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Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Modified: Feb 28, 2025 · Published: Nov 5, 2019 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 811 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

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Cranberry sauce with orange zest is a classic holiday side dish that's often served with Thanksgiving dinner. Fresh cranberries are cooked into a sweet relish with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon.

A bowl of cranberry sauce topped with orange zest.

Homemade cranberry sauce is a must at the holiday dinner table. This cranberry sauce with orange zest recipe is so easy to make that you'll never reach for the canned stuff again.

Cranberry sauce is one of the easiest holiday dishes to prepare - it's ready in just 15 minutes on the stovetop! A dash of cinnamon adds a warm, cozy flavor and fresh orange zest adds a touch of brightness.

Serve cranberry sauce as a side dish for your next holiday meal. It can be used as a garnish on sliced turkey, spread on dinner rolls like jam, or added to your Thanksgiving charcuterie board.

Ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients for cranberry sauce.
  • Cranberries - Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used in this recipe.
  • Sugar - Necessary to add sweetness and cut through the tartness of the cranberries. If the sugar in this recipe is reduced, your sauce will turn out tart. I like the combination of granulated and brown sugars, but all granulated sugar can be used if necessary.
  • Cinnamon - Optional, but adds a depth of flavor and warmth to your cranberry sauce that is perfect for the holidays.
  • Orange - You'll need about two teaspoons of orange zest for this recipe. While optional, it adds brightness and a bit of citrus flavor to the cranberry sauce. I don't recommend omitting this ingredient.

Variations

Cranberries cooking in a sauce pan.

Cranberry sauce, in it's simplest form, can be made with just cranberries and sugar. Anything extra is there to add flavor. Try adding some of these extras next time you make cranberry sauce:

Orange juice - Substitute half the listed water with orange juice for added citrus flavor.

Fresh fruits - Add ½ cup of other fresh fruits along with the cranberries, like chopped apples, orange, or pineapple.

Brown sugar - Use all brown sugar for a deeper, caramelized flavor.

Nuts - Add ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch after your sauce is done cooking.

Ground ginger - Add ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger along with, or instead of, the ground cinnamon.

Storage

A spoon scooping cranberry sauce.

Store leftover cranberry sauce in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for a month or more.

To thaw frozen cranberry sauce, transfer to the refrigerator to allow to thaw overnight.

Frequently asked questions

How can I make cranberry sauce less tart?

If your cranberry sauce is already cooked and it tastes a little too tart for your liking, add a bit of liquid sweetener, like honey or maple syrup. Stirring granulated sugar into cooked and cooled cranberry sauce will add a grainy texture.

How do I thicken cranberry sauce?

Cranberries naturally contain a lot of pectin, so there's no need for added thickeners in this recipe. As the sauce cooks down, it thickens on its own. If your sauce is still very thin after cooking, try adding a slurry made with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and a small amount of water.

Can cranberry sauce be made ahead of time?

Yes! Cranberry sauce is an excellent recipe to make a day or two ahead of a holiday dinner. Prepare the recipe as directed, allow to cool to room temperature, then store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can cranberry sauce be frozen?

Yes, cranberry sauce can be frozen for up to one month (or more in ideal conditions) in a tightly sealed, freezer-safe container. To thaw, transfer to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.

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📖 Recipe

A bowl of cranberry sauce topped with orange zest.
Pin Print Rate
4.54 from 15 reviews

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Cranberry sauce with orange zest is a classic holiday side dish that's often served with Thanksgiving dinner. Fresh cranberries are cooked into a sweet relish with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon.
Recipe makes about 1 ¾ cups of prepared sauce.
Prep Time3 minutes minutes
Cook Time12 minutes minutes
Total Time15 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 121kcal
Author: Heather

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup water
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Instructions

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, add cranberries, sugars, orange zest, cinnamon, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
  • Cook cranberries for about 10-12 minutes, or until cranberries burst and sauce begins to thicken. Optionally, gently mash cranberries with the back of a spoon as they cook.
  • Remove from heat and pour into serving bowl. Sauce will thicken as it cools. Sauce can be served warm, room temperature, or cold.

Equipment Recommendations

  • SS 3-Quart Saucepan
  • Microplane Zester
  • Dry Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons

Notes

  • Ground ginger can be used in addition to, or instead of, ground cinnamon.
  • Cranberry sauce can be served warm, room temperature, or cold. Keep in mind the sauce may thicken substantially if refrigerated.  
  • Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to a month.

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 3heaping tablespoons | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

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    4.54 from 15 votes (15 ratings without comment)

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  1. Karen Seaman

    December 12, 2021 at 4:07 pm

    Can cranberry sauce be jarred for later use? If so, should I water bath it and for how long

    Reply
    • Heather

      December 12, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      Hi Karen, I'm not very familiar with canning so I can't say for sure what changes would need to be made to this recipe. Here's a recipe for canning cranberry sauce that might work for you: https://jamjarkitchen.com/2021/08/03/cranberry-sauce-for-canning/

      Reply

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Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

Hi, I'm Heather!

I love cooking with simple, everyday ingredients and want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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