Introduction
No holiday table is complete without cranberry sauce — that bright, tangy pop of flavor that balances every rich bite of the feast. Whether you like it classic, chunky, spiced, or with a creative twist, these 24 cranberry sauce recipes bring something special to your plate. From traditional to adventurous, each one is bursting with tart-sweet perfection.
1. Classic Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Simple, sweet, and perfectly tart — the holiday essential.
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan.
- Simmer 10 minutes until berries burst.
- Cool before serving.
2. Orange Cranberry Sauce
Bright citrus adds a fresh twist.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
Instructions
- Simmer ingredients until thickened, about 10–12 minutes.
3. Maple Cranberry Sauce
Sweetened naturally with rich maple syrup.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Simmer cranberries in syrup and water for 12 minutes.
4. Apple Cranberry Sauce
Sweet apples make this version cozy and fragrant.
Ingredients
- 10 oz cranberries
- 1 chopped apple
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup apple juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients; simmer 15 minutes until apples soften.
5. Cinnamon Spiced Cranberry Sauce
Aromatic and perfect for chilly fall dinners.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
Instructions
- Simmer all ingredients for 10 minutes.
- Remove spices before serving.
6. Port Wine Cranberry Sauce
Elegant and slightly boozy — ideal for special occasions.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup port wine
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Simmer 12 minutes until sauce thickens.
7. Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Zesty and slightly spicy with a kick of warmth.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Cook all ingredients together until cranberries pop.
8. Honey Cranberry Sauce
Naturally sweet and simple.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Simmer for 10 minutes until smooth and thick.
9. Pecan Cranberry Sauce
Crunchy, nutty, and full of texture.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup toasted pecans
Instructions
- Make sauce; stir in pecans after cooling slightly.
10. Pineapple Cranberry Sauce
Tropical sweetness meets classic tartness.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup crushed pineapple
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Simmer everything for 12 minutes until thickened.
11. Brown Sugar Cranberry Sauce
Deeper sweetness with caramel undertones.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Simmer 10 minutes until thick.
12. Cranberry Chutney
Sweet, tangy, and perfectly spiced.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp ginger
Instructions
- Simmer all ingredients 15 minutes.
13. Jalapeño Cranberry Sauce
A spicy-sweet kick for bold palates.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 chopped jalapeño
- 1 cup orange juice
Instructions
- Simmer all ingredients 10 minutes.
14. Vanilla Bean Cranberry Sauce
A sweetly aromatic take on the classic.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Simmer all together until cranberries burst.
- Remove vanilla pod.
15. Cider Cranberry Sauce
Autumn in a bowl — tart, sweet, and spiced.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- 1 cup apple cider
- ¾ cup sugar
Instructions
- Simmer 10 minutes; cool and refrigerate.
16. Lemon Cranberry Sauce
Extra tangy and refreshing.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp zest
Instructions
- Simmer 10 minutes; chill before serving.
17. Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce
Beautifully tart and festive.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup pomegranate juice
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Simmer cranberries in juice and sugar; stir in seeds after cooling.
18. Cranberry Sauce with Red Wine
Smooth, sophisticated, and full-bodied.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup red wine
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Simmer 12 minutes until thickened.
19. Cranberry Pear Sauce
Sweet pears mellow out the tart cranberries.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- 1 chopped pear
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Simmer all ingredients 15 minutes until pears soften.
20. Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Sweet, smoky, and a little grown-up.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup bourbon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Simmer 10–12 minutes until reduced.
21. Cranberry Sauce with Rosemary
Fragrant and herby — perfect for savory pairings.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tsp chopped rosemary
Instructions
- Simmer ingredients 10 minutes; cool and serve.
22. Cranberry Sauce with Balsamic Glaze
Sweet-tart and slightly smoky.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Simmer until thick and syrupy, about 12 minutes.
23. Cranberry Relish (No Cook)
Fresh, zesty, and made in minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberries
- 1 orange, chopped
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- Pulse all ingredients in a food processor.
- Chill before serving.
24. Sparkling Cranberry Sauce
A fun, fizzy take on the classic.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries
- ½ cup sparkling cider
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- Simmer 10 minutes until berries pop; cool before serving.
Conclusion
From sweet to spiced, boozy to citrusy, these cranberry sauce recipes prove there’s a version for every feast. Each one adds a pop of color and flavor that brings balance to your holiday plate. Try a new one this season — your guests will be asking for the recipe before the turkey’s even gone!
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