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    Cooking Gorgeous » All Recipes » Sauces and Spreads

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

    Published: Dec 13, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This delicious and fruity homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is extremely easy to make with only 3 ingredients. It is the perfect condiment to serve with your Christmas lunch or Thanksgiving dinner. The leftovers are great for sandwiches or cheese boards, and it only takes 15 minutes to prepare. Once you've tried this amazingly easy recipe, you will never want to use shop-bought Cranberry Sauce again!

    cranberry sauce in a bowl
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works?
    • Ingredients and Substitutes
    • How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice?
    • Top Tips From the Chef
    • What to Serve Cranberry Sauce With?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

    Same as Cranberry Orange Muffins, this Thanksgiving and Christmas staple is made with plump cranberries and fresh oranges. You can use fresh or frozen cranberries, swap the oranges with clementines, or add extra flavorings such as cinnamon, port, or vanilla.

    cranberry sauce made of with orange juice and zest

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • This Cranberry Sauce is made with freshly squeezed orange juice and tastes delicious with a balanced sweetness and tartness to it.
    • You can make it for up to 2 weeks ahead.
    • The leftovers are perfect for making sandwiches or serving on a cheese or charcuterie board.
    • All you need is 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to make Cranberry Sauce with Oranges from scratch.

    Ingredients and Substitutes

    Labelled picture of ingredients for cranberry sauce
    • Cranberries - I love fresh cranberries for their extra burst but you may use frozen. If using frozen, you might need to cook the sauce for another 5-7 minutes to achieve a jelly-like consistency. Dried cranberries don't work well with this recipe.
    • Orange zest - Zest your orange with a Microplane zester before you juice it.
    • Orange juice - Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor. Alternatively, you can use pomegranate or clementine juice, or even red wine or port.
    • Sugar - I prefer brown sugar but you can use any type of sugar you have in hand. Adjust the amount to your taste.

    How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice?

    Making this Cranberry Sauce is very easy, and you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results:

    Place the orange juice, orange zest, and sugar in a pan. Stir well, and bring the mixture to a boil on medium heat.

    orange juice, zest and sugar are placed in a pan

    Add the cranberries and then gently simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, until the skins of the cranberries start bursting.

    cranberries are added to the pan

    Remove the pan from the heat, and use the back of a spoon to crush the cranberries into a jam-like texture. 

    Cranberries are cooked until bursting

    Alternatively, you can pass the mixture through a sieve or blitz it with a hand blender to achieve a smooth and jelly-like texture.

    Scroll down to the recipe card for the full, printable recipe!

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • If you want to have a less strong orange flavor, replace half of the orange juice with water.
    • When using frozen cranberries for Cranberry Sauce, you might need to cook the sauce for another 5-7 minutes to achieve a jelly-like consistency.
    • Zest your orange before you juice it, not after!

    What to Serve Cranberry Sauce With?

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is a traditional condiment/sauce that is usually paired with roast turkey, lamb, or chicken for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Why not try serving it with Slow Roasted Turkey Leg (With Gravy), Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder, or Rice Stuffed Chicken?

    Also, the leftovers are perfect for making sandwiches, adding to Cranberry Cheesecake Brownies, or serving with cheese&charcuterie boards.

    Recipe FAQs

    How to store the leftovers?

    This homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice will last for up to 2 weeks when refrigerated in an airtight container or a glass jar. It is perfect for making ahead for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner.

    Can I freeze Cranberry Sauce?

    Yes, you can freeze this sauce for up to 6 months in glass jars, zip-top freezer bags, or containers.

    Can I make this sugar-free?

    Yes, you can substitute sugar with sweeteners like Truvia or Splenda.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious sauce and condiment recipes why not try:

    • Thai Style Tomato Chili Jam
    • Ginger Garlic Paste
    • Wild Garlic Pesto Recipe
    • Tartar Sauce With Capers

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this festive Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

    Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

    Ayla Clulee
    This delicious and fruity homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is extremely easy to make with only 3 ingredients. It is the perfect condiment to serve with your Christmas lunch or Thanksgiving dinner.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 cups
    Calories 277 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 Citrus zester

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 250 g cranberries (fresh or frozen)
    • 100 g brown sugar
    • 100 ml orange juice
    • 1 orange zest

    Instructions
     

    • Place the orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and cranberries in a pan.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil on medium heat and then gently simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, until the skins of the cranberries start bursting.
    • Remove the pan from the heat, and use the back of a spoon to crush the cranberries into a jam-like texture.
    • Alternatively, you can pass the mixture through a sieve or blitz it with a hand blender to achieve a smooth and jelly-like texture.

    Notes

    • If you want to have a less strong orange flavor, replace half of the orange juice with water.
    • When using frozen cranberries for Cranberry Sauce, you might need to cook the sauce for another 5-7 minutes to achieve a jelly-like consistency.
    • Zest your orange before you juice it, not after!
    • This homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice will last for up to 2 weeks when refrigerated in an airtight container or a glass jar.
    • Alternatively, you can freeze this sauce for up to 6 months in glass jars, zip-top freezer bags, or containers.
    • For a sugar-free version, substitute sugar with sweeteners like Truvia or Splenda.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.04gSodium: 17mgPotassium: 284mgFiber: 5gSugar: 58gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 52mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post use affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily

      January 29, 2023 at 2:47 pm

      5 stars
      Love the fresh zingy taste and the visual appeal. This was such a big hit with family!

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        January 29, 2023 at 2:53 pm

        Thank you, Emily, so glad to hear that.
        Best wishes
        Ayla

        Reply

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    Hi! Thank you for visiting Cooking Gorgeous. My name is Ayla, and I’m a professional chef based in the UK. The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy. To me, food is more than ingredients and nutrition; it is a language of love, a way of expressing compassion.

    More about me →

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