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Home » Food » Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Easy cranberry sauce

This easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe will be the perfect finishing touch to your Thanksgiving meal. So simple and delicious!

hand serving easy homemade cranberry sauce with a spoon

And with only three ingredients, you’ll be surprised how simple it is to make. My mom usually makes this a few days ahead of the Thanksgiving meal, and she keeps it in the refrigerator until it is time to serve it.

Note: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. See my full affiliate disclosure policy here.

I will show you how to make it on the stovetop, and in your Instant Pot. (Amazon affiliate link)

It is so delicious with her oven roasted turkey breast and southern cornbread dressing!

How to make homemade cranberry sauce

First, gather your ingredients.

Ingredients

For tastiest results, always use the best quality ingredients you have access to. For this homemade cranberry sauce recipe you will need the following ingredients:

  • fresh cranberries
  • sugar
  • water

That’s it! You can do some optional add ins, such as orange zest if you wish. We like it plain the best.

Stovetop method

To make this easy homemade cranberry sauce on the stovetop, you start with a twelve ounce bag of fresh cranberries.

This easy homemade cranberry sauce will be the perfect finishing touch to your Thanksgiving meal. So simple and delicious! | APinchOfHealthy.com

After giving them a good rinse, you make a simple syrup by bringing one cup of water and one cup of sugar to a boil. Add the cranberries, and then simmer until they all burst, about 10 minutes.

Cool and refrigerate, and that sauce will thicken up on its own.

An voila! It’s ready for turkey and dressing!

easy homemade cranberry sauce in a white bowl with spoon and blue towel

How easy is that?!

How to make Instant Pot cranberry sauce

I am adding an extra set of instructions this year!🤓🙌🏻 To make Instant Pot cranberry sauce (or any other brand electric pressure cooker), add your three ingredients to the stainless inner pot, and stir. No need to dissolve anything, just dump it all in.

Put the lid on, lock it and set the pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure for two minutes.

Let it naturally release for about ten to twelve minutes, and quick release the rest. Letting is naturally release a bit helps lower the chance of splatter.

Another tip along those lines: to avoid any potential cranberry splatter, place a kitchen towel over the vent release. Be sure and wash the valve well after you are done with warm soapy water. This will remove any residue.

Refrigerate, just like the stovetop version, and it will thicken.

easy homemade cranberry sauce

Storage and leftovers

How long is homemade cranberry sauce good in the fridge? It has a long storage date of 10 to 14 days. You can also freeze it! It will be good for 2 to 3 months in the freezer in an airtight container.

One of our favorite things to do with leftovers is to spoon some over some oatmeal. Yum!

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easy homemade cranberry sauce in a white bowl with spoon and blue towel
4.34 from 3 votes
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Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

This easy homemade cranberry sauce will be the perfect finishing touch to your Thanksgiving meal. So simple and delicious! 

Course Sauces
Cuisine American
Keyword easy homemade cranberry sauce, instant pot cranberry sauce
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 15
Calories 62 kcal
Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries rinsed
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

Stovetop instructions

  1. Bring the water and sugar to a boil, and stir to dissolve sugar.

  2. Add the cranberries, and simmer until most of the cranberries burst, about 10 minutes.

  3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it . (Keeps for about 2 weeks)

Instant Pot instructions

  1. All cranberries, water and sugar to the inner stainless steel pot, and stir to combine. No need to dissolve anything.

  2. Put the lid on, lock it and set the pressure valve to sealing.

  3. Cook on high pressure for two minutes.

  4. Let it naturally release for about ten to twelve minutes, and quick release the rest by rotating the pressure valve release. (Optional: place a dish towel over the steam vent when releasing to catch any potential cranberry splatter.)

  5. Refrigerate to thicken.

Recipe Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

We always make this at least the night before (or a few days in advance) to make sure it has time to cool and thicken. One less think to think about on Thanksgiving Day!

You can use a potato masher or even a wooden spoon to break down the whole cranberries a little more, if you prefer.

Nutrition Facts
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 62
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 19mg1%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 14g16%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 3.1mg4%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Note: This recipe originally appeared on A Pinch of Healthy November 15, 2017. 

(Visited 12,717 times, 2 visits today)

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  4. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (vegan)
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  • Share218
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lexi says

    December 8, 2019 at 9:31 am

    4 stars
    Making this for a Friendsgiving this weekend! Hopefully stores well in the fridge! Anything I can make ahead of time is well worth it with my 6-month-old baby!
    Thanks for sharing Marjorie!
    ~lexi

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      December 9, 2019 at 8:25 am

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Mary says

    May 9, 2019 at 12:25 am

    4 stars
    Can you make this and can it? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      May 13, 2019 at 9:59 am

      Hi Mary! I am not completely sure since I don’t know a lot about canning…but I don’t see why not. It seems like it would be very similar to canning jams and jellies (very similar ingredients).

      Reply
  3. Christy says

    April 5, 2019 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    Just like I have always made it. I am so glad you shared this. So simple and delicious.

    Reply

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I am a home cook, recipe developer, coffee drinker, wife and mom of two. My recipes are simple and tasty. I enjoy lots of fresh, healthy food, plus full treats without guilt. Thanks so much for stopping by! Read more here.

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