• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Sauces & Seasonings » Cranberry Orange Sauce

Published: October 24, 2018 Last Modified: March 11, 2019 By Sara 27 Comments

Cranberry Orange Sauce

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe | Homemade Cranberry Sauce | Fresh Cranberry Sauce #cranberry #orange #fall #thanksgiving #sauce #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This cranberry orange sauce is a 5 ingredient recipe that’s made with fresh cranberries, sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Cranberry orange sauce is a fresh, bright tasting accompaniment to any holiday meal.

I always make homemade cranberry sauce for the holidays, along with some of our other Thanksgiving favorites like fall rice pilaf and slow cooker turkey. This easy cranberry orange sauce takes just minutes to make and is way better than the store bought canned kind.

Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe | Homemade Cranberry Sauce | Fresh Cranberry Sauce #cranberry #orange #fall #thanksgiving #sauce #dinner #dinneratthezoo Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe | Homemade Cranberry Sauce | Fresh Cranberry Sauce #cranberry #orange #fall #thanksgiving #sauce #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A bowl of cranberry orange sauce topped with fresh orange zest.

While it’s definitely easy to grab a can of cranberry sauce for the holidays, making your own fresh sauce takes just about 10 minutes and the flavors are just SO much better.

How do you make cranberry orange sauce?

The first step is to get some cranberries. I prefer fresh cranberries, but frozen cranberries will also work fine. The cranberries are simmered with granulated sugar and orange juice until the cranberries burst, then fresh orange zest is added into the mix.. You can either add all the cranberries in at once, or add half, then stir in half later on so that there are some whole berries in the final sauce.

A bowl of fresh cranberries.

What ingredients are in cranberry orange sauce?

The basic ingredients in cranberry orange sauce include cranberries, orange juice, granulated sugar, orange zest and salt. I like to use fresh squeezed orange juice whenever possible.

How do you zest an orange?

This recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of orange zest. To zest an orange, you can use a microplane, a grater with fine teeth, or a vegetable peeler. With a microplane or grater, simply run the surface of the orange against the tool to make zest. Be sure to only take off the outer orange layer, the white layer underneath is bitter.

To zest an orange with a vegetable peeler, you’ll want to peel off a chunk of orange peel, then mince it with a kitchen knife.

Cranberries in a skillet with orange juice, sugar and orange zest.

Can you make cranberry orange sauce ahead of time?

You can make cranberry orange sauce up to 3 days before you plan to serve it. I always make my cranberry sauce at least one day in advance because I feel like the flavors have more time to develop as they sit in the fridge.

Can you freeze cranberry orange sauce?

You can freeze cranberry orange sauce for up to one month before you plan to serve it. Simply reheat your cranberry sauce over medium heat in a skillet. Freezing the sauce introduces more water into the mix, so your cranberry sauce will not be as thick as when it was originally made. You can simmer your sauce for about 5-6 minutes to let some of the liquid evaporate off.

Cranberry orange sauce simmering in a skillet.

Orange cranberry sauce variations

This is a basic orange cranberry sauce recipe, but you can add other ingredients to customize it to your liking.

  • Ginger: Add 1 tablespoon finely minced crystallized ginger to the sauce.
  • Pineapple: Add 1 cup canned crushed pineapple.
  • Apple: Add one peeled and diced apple.
  • Pecans: Add 1/4 cup diced pecans.
  • Pear: Add one peeled and diced pear.

A serving spoon in a bowl of cranberry orange sauce.

How to use leftover cranberry orange sauce

I typically don’t have a ton of cranberry sauce leftover, but if you find yourself with extra, you can spoon it over waffles or pancakes, serve it on top of oatmeal, or try one of these other delicious ideas.

  • Cranberry Meatballs
  • Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits with vanilla yogurt, cranberry sauce and chopped pecans.
  • Cranberry Jello Salad
  • Turkey and Cranberry Sauce Sandwiches

The flavors in this cranberry sauce are so delicious that you won’t be tempted to buy the canned version again!

Cranberry orange sauce, topped with fresh orange zest in a serving bowl.

More Thanksgiving Recipes

  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Southern Cornbread Dressing
  • Bacon Green Bean Bundles
  • Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
  • Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
A bowl of cranberry orange sauce topped with fresh orange zest.
Print Pin
5 from 14 votes

Cranberry Orange Sauce

This cranberry orange sauce is a 5 ingredient recipe that's made with fresh cranberries, sugar, orange juice and orange zest. Cranberry orange sauce is a fresh, bright tasting accompaniment to any holiday meal.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 86kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup orange juice fresh squeezed is best
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries frozen will also work
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest plus more for garnish
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Place the sugar and orange juice in a medium pan over medium high heat. Bring to a simmer.
  • Add the cranberries, orange zest and salt, then simmer for 8-10 minutes or until cranberries have burst. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, add 3/4 of the berries, then after the cranberries have burst, stir the remaining 1/4 berries in.
  • Let the cranberry orange sauce sit at room temperature until cool, then transfer to a container and store in the fridge until you're ready to serve it.

Nutrition

Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Potassium: 62mg | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 16.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Sauces & Seasonings

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Brussels Sprout Salad
    BBQ Rub Recipe »

    Comments

    1. BEV says

      November 19, 2020 at 10:45 am

      THis sounds so yummy. does it thicken up?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 19, 2020 at 6:29 pm

        Yes it does as it cools!

