Homemade Cranberry Sauce

The best homemade cranberry sauce is made in under 20 minutes and is easy, fresh and fruity. A great side dish, sauce, and condiment for special holidays.

 

Have you ever made homemade cranberry sauce? I know it's very easy to open up the cans from the grocery store but there is a quality to homemade that you can't get anywhere else.

I remember growing up that we would serve the can of jellied cranberries that you would slice into thick circles but then we would always have homemade cranberry sauce that my aunt made.

A nice thick jam-like sauce that you could serve on whatever you like. Especially bean burgers. I think these little Lentil Burger Sliders would be fantastic with cranberry sauce as it's spread.

And the extra bonus to this recipe is that it is simple to the max.  I've updated the recipe also with healthier sweeteners.

Cranberries are very tart and they do need to be sweetened. Quite a bit. A little bit of coconut sugar and maple syrup is added as the perfect sweetener for just the right taste.

Orange juice and brandy are also added to this recipe and they are both classic ingredients for cranberry sauce.

 

 

Below is a photo of the ingredients for this tasty sauce. This isn't a sponsored post but I wanted to show you the package of the most commonly found fresh cranberries out there.

 

You see how pretty and simple this recipe is? Everything goes in the saucepan and is then cooked for just a few minutes. It thickens and becomes rich with a sweet and fruity tartness.

Chef's Tips:

• This recipe can be made without cornstarch but you will need to cook it longer to get it to the thickness that you want.
• Use every single cranberry. The variations in the colors are exactly what you want.
• I wanted you to see that this package is commonly sized at 12 ounces but if you find other packages with 14 ounces or 16 ounces go ahead and buy them because this recipe will work with those sizes too.
• With a larger amount of cranberries you'll have to add more liquid at the beginning (about ¼ cup water or orange juice). It will cook down accordingly.
• You'd also need more sweetener (about ¼ cup maple syrup) and that is according to your taste. I'd add ¼ cup for 4 ounces more of cranberries. It will all come out perfect.
• Homemade cranberry sauce is great warm or cold.

 

 

Variations for Cranberry Sauce!

• We'll start with basic and move on to more extravagant recipes. They are all simple.
• This exact recipe with no brandy.
• Switch out the brandy for bourbon.
• Leave out the coconut sugar and use all maple syrup.
• Use orange zest along with freshly squeezed orange juice.
• Add apple or orange pieces and leave the sauce a bit thinner so that you have chunks of fresh fruit.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce? 

• Yes! It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days but if for some crazy reason you have leftovers then freeze it.
• Rigid sided freezer containers with tight-fitting lids work great and make storing and defrosting very neat.
• Cranberry sauce will keep in the freezer for 2 months.

 

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