This old-fashioned cranberry sauce recipe is the perfect side dish for a classic Thanksgiving dinner! It’s super easy to make, only takes 15 minutes, and you can make it days ahead for easy Thanksgiving and Christmas meal prep!
I remember my mom teaching me to make this sauce on Christmas or Thanksgiving morning. She loved to hear the cranberries “popping” as they cooked. The smell filled the kitchen and it felt so festive!
Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
This is the simplest recipe you’ll ever make with only 2 basic ingredients. Most recipes use granulated sugar, but I prefer the flavor maple syrup adds to the sauce. It also replaces some of the moisture, reducing the need for water in this recipe.
You will use less water in this recipe because the maple syrup replaces some of that moisture!
- 1 cup of maple syrup
- 3 cups of fresh or frozen whole cranberries!
- *Optional – Juice and zest of 1 orange
How To Make Cranberry Sauce
- In a medium saucepan, bring maple syrup to a boil.
- Add cranberries, (optional orange juice and zest) and bring them back up to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat.
- If you want crushed cranberry sauce, use a potato masher or emersion blender to mash cranberries.
- Pour the sauce into a serving dish and cover with plastic wrap.
- Cool to room temperature, and refrigerate till serving… Enjoy!
Serve Cranberry Sauce With
We serve this classic thanksgiving sauce in a pretty glass bowl on the Thanksgiving Buffet! It’s the perfect complement to classic roast turkey, or traditional roast beef, savory turkey stuffing, soft and buttery homemade sourdough rolls, sweet candied yams, and green bean casserole!
Place leftovers in an air-tight container and keep them in the refrigerator for 1 week, or freeze for later use! Leftovers are wonderful to spread on a turkey sandwich the next day too!
If you are making this for Thanksgiving, print your free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages to keep everyone busy while you’re cooking!
Tips for Success
Here are some additional insights to make your cranberry sauce recipe more helpful for beginners:
- Fresh vs. Frozen Cranberries: While fresh cranberries are ideal, frozen cranberries work just as well. No need to thaw them before using.
- Maple Syrup: The type of maple syrup you use can affect the flavor. Pure maple syrup is best, but a maple syrup blend can also be used.
- Orange Zest and Juice: This is an optional ingredient, but it adds a bright, citrusy flavor to the sauce.
- Cooking Time: The cooking time can vary depending on the amount of liquid in the pan. Keep an eye on the sauce and adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Thickness: If you prefer a thicker sauce, cook it for a longer period of time;)
Troubleshooting:
- Sauce is too watery: Cook it for a longer period of time.
- Sauce is too thick: Add a little bit bit of water or orange juice.
- Cranberries are not bursting: Cook them for a longer period of time or use a potato masher to help them burst.
Recipe Card
If you make this cranberry sauce I’d really appreciate a star rating or review on the recipe card! Or tag me on Facebook with your masterpiece!
Old Fashioned Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups maple syrup
- 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- Optional juice and zest from 1 orange
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring maple syrup to a boil.
- Add cranberries and optional juice and zest of 1 orange, and bring them back up to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat.
- If you want crushed cranberry sauce, use a potato masher or emersion blender to mash cranberries.
- Pour the sauce into a serving dish and cover with plastic wrap.
- Cool to room temperature, and refrigerate till serving… Enjoy!
Notes
Thanksgiving Recipes
About Juliea
Juliea Huffaker is the creator of Farmhouse Harvest, and dedicated to teaching from-scratch cooking, sourdough baking, gardening, and food preservation. With over 25 years of hands-on experience she has preserved hundreds of jars of produce, mastered the art of meats and sourdough baking, and nurtured a thriving organic garden. Her recipes and articles have been featured across the web. And she’s passionate about inspiring others to embrace a simpler, self-sufficient life style.
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