 8:56 pm

        Woohoo!! I made mine today and it's in the fridge ready to go! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

        Reply
    2. Alice

      April 27, 2019 at 1:13 pm

      My family really loved it!

      Reply
    3. Amanda Wright

      November 14, 2018 at 11:59 am

      This looks amazing!

      Reply

    Did you make the recipe? Share a tip here! Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nikole sitting on a bench in Charleston SC
    Welcome! I'm Nikole and here at The Travel Palate, I focus on creating quick and easy meals that don't sacrifice flavor for convenience. Join me in the kitchen to celebrate easy American cooking that's globally inspired. About The Travel Palate

    As fetured in yummly, foodgawker, parade, kitchen tyme, dishfolio, yum google, fridgg.

    Most Popular!

    bowl of mexican rice with a wooden spoon

    Instant Pot Mexican Rice (Arroz Rojo)

    two bowls of broccoli soup; a bowl of cheese; a hand dipping bread

    Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

    bowl of grits on a blue and white kitchen towel

    Grits Recipe

    instant pot brisket shredded on a plate

    Instant Pot Brisket

    Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for the latest recipes delivered via email

    Connect

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Copyright © 2022 The Travel Palate

    All Rights Reserved