Cranberry Orange Sauce
Making your own Cranberry Orange Sauce is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your holiday meal! This version has a little extra kick from Grand Marnier, but you can absolutely leave that out if you’re serving kids or prefer an alcohol-free sauce. It’s just as delicious either way.
Why Make Your Own Cranberry Sauce?
- Ready in 15 minutes total
- Make it ahead and store it for up to 5 days.
- Adds a fresh, homemade touch to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table
What You Need
- Cranberries: Use a 12-ounce bag of whole fresh cranberries. You can also use frozen cranberries. There is no need to thaw them. Sort out any soft or shriveled ones before you start.
- Sugar: One cup is the perfect amount to balance the tartness of the berries.
- Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed gives the brightest flavor, but bottled works too.
- Water: Refer to the instructions to determine the amount of water needed.
- Grand Marnier (Optional): Adds a citrusy kick with a hint of orange liqueur. Skip it if you want an alcohol-free version.
- Orange Zest: The zest from two oranges adds even more fresh flavor to the sauce.
This How to Host a Stress Free Holiday Meal post from a few years ago will help you with your planning.
Adding the orange juice and orange zest brings so much flavor to the sauce, as well! The tang from the cranberries and the sweetness of the orange pair beautifully together!
How to Make/ Cranberry Orange Sauce
Wash and sort the cranberries, removing any that are soft, hard, or dried up.
Add the cranberries and sugar to a medium saucepan.
Zest the oranges directly into the saucepan.
Juice the oranges using a reamer if you have one.
Pour the orange juice into a liquid measuring cup.
Add the liqueur and then fill the remainder with water to make one cup of liquid.
Pour the liquid into the saucepan. Heat over medium high heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until the berries pop.
Pro Tip: Pour the sauce into your serving bowl before chilling. That saves you from having to dirty an extra dish.
How to store leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 5 days, or longer.
You can also store it in the freezer for up to about 6 months.
Cranberry sauce is not the only way to enjoy these powerhouses of good stuff! They are wonderful in this Pumpkin, Orange Cranberry Bread, or these Cranberry Orange Meatballs! This Cherry Cranberry Crisp or Apple Cranberry Crisp are easy desserts for Thanksgiving or Christmas as well.
Try this cranberry sauce in our favorite version of turkey sandwiches. They are the perfect thing to make with your holiday leftovers. Homemade cranberry sauce is also great as a topping for pancakes or waffles. That sweet-tart flavor really brightens up breakfast.
Helpful Tools
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and purchase something, at no additional cost to you. See FTC Disclosure, here.
Connect with us through our social media pages! Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter.
Please ask any questions or share your comments in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe today.
Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz bag fresh, whole cranberries
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp Grand Marnier liqueur
- 2 tbsp orange zest
Instructions
- Sort and wash cranberries
- Place orange juice, water and sugar in medium saucepan. Bring to boil.
- Add Cranberries. Return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until cranberries begin to burst.
- Remove from heat. Add Grand Marnier and orange zest. Cool enough to pour into your serving bowl, on counter.
- Refrigerate once it is room temperature.
See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky’s Amazon Store!Video
Nutrition
Originally published November 30, 2018. Updated July 19, 2025.
This sauce is the reason why I look forward to Thanksgiving dinner! It is a must try!
Thank you D. We appreciate that!
Hi, do you think I could make this cranberry and orange sauce for canning? I’d love Could you help me with directions if possible? Thank you.
You can use this recipe for canning. Just use half and half OJ and water. You can add the zest. I would eliminate the grand marnier. All of it’s flavor will be leached out via the heat from canning.
Thank you very much for your response,Beth,
It is very useful for me.
You’re very welcome!
My mouth, literally, dropped when I saw this photo! The colors just burst at you, but then I saw how you made it–and I am sure the flavors burst just as loudly! I live in another country right now, and cranberry sauce is something I miss the most about holiday feasts. However, I just sent this recipe to my best friend who has promised to make me whatever I want when I visit on Christmas! Thank you!
Haha! I’m so glad you liked it! Very kind of you to say! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you Jeannette!