Homemade Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Fresh homemade cranberry sauce relish is a classic side dish for any Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner. With its deep, ruby-red color and sweet-tart flavor, it brings both elegance and bold taste to your holiday table. Whether you’re serving turkey, ham, or a festive roast, this easy sauce made with fresh cranberries is the perfect complement to your holiday meal.

But the best part? You don’t need to wait for the holidays! This cranberry sauce recipe is simple, fast, and can be made year-round with either fresh or frozen cranberries. It stores beautifully in an airtight container, so you can enjoy it long after the holidays are over.

My Memories of Cranberry Sauce at the Holiday Table

Cranberry sauce has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl. I used to help my mother make this side dish from scratch every year. She made a cranberry relish where she ground whole cranberries and oranges, and then let it sit in the fridge for 24 hours. The berries and juices would form a tangy, sweet side dish for the holidays.

I can still see my mother in the kitchen, setting up her heavy old-fashioned grinder and attaching it to the edge of the counter. Together, we would grind raw cranberries and navel orange pieces, peel and all, into a bowl, turning them into the most delicious fresh cranberry relish you can imagine.

Each handful of whole cranberries would make a delightful popping sound as we fed them into the hopper. I must have been six or seven, and it was one of my first real jobs in the kitchen. Helping my mother prepare that dish made me feel like a true part of the holiday magic.

Years later, I discovered that my husband Jim’s mother also made cranberry sauce from scratch—a simple, classic recipe from the back of the Ocean Spray® fresh cranberries bag. That recipe, made with just sugar, water, and fresh cranberries, is the one we continue to use today. It’s simple, refreshing, and loaded with the best flavor of the season.

Even though I never found my mother’s original cranberry relish recipe, the combination of those memories and Jim’s family tradition makes this dish one of the most nostalgic and meaningful parts of our holiday meal. It’s more than just food; it’s a connection to the past, made new again each year.

I will not turn away any form of cranberry relish. I love all the different recipes of cranberry sauce, and my most favorite is this fresh homemade cranberry sauce.

At Christmas, I love to put brie cheese warmed in the oven.  Slice off the top of the brine and layer with cranberry sauce and some toasted walnuts. Heat at 350° just until the cheese starts to melt.  A simple, delicious appetizer for your Christmas or New Year’s Party.

Here is a delicious addition to any News Years’ Party Appetizer, Baked Brie with Walnuts and Honey.  There are a lot of complicated wrapped brie recipes but we just make a simple warm cheese with warm cranberry sauce or honey and toasted walnuts.

Serving Suggestions

Homemade fresh cranberry sauce isn’t just for turkey. Here are a few delicious ways to enjoy it:

• With Brie Cheese: Slice off the top of a wheel of brie, top with warm cranberry sauce and toasted walnuts, and bake at 350°F until the cheese is melty. Serve with crackers or sliced baguette.
• As a Spread: Try it on leftover turkey sandwiches with cream cheese.
• In Yogurt or Oatmeal: Stir into plain Greek yogurt or a bowl of oatmeal for a tangy-sweet breakfast.
• Holiday Appetizer: Spoon it into phyllo cups with goat cheese or serve alongside a cheese board.

Alternative Recipe for Cranberry Relish or Sauce

This year, I wanted to spice things up a little when making our family’s cranberry sauce/relish. I love the flavors of orange that are classic of the recipe I remember from my childhood, and I love cinnamon at the holidays.

In the recipe below, I substituted 1/2 cup of orange juice and 1/2 cup of water for the regular recipe of 1 cup of water. I also added just a pinch of cinnamon. It can out just delicious and has that hint of orange that is classic during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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Bake and serve in style this holiday season! This Porcelain Baking Casserole Set for Oven is perfect for all of your favorite recipes.

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