Cranberry Sauce … homemade or canned?
My grandma always used canned and that’s what I did … until a few years ago. We always had the whole berry variety for Grandpa and jellied for the rest of us. I was young and helped out a little in the kitchen … my personal goal was to slide the jellied sauce out of the can in one piece, so that the lines on the can left an impression on the cranberry sauce