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Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is so easy to make! Juicy, tart, fresh, or frozen cranberries are cooked with white and brown sugar, a splash of orange juice, and a touch of warm cinnamon. It’s a festive holiday side dish that’s perfect for serving on both Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Enjoy it with your holiday dinner or spruce up a fall meal with it! It goes great with roasted turkey, slow cooker boneless ham, and even air fryer pork tenderloin.

A closeup of a bowl of cranberry sauce ready to serve with sprigs of rosemary, cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries on the table under the bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice!

  • It’s such a quick and easy recipe! You’ll spend less than thirty minutes making this Homemade Cranberry Sauce. All you do is toss everything into a pan, warm it up until it’s thick, and serve!
  • Perfect for holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas just aren’t the same without a big scoop of this vibrant side dish on your plate.
  • Super budget-friendly? This entire recipe only calls for five budget-friendly ingredients. You might even have most of them in the house already.
  • Homemade flavors. This tangy, sweet, and fruity holiday staple is always best made fresh. While the canned stuff isn’t too terrible, it just can’t hold a candle to the real deal!

5 Star Review

My family has been making this recipe for YEARS! It’s the best cranberry sauce and it’s so easy to make!

~ Sarah ~

Ingredients

Ingredients to make orange juice cranberry sauce on the table.
  • Cranberries: Making this orange juice cranberry sauce is so easy with either fresh or frozen cranberries.
  • Sugar: A combination of light brown sugar and granulated sugar adds some sweetness to balance the tartness of the cranberries while the brown sugar adds more depth of flavor thanks to the molasses.
  • Orange juice: This recipe uses store-bought orange juice to make the preparation easier.
  • Cinnamon: Adds hints of spice and warmth.

How To Make Orange Juice Cranberry Sauce

A collage showing how to make orange cranberry sauce with the orange juice in the pot, adding the cranberries, then the cinnamon, and after the cranberries have popped.
  1. Dissolve. Combine both sugars and the orange juice In a pan. Heat to dissolve the sugar. 
  2. Add. The cranberries to the pot.
  3. Sprinkle. The cinnamon over the top and stir together. 
  4. Cook. Until the berries begin to pop. Remove the cranberry sauce from the heat and transfer it to a serving bowl. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools down.

Tips & Variations

  • More Orange Flavor. If you want a more intense orange flavor you can add a bit of orange zest to the pot while it cooks.
  • Smoother Sauce. While the cranberries soften and pop this orange juice cranberry sauce is on the chunky side. If you’re looking for a smoother texture you can blend it after it’s slightly cooled.
  • Let It Sit After Cooking. The sauce thickens up a bit as it cools so give it a bit of time after you are done cooking. Typically it’s served at room temperature or chilled.
  • Different Spice. You can also add some nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, or even use a fall-flavored spice blend such as pumpkin pie spice if you want a more complex flavor.

Best Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

Jiffy Corn Casserole

Cranberry Holiday Punch Recipe

Cinnamon Cake

What To Serve With Cranberry Sauce

Salads. Your holiday table needs a few salads! You may enjoy this Bacon Broccoli Salad, Creamy Grape Salad, or this 7-Layer Salad.

Main Course. It’s great with your favorite Holiday Ham and Oven Roasted Turkey with Turkey Gravy! It’s also a nice addition to these Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders or a Pulled Pork Sandwich.

Sides. Pile on the sides for the holidays. It goes great with all the classics such as Sweet Potato Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Jiffy Corn Casserole, Cheesy Potatoes, and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

Dessert. Everyone loves to end the meal with a slice of Cinnamon Cake, Mini Cherry Pies, Pumpkin Pie Twists, and Apple Pecan Pie.

A bowl of cranberry sauce on the table with rosemary, fresh cranberries, and cinnamon sticks to the side.

Leftovers & Storing

  • Store. The cranberry sauce with orange juice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to TEN DAYS! So feel free to make it ahead if you want! Cool it to room temperature before storing. It also freezes like a dream. Transfer it into a freezer-safe food storage container and it will stay fresh for up to 2 months. Just let it slowly thaw in the refrigerator for about 8 hours before serving.

Tools Needed To Make This Recipe

  • Saucepan. You will need a small saucepan to make this cranberry sauce.
  • Serving Bowl. The perfect-sized bowl for serving.
  • Storage Containers. Don’t forget containers for your guests if you have any leftovers.
Orange juice cranberry sauce in a bowl on the table ready to serve.

More Side Dish Recipes

Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe

Quick and Easy Jiffy Cornbread Recipe

Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams

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A bowl of cranberry sauce with orange juice in a bowl on the table with cinnamon sticks, rosemary and fresh cranberries around it.
5 from 9 ratings
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Servings: 10 servings

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is so easy to make! Juicy, tart, fresh or frozen cranberries cook with white and brown sugar, a splash of orange juice, and a touch of warm cinnamon. It’s a festive holiday side dish that’s perfect for serving on both Thanksgiving and Christmas!
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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add brown sugar, granulated sugar and orange juice stir until sugars are dissolved. 
  • Stir in cranberries and cinnamon, cook until they start to pop. About 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and place in a serving bowl. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Notes

  • More Orange Flavor. If you want a more intense orange flavor you can add a bit of orange zest to the pot while it cooks.
  • Smoother Sauce. While the cranberries soften and pop this orange juice cranberry sauce is on the chunky side. If you’re looking for a smoother texture you can blend it after it’s slightly cooled.
  • Let It Sit After Cooking. The sauce thickens up a bit as it cools so give it a bit of time after your done cooking. Typically it’s served room temperature or chilled.
  • Different Spice. You can also add some nutmeg, cloves, ginger, or even use a fall flavored spice blend such as pumpkin pie spice if you want a more complex flavor.
  • Store. In an airtight container kept in the fridge, your Homemade Cranberry Sauce will stay fresh for up to TEN DAYS! Just make sure it’s completely cooled to room temperature prior to storing.
Calories: 98kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 77mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 59IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
Author: Jennifer
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