Homemade Cranberry Sauce – a million times better than the canned stuff. Can make ahead and refrigerate until ready to serve. A family recipe that has been passed down for generations. Cranberries, apples, orange, cinnamon, sugar, pecans, ginger, cloves, and orange juice. Hands-down the BEST cranberry sauce, I’ve ever eaten. A MUST for your holiday meal! #cranberrysauce #sidedish #thansgiving #christmas
Cranberry Orange Compote Recipe
This Homemade Cranberry Sauce is unlike any other I’ve eaten. It is loaded with cranberries, apples, oranges, pecans, ginger, and cinnamon. It not only tastes delicious, but it also smells AMAZING!!! The house smelled like the holidays when I was making this. This is a MILLION times better than the canned stuff!! Once you taste this, it will become a holiday tradition in your house too!
How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce
This sauce is very simple to make. Start with cooking some fresh cranberries until the skins pop. Add diced orange, diced apple, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pecans, and orange juice to the pot and simmer for about 30 minutes, until thickened. Cool completely before serving.
- I prefer to make this sauce a day in advance and refrigerate it overnight. It needs time to cool off and set up.
- The original recipe included raisins. We aren’t big raisin fans, so I usually leave them out. If you want to add raisins, you need a half of a cup.
- You can use thawed frozen whole cranberries in place of fresh.
- Can substitute 3/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
What to Serve with Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry compote would also make a great homemade hostess gift for any parties you might be attending this month or a great teacher gift! Put the sauce in a mason jar with a pretty ribbon – viola! An easy and delicious gift!
This is a must for our holiday meal. Thanksgiving and Christmas aren’t complete without this on the table with all of the holiday meal fixings. Here are a few of our favorite holiday meal recipes from the blog that go great with this sauce:
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Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 (16-oz) fresh cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 orange
- 2½ cups sugar
- 2 cups peeled diced apples
- ½ cup raisins, optional
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ cup orange juice
Instructions:
- Combine water and cranberries in large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 6 to 8 minutes or until skins pop.
- Peel, seed and dice orange. Add orange and remaining ingredients to cranberries.
- Cook, stirring often, about 30 minutes or until mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat and cool. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes:
- I prefer to make this sauce a day in advance and refrigerate it overnight. It needs time to cool off and set up.
- You can use thawed frozen whole cranberries in place of fresh.
- Can substitute 3/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
Steph
Hey Stephanie, this looks delicious! How long will it stay good for in the fridge?
It will keep 10 to 14 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Hi, just happened onto your cranberry sauce while looking for Superbowl snacks and it sounded so delicious I wish Christmas was tomorrow! It will definitely be on our 2019 Christmas tablet!