Description
3-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce is a quick and homemade holiday staple made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and water. With its perfect balance of tart and sweet, this vibrant sauce is ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive meal. It pairs beautifully with turkey, ham, roasted vegetables, or even cheese boards, offering big flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Optional Add-ins:
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tablespoon orange liqueur or brandy
Instructions
- Rinse and sort cranberries, discarding stems and soft berries.
- In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Add cranberries and bring to a simmer. Cook 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until berries burst and sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and cool completely. Sauce will thicken further as it sets.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Adjust sugar to taste for a less-sweet sauce.
- For smoother texture, strain through a fine mesh sieve.
- Store in the fridge up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat gently on stovetop or in microwave before serving.
- Add citrus zest, spices, or dried fruit for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg