Add fresh flavor to any meal with this easy, vibrant side dish. The cranberry sauce is made with tart cranberries and a refreshing citrus twist from orange juice and zest.
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Cranberry Jelly With Orange Juice
I grew up on canned cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving, Tuesday night dinner – you name it, we had it. My parents even dedicated an entire pantry shelf to those cans! And yet, I could not bring myself to like it. That is until I tried homemade cranberry sauce, which is a total game-changer.
It leaves the canned stuff in the dust. Seriously, there is no comparison. Even my dad, who, fun fact, can eat an entire can of cranberry sauce by itself for dinner, agrees that if given a choice, he would choose this homemade cranberry sauce hands down every time. But don’t just take his word for it; give it a try yourself. Once you’ve tasted homemade, there’s no going back to store-bought.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
You only need five ingredients to make this cranberry sauce. Below are the ingredients, along with a few simple substitutions.
- ¾ cup orange juice ($0.54) – Adds a citrus twist that balances the tart cranberries. You can use water instead of orange juice and leave out the orange zest. You’ll also need to increase the sugar to ¾ cup.
- Zest of 1 orange ($1.39) – Deepens the orange flavor.
- ½ cup granulated sugar ($0.15) – Sweetens the sauce and helps create the syrupy texture. Use brown sugar as a substitute for a more caramel-like taste.
- 12-ounce bag of cranberries or 3 cups ($2.99) – The tart fruit is the star of the recipe. You can use frozen strawberries as an alternative if fresh ones are unavailable.
- ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ($0.05) – Adds a warm depth to the sauce that complements the sweet and tart flavors. Nutmeg or allspice are good alternatives.
The recipe cost is calculated based on the amounts needed and will vary depending on fluctuating grocery costs. To learn more about how I price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in July 2025.
How To Make Orange Cranberry Sauce
Bring the ingredients to a boil, simmer, stir in the cinnamon, and serve. Let me show you how.
- Bring the orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and salt to a boil.
- Stir in the cranberries and return to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, and simmer lightly until the sauce is slightly thickened.
- You should see that ⅔ of the cranberries have opened up.
- Finally, stir in cinnamon, transfer the sauce to a serving bowl, and let it cool for a few minutes.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
Recipe Cost 5.12 Serving Cost 0.64Equipment
- medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 1 orange zested
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 12 ounce bag cranberries or 3 cups picked through
- ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and salt to a boil. Stir in cranberries and return mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until slightly thickened, saucy, and about 2/3 of cranberries have popped open about 5-6 minutes.
- Stir in cinnamon. Transfer cranberry sauce to a serving bowl, cool to room temperature, and serve or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe FAQs
Cranberries have seeds—small but mighty! The seeds are edible, so you can remove them if you prefer (pour the finished sauce through a fine-mesh strainer) or leave them in place.
This dish can be prepared two to three days in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or more orange juice until you reach your desired consistency.
More Side Dish Recipes
For more delicious side dishes, here are a few of my favorites.
Amanda says
This Orange Cranberry Sauce recipe is flawless. It turned out perfect every time.
Anita says
Not sure how anyone can return to the canned stuff having once tried the real deal. This recipe is a keeper and so simple. 🙂
Jess Jankowski says
That’s what I’m saying!
Aimee Mars says
That is so funny you had an entire shelf dedicated to canned cranberry sauce growing up! I’ve never been a fan of it myself, but I love a great fresh and homemade version like this orange cranberry sauce. I can’t wait to try it!
Jess Jankowski says
It is still to this day my dad’s favorite! I love him but cannot support him in that life choice! LOL
Haley says
This is so much better than the can and easy to make!
Jess Jankowski says
SOOO much better!
Alyssa says
The orange zest adds so much to the flavor of the cranberries. This will be my new staple for Thanksgiving dinner.
Jess Jankowski says
It really does take it over the top!
Tawnie Kroll says
The orange juice in this sauce made all the difference! Thank you, so good!
Jess Jankowski says
So glad you liked it. Thanks for letting us know!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Yum! Nothing beats homemade cranberry sauce with some Thanksgiving goodness!
Jess Jankowski says
Agreed!
Taryn says
I love the flavor of orange in this!
Jess Jankowski says
It adds so much to the flavor!
Renee Goerger says
This is a delicious cranberry sauce. Thanks for the recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
You are so welcome. Thanks for stopping by!
Nellie Tracy says
Will be making this on repeat this season!
Jess Jankowski says
It’s a keeper for sure! Thanks for stopping by.