It’s time to upgrade your holiday feast with this orange cranberry sauce. The cranberries are simmered down with orange juice and, giving the sauce a rich flavor that enhances the roasted turkey and stuffing.

Once you make this homemade cranberry sauce, you won’t go back to the canned stuff- ever.

large bowl of orange juice cranberry sauce

I’ve been making this recipe for years, and to this day, it’s one of the most popular items on my Thanksgiving menu. It has the delicious tart-sweet flavor of cranberry and orange that will have people eating it by the spoonful.

Ingredients

The ingredient list is short and sweet. Here’s everything you need to make this cranberry sauce:

whole fresh cranberries: use fresh or frozen whole cranberries, not canned.
orange juice: not from concentrate, opt for fresh juice or from the carton.
orange zest: optional, but adds more citrus flavor.
sugar: white or brown will work!

bowl of orange juice cranberry sauce with small bowl of cranberries in the background

How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

Homemade cranberry sauce is one of the most impressive dishes that take the least amount of time and effort to make. All you need are the ingredients, a medium saucepan, and a blender (which is optional).

Alright, let’s get the party started and make this delicious cranberry and orange sauce!

Prep
Rinse cranberries with lukewarm water
Cook
Add the cranberries, juice, orange zest, and sugar into a 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium-high heat and simmer for 12 minutes.
Serve
Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool before serving or blending.

Now, I know some prefer their cranberry sauce with the berries left whole. If that’s you, once the sauce is cooled, you can serve it. However, if a smooth sauce is desired, transfer it to a blender and blend until smooth.

Watch this quick video to see it all come together.

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Making Orange Juice Cranberry Sauce Ahead

Plan on making the cranberry sauce ahead? Good idea. Here’s how to prepare and store the sauce, so it stays fresh:

Transfer the cooled sauce to 12-ounce mason jars.
Top with lid and seal.
Refrigerate for up to 10 to 14 days.

Whether you make this recipe for your Thanksgiving meal or your Holiday gatherings, I can almost guarantee that you’ll be asked for the recipe!

Orange Juice Cranberry Sauce

Print Recipe

Upgrade your holiday feast with orange and cranberry sauce. The cranberries are simmered down with sugar, fresh orange juice, and zest for a rich and delicious flavor.

Author: Laura Fuentes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 2.5 cups
Category: Sides
Method: Stove-top
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

1 12-ounce bag of whole cranberries
1 cup 100% orange juice- not from concentrate
2 teaspoons fresh orange zest
⅓ cup sugar

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Instructions

Rinse cranberries.
Combine the cranberries, orange juice, zest, and sugar in a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat to medium, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool. It will thicken as it cools.
For whole cranberry sauce, serve it once cooled or transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.
Store leftover cranberry sauce in a lidded jar or airtight container for 10 to 14 days.