This Trader Joe’s Inspired Cranberry Sauce Recipe is a simple, classic, and delicious take on the holiday staple, which is made with just three essential ingredients. It’s an incredibly easy side dish that delivers a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors, ready in about 15 minutes plus cooling time.
Jump to RecipeHomemade Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (250ml) water
- 1 (12-ounce) package fresh or frozen cranberries (about 4 cups)
- Optional Mix-ins: 1/2 cup chopped pecans, orange zest, raisins, currants, blueberries, a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice
How To Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Rinse the cranberries: Place the fresh or frozen cranberries in a colander and rinse them under cool water. Pick out and discard any that are bruised, soft, or damaged.
- Make the simple syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves completely.
- Cook the cranberries: Add the rinsed cranberries to the boiling syrup and return the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer.
- Simmer until burst: Continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You will hear the cranberries start to pop. Cook until most of them have burst open and the sauce begins to thicken.
- Add mix-ins (optional): Remove the saucepan from the heat. If you’re using any optional additions, stir them in now. Good choices include chopped pecans, a pinch of orange zest, raisins, or a dash of cinnamon.
- Cool and chill: Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely at room temperature. As it cools, it will thicken considerably. Once cool, transfer the sauce to a serving bowl, cover, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- How to control the thickness: The sauce will thicken significantly as it cools due to the natural pectin in the cranberries. If it’s too thick for your liking after chilling, you can stir in a tablespoon of water or orange juice to thin it out.
- How to know when it’s done: The sauce is ready when most, but not necessarily all, of the berries have burst. Leaving some whole adds a nice texture.
- Make-ahead is best: This sauce is an ideal make-ahead dish for the holidays. The flavor actually improves after a day or two in the refrigerator. It can be made up to a week in advance.
- Don’t overcook: If you cook the sauce for too long, the pectin can break down, and it may not set up as well. Stick to the 10-minute simmer time for the best consistency.
What To Serve With Cranberry Sauce
While a must-have for a holiday turkey dinner, cranberry sauce is also delicious with:
- Roast chicken or pork
- Spread on sandwiches with leftover turkey
- Served with meatballs as an appetizer
- Spooned over baked brie or a block of cream cheese
How To Store Cranberry Sauce
Refrigerate: Store the cooled sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10-14 days. Freeze: You can freeze homemade cranberry sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Nutrition Facts
(Approximate values per serving, based on 8 servings, without optional ingredients)
- Calories: 103 kcal
- Protein: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fat: 0g
- Fiber: 2g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, you can adjust the sugar to your taste. Start with 3/4 cup and add more after the cranberries have cooked if you feel it needs it. Keep in mind that sugar also helps the sauce to set.
Yes, you can use substitutes like maple syrup or honey, but you may need to adjust the quantity. Start with less and add more to taste. Note that this will alter the final flavor and consistency slightly.
Cranberries are naturally very tart. If the sauce is too bitter, it likely needs a bit more sugar to balance the flavor. You can also add a squeeze of orange juice, which helps to mellow the tartness.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Dragon Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Buffalo Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe
Trader Joe’s Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Course: Side DIshCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings5
minutes10
minutes103
kcalA vibrant, sweet-tart homemade cranberry sauce that comes together in minutes with just three ingredients, perfect for any holiday table.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 (12-ounce) package fresh or frozen cranberries
Optional: chopped pecans, orange zest, spices
Directions
- Rinse cranberries, discarding any bruised ones.
- Bring sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Add cranberries and return to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until most cranberries have burst.
- Remove from heat and stir in any optional mix-ins.
- Let cool completely at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator.
Notes
- The sauce will thicken significantly as it cools due to the natural pectin in the cranberries.
- For the best flavor, make the sauce 1-2 days ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
- Feel free to customize the sauce with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or add-ins like chopped nuts or raisins.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
