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A square photo of whole berry cranberry sauce in a sauce pan.
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Whole berry cranberry sauce recipe

Simple whole berry cranberry sauce recipe! Here’s how to make classic whole cranberry sauce at home for the holidays.
Course Sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword christmas, thanksgiving, vegan, vegetarian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 116kcal
Author Trish Bozeman

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • ¾ cup water

Instructions

  • Combine the cranberries, sugar, and water in a medium sized sauce pan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  • Gently simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally at first, then stirring constantly once the berries start to burst.
  • When the berries have burst, remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
  • When the sauce has cooled, refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Fresh vs. Frozen Cranberries: While fresh cranberries are fantastic, you can absolutely use frozen ones too. The sauce may need a few extra minutes to thicken due to the excess water.
  • Add orange: Try adding orange zest or swapping the water for orange juice.
  • Don't Walk Away: As your cranberries start to burst in the pot, watch them closely. They have a tendency to stick to the bottom. Stir frequently.
  • Thin it out: If your sauce starts to look a bit too thick for your liking, no worries! Just add a touch more water to reach that perfect consistency. It's all about making it just the way you love it. Remember - the sauce will thicken up quite a bit while it cools.
  • Add spice: Ground cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, or a hint of ginger can add depth to your cranberry sauce.
  • Add more sugar: This recipe delivers a sweet, but not too sweet cranberry sauce. If you like sweeter cranberry sauce, start with the recipe as written and add more sugar to taste up to your ideal sweetness level.
  • Add fruit: Mix in fresh apple, dried cherries, or fresh raspberries for a flavorful boost.
  • Make extra: Hosting a crowd or want to make sure you have leftovers? Double or triple the recipe; it's super easy to scale up. Just make sure you have a roomy saucepan to accommodate all those cranberries.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.004g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg