Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce

For years, I’ve been making a version of this healthy cranberry sauce, which relies on fresh orange for sweetness and flavor. I love it as a side dish as part of my Thanksgiving recipes for kids to go with turkey, or to pair with Christmas ham but also as a way to enjoy the cranberry flavor throughout the winter. It’s so good stirred into yogurt and oatmeal, as well as a side for savory meats and dishes. This recipe uses a combination of orange juice and fresh oranges that get blended up for a nice mix of flavor and texture. The citrus helps to balance out the tartness in the berries. I use fresh cranberries here to make this homemade cranberry sauce, but frozen cranberries would work, too, if that’s what you have access to. (You may also like Cranberry Orange Bread, Cranberry Apple Pie, and Cranberry Orange Muffins.)

Ingredients You Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this cranberry orange sauce recipe. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

Navel oranges: Peeled with as much white pith removed as possible (since that part of the orange is bitter). You can add some orange zest for more flavor if you’d like. Fresh cranberries: Look for these in the fall in the produce aisle. Honey or maple syrup: Avoid honey for kids under age 1. I kept the amount in a range so you can add what you prefer. Cranberries are very tart, so you will likely want some of one of these to balance them out. Orange juice: This provides the liquid in which the berries simmer. Cinnamon: You can add a dash of cinnamon for more flavor if you like.

TIP: You can use maple syrup instead of honey if you prefer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make this easy cranberry orange sauce. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe. TIP: If it’s too tart for your liking, add honey to taste.

Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce

To store this cranberry orange sauce to serve later, let it cool to room temperature. Spoon it into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can make this up to a week ahead of when you plan to serve it. It stores really well.

How can I serve this orange cranberry sauce recipe?

You can serve it with turkey as a Thanksgiving recipe for kids or as a side for chicken recipes for kids, but we also love it stirred into fruit-on-the-bottom-yogurt and oatmeal with fruit. And serving cranberries that way can be a fun way to introduce the flavor!

How to Store

This fresh cranberry orange sauce can be made up to 1 week in advance. Store in an airtight container or two (or storage jars) in the fridge until ready to serve. Or place into freezer bags, press as much air out as possible, and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Leftover homemade cranberry-orange sauce can be stored in the fridge for about a week.

Best Tips for Success

Blend the peeled oranges to break them down to ensure this cooks quickly. You can use maple syrup instead of honey if you prefer. Other types of oranges will work. Just make sure they taste good and sweet to you. Taste the finished sauce and adjust the sweetness as needed. Serve as a side dish for Thanksgiving turkey, pork, Christmas dinner, on leftover turkey sandwiches, or as the fruit in Fruit-on-the-Bottom yogurt.

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