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    Home » Side Dishes » Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Published: Nov 2, 2020 · Modified: Feb 15, 2021 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links, which means we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    One bite of this easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce and you’ll wonder why you ever bought the canned stuff! Made in less than 20 minutes, this whole berry cranberry relish with tart cherries and savory shallots can be made ahead of time and frozen - perfect for Thanksgiving! 

    Cranberry sauce in a white bowl with lemon zest on top this recipe

    With all of the food to make for Thanksgiving, I understand if you’re reluctant to take on another recipe. Between the turkey, the stuffing, the potatoes, the pies, it can get to be a lot. 

    But this Homemade Cranberry Sauce  - made with fresh cranberries, shallots, dried tart cherries and a generous splash of blackberry liqueur - is sooooooo easy and far outshines anything you can buy in a can.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Serving suggestions
    • Expert tips for making cranberry sauce
    • More cranberry recipes
    • Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    ➤ It's sweet and savory: Most cranberry sauces are a bit tart but primarily still sweet. This recipe also has a healthy helping of shallots that add a lovely savory flavor to the sauce that pairs perfectly with roasted turkey.

    ➤ It only takes 20 minutes to make: No need to labor for hours on this relish.

    ➤ Use fresh or frozen cranberries: Both options work beautifully so use whatever is most convenient for you.

    ➤ Make it ahead and freeze it: A real time saver on a busy holiday.

    Ingredients

    You only need 6 ingredients for this sweet, savory and tart homemade whole berry sauce:

    Fresh cranberries, creme de cassis, dried cherries, sugar, shallots and lemon ingredients for cranberry sauce.

    A few ingredient notes:

    • Cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen cranberries in this sauce.
    • Dried tart cherries: Not every grocery store carries these, but they are regularly available at Trader Joe's, Costco and Amazon.
    • Creme de cassis is a blackcurrant flavored liqueur. If you prefer an alcohol free substitute, try a blackcurrant syrup instead.
    A close up of a bowl of cranberry relish, with Cranberry.

    Instructions

    After the initial chopping, there isn’t much to this recipe other than cooking it on the stove top. Total cooking time is 20 minutes start to finish! 

    Shallots sauteed in a pot.

    Step one: Saute shallots until tender.

    Ingredients for cranberry sauce in a pot.

    Step two: Stir in cherries, cranberries, sugar and liqueur. Cook until cranberries start to pop.

    Cranberry sauce in a pot with lemon zest.

    Step three: Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest.

    Tip: Make this recipe up to a month ahead of time and freeze. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

    FAQs

    Should cranberry sauce be hot or cold?

    It's up to you! You should always store fresh cranberry sauce in the refrigerator, but I like to serve cranberry sauce at room temperature. Some people swear by cold cranberry sauce and others who love it heated up over warm turkey slices. The choice is yours!

    What should I do with leftover cranberry sauce?

    You can store leftover sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week or you can freeze it for up to two months. Dollops of this homemade sauce are delicious on these Cranberry Brie Bites or slathered on top of a wheel of Baked Brie.

    Are tart cherries the same as sour cherries?

    Yes. You might also see them labeled as Montmorency cherries. Can't find them? You can substitute dried sweet cherries but you'll need to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe so it's not overly sweet.

    Cranberry sauce topped with lemon zest in a white bowl with a silver spoon.

    Serving suggestions

    It goes without saying that cranberry sauce belongs on your Thanksgiving table, right?

    • Not hosting a huge crowd this year? Make a turkey breast instead! We’ve got a complete guide for How to Cook a Turkey Breast. It’s way easier than you think! 
    • No turkey dinner is complete without potatoes. You can reheat these Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes in the Crock Pot which is key during a meal when oven space is in high demand. 
    • Don’t forget this stuffing! This homemade Cornbread Stuffing with sausage has a robust taste that pairs perfectly with the mild flavor of turkey. 

    You’ll find all of our side dish recipes in our archives.

    P.S. If you end up with leftover cranberry relish, freeze it and use it to top these festive Cranberry Brie Bites throughout the holiday season. Or use it to make this layered Cranberry Jello Salad.

    White bowl filled with cranberry sauce.

    Expert tips for making cranberry sauce

    ✘ You can use fresh or frozen cranberries in this recipe. Frozen berries may require a few minutes extra cook time.

    ✘ The small amount of lemon zest is optional but adds a burst of freshness to the sauce.

    ✘ Dried tart cherries are also often labeled as Montmorency cherries. Find them at Trader Joe's, Costco, Amazon and other well-stocked grocery stores.

    ✘ In a pinch, dried sweet cherries can be used instead of the tart cherries but you'll need to reduce the amount of sugar to keep the relish from becoming too sweet.

    ✘ Want to make a non-alcoholic version? Skip the creme de cassis and use a blackcurrant syrup instead. It will be sweeter than the creme de cassis so you'll need to use less.

    ✘ Make this sauce ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week and in the freezer for two months.

    More cranberry recipes

    • Cranberry Apple Chutney
    • cranberry salsa on bread with cream cheese.
      Easy Cranberry Salsa Recipe
    • champagne flutes filled with cranberry juice and prosecco.
      Cranberry Mimosa
    • martini glass filled with pink drink.
      Cranberry Martini
    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    

    Recipe

    A bowl of cranberry relish with cranberries.

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Garnish With Lemon
    Making your own cranberry relish is EASY with this 20 minute Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe. A little bit sweet and a little bit savory, you’ll never buy cranberries from a can again! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 14 mins
    Total Time 19 mins
    Course Side Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 150 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Microplane Zester
    • Measuring Cups
    • Chef's Knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ cup finely chopped shallots
    • ⅔ cup dried tart cherries
    • ½ cup blackcurrant liqueur, often called creme de cassis
    • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
    • 12 ounces cranberries, fresh or frozen
    • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in shallots and saute for 3 minutes or until shallots are tender.
      1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup finely chopped shallots
    • Increase heat to medium-high and add cherries, liqueur, sugar and cranberries. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until cranberries begin to pop.
      ⅔ cup dried tart cherries, ½ cup blackcurrant liqueur,, ⅔ cup granulated sugar, 12 ounces cranberries,
    • Remove sauce from heat and stir in zest. Cool before storing tightly covered in the refrigerator.
      1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest

    Notes

    • You can use fresh or frozen cranberries in this recipe. Frozen berries may require a few minutes extra cook time.
    • Dried tart cherries are also often labeled as Montmorency cherries. Find them at Trader Joe's, Costco, Amazon and other well-stocked grocery stores.
    • In a pinch, dried sweet cherries can be used instead of the tart cherries but you'll need to reduce the amount of sugar to keep the relish from becoming too sweet.
    • Want to make a non-alcoholic version? Skip the creme de cassis and use a blackcurrant syrup instead. It will be sweeter than the creme de cassis so you'll need to use less.
    • Make this sauce ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week and in the freezer for two months.
    • Recipe adapted from MyRecipes.

    VIDEO

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 3gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 308IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!

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    About Anna

    Hi, I’m Anna, a former corporate communications nerd turned food fanatic. Turns out I like cooking for others A LOT more than explaining HR policies to them. C’mon over!

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