        Reply
    2. Marsha Watson says

      December 24, 2019 at 11:10 am

      5 stars
      I’m making this for a second time. First for Thanksgiving, and now for Christmas. I added about 1 tsp of ginger to give it that extra kick. Delicious! And sooo simple. I won’t bother with other recipes because everyone loved this one.

      Reply
    3. Sandy Phillips says

      November 29, 2019 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made regular cranberry sauce and decided to try this recipe for a chance. The only recommendation I have is to at least double it. Make more than what you think you need. It was amazing. My family ate it up with our Thanksgiving leftovers. I’m planning on doubling the recipe and making it again tomorrow. 😋

      Reply
    4. Ruth says

      June 3, 2019 at 5:25 pm

      This sauce is very good in sandwiches like MC’ Alaster’s sandwiches

      Reply
    5. Lisa says

      November 20, 2018 at 12:25 pm

      What is the yield on this recipe? I know it .Akers eight servings, but how big is a serving? How much sauce will there be in all?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 20, 2018 at 9:10 pm

        Approximately 2 cups of sauce, 1/4 cup serving per person!

        Reply
    6. Courtney says

      October 28, 2018 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      Omg can we say yum?!? I just love all things cranberry! Must give this recipe a try

      Reply
    7. Danielle says

      October 28, 2018 at 7:12 am

      5 stars
      I’m obsessed with all things cranberry so this is a must try in my opinion!!!

      Reply
    8. Khushboo Motihar says

      October 28, 2018 at 1:45 am

      You have taken my two favourite ingredients and have converted them into a lovely sauce. What do you think one can pair this sauce with ?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        October 28, 2018 at 10:08 pm

        I like to pair this sauce with chicken or turkey!

        Reply
      • Mindful Fitness Nut says

        April 23, 2020 at 3:03 pm

        On turkey or other sandwiches, definitely try on hamburgers..

        Reply
    9. Lyosha says

      October 27, 2018 at 5:32 am

      5 stars
      I love cranberry souses. It works nicely with virtually any meat for me and you can easily use it as side pancakes, cakes and tarts. Simply perfect to me

      Reply
    10. eli says

      October 27, 2018 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      ooh sounds like a great complement to any thanksgiving or christmas meal. really nice recipe

      Reply
    11. Jasmine Hewitt says

      October 26, 2018 at 8:47 pm

      i wish i could try this, but i really cant do orange juice. most citrus juices give me terrible heartburn, but i’m wondering if the orange juice would be ok in this form. drinking it might literally kill me for the acid reflux!

      Reply
    12. Elizabeth O says

      October 26, 2018 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a perfect recipe this christmas a delicious sauce to make .,now i will look for the fresh and good cranberries.

      Reply
    13. Nati says

      October 26, 2018 at 1:57 pm

      This sauce sounds amazing! Now I just need to find fresh cranberries in my country 😉

      Reply
    14. Kisha says

      October 26, 2018 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      I’ve tried this recipe and I absolutely love it. It’s such an easy fix and really is hands down better than what’s in a can!

      Reply
    15. Surekha Busa says

      October 26, 2018 at 4:33 am

      5 stars
      I love eating cranberry a lot and this recipe looks so easy to make and it is really delicious.

      Reply
    16. Alexandra says

      October 25, 2018 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Have been looking for a great cranberry sauce recipe for a long time. So glad to have found this one. Love the pop of orange flavour!

      All the best,
      Alexandra

      Reply
    17. Monica says

      October 25, 2018 at 4:53 pm

      Looks delish! I’m sure I’ll be trying it out this holiday season 🙂

      Reply
    18. Stacie says

      October 25, 2018 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      This is going to be perfect for Thanksgiving and Chrismas! I love that twist on my old favorite.

      Reply
    19. Em says

      October 25, 2018 at 1:39 pm

      This made me crave thanksgiving dinner! I need me some turkey now with that sauce.. Yum!

      Reply
    20. Sabina Green says

      October 25, 2018 at 11:22 am

      5 stars
      What a great recipe with brilliant instructions. Two of my favourite flavours and orange and cranberry.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Winter Soups

    A bowl of pumpkin soup topped with bacon and pumpkin seeds.

    Pumpkin Soup with Bacon

    A pot of turkey noodle soup with vegetables, garnished with parsley.

    Turkey Noodle Soup

    A bowl of white bean soup with Italian sausage, tomatoes and spinach.

    Tuscan White Bean Soup

    A pot of stuffed pepper soup with rice, ground beef, tomatoes, onions and bell peppers.

    Stuffed Pepper Soup

    A pot of New England clam chowder topped with oyster crackers, bacon and parsley.

    New England Clam Chowder

    A bowl of lasagna soup topped with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

    Lasagna Soup

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    This recipe for chicken ranch tacos is grilled chicken with bacon, homemade ranch sauce, cheese and fresh vegetables, all stuffed inside warm flour tortillas. A family friendly meal that's simple to make and fun to eat!

    Chicken Ranch Tacos

    A pan of Cajun shrimp garnished with parsley and lemon.

    Cajun Shrimp Recipe

    This recipe for chicken and broccoli stir fry is a classic dish of chicken sauteed with fresh broccoli florets and coated in a savory sauce. You can have a healthy and easy dinner on the table in 30 minutes! ad

    Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

    This recipe for lemon asparagus pasta combines tender asparagus and grilled chicken with pasta in a lemon cream sauce. It's a delicious and hearty entree that everyone will want seconds of!

    Lemon Asparagus Pasta with Grilled Chicken

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food