Simple, and different than the usual cranberry sauce. It’s something you’ll want to eat all cranberry season. Plus, this easy recipe only uses 3 ingredients!

Raw red cranberries on large baking sheet.

🌟Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Sauce

Why fuss around with sauce that takes hours to make when you can make this tried and true 3-ingredient version that is easy enough for the kids to make?

If you’re looking to perfect a reliable and delicious recipe, this one is ideal. It’s simple to master and always produces a crowd-pleasing sauce. Plus it only has three ingredients, so you can get creative and put your own twist on it if you like. Cranberry sauce is a staple for the holidays, and is worth getting right!

I love these roasted cranberries as a topping over vanilla date ice cream, too.

Ingredients & Variations

Cranberries in a bowl next to honey and an orange.

Fresh or frozen cranberries – Both varieties will work just as well

Honey – This sweetens the sauce. You could brown sugar, or a vegan alternative like agave syrup or maple syrup. I prefer my cranberry sauce a little tart, but if you’d like it a little sweeter, you can add a tablespoon of honey at a time until you reach the desired sweetness.

Orange – The orange adds a bite of citrus to the sauce. If the sauce is too sweet, you can add You can add a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. But do so sparingly.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Cranberry Sauce

pour your cranberries onto a lined or non-stick baking tray. Drizzle with the honey, pour over the orange juice and cook 15-18 minutes at 400F until the cranberries start to burst.

Add the orange zest while still warm and toss to coat. Then, cool before serving, or serve warm! It’s the perfect side dish and tastes great spread on bread for turkey sandwiches the next day.

Cranberry Sauce Variations

  • Variation 1: Use apple juice instead of orange juice.
  • Variation 2: Add 2 tsp of chopped tarragon.
  • Variation 3: Use brown sugar instead of honey.
  • Variation 4: Add 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes.
  • Variation 5: Cook them in a saucepan instead of roasting them.

Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes?

Try some of these favorites that get requested every year!

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Cranberries on a gold baking sheet.

3-Ingredient Homemade Cranberry Sauce

5 from 4 votes
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Simple, and different than the usual cranberry sauce. It's something you'll want to eat all cranberry season long. Plus, this easy recipe for cranberry sauce only uses 3 ingredients!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Kosher, Vegetarian
Servings: 8
Calories: 43kcal

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. cranberries fresh
  • 1 orange zested & juiced
  • 2 tbsp honey

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Pour your cranberries onto a baking tray. Drizzle with the honey, pour over the orange juice and cook 15-18 minutes until the cranberries start to burst.
  • Add the orange zest while still warm and toss to coat.

Notes

 
If your cranberry sauce is too sweet, you can add a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. But do so sparingly.
Usually, cranberry sauce is served straight out of the can or chilled. This sauce can be served at room temperature or warm.
I prefer my cranberry sauce a little tart, but if you’d like it a little sweeter, you can add a tablespoon of honey at a time until you reach the desired sweetness.

Some variations:

  • Variation 1: Use apple juice instead of orange juice.
  • Variation 2: Add 2 tsp of chopped tarragon.
  • Variation 3: Use brown sugar instead of honey.
  • Variation 4: Add 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes.
  • Variation 5: Cook them in a saucepan instead of roasting them.

Nutrition

Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you try this recipe?I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a Review to let us know how it came out, if you have a successful substitution or variation, or anything else.

2 Comments

5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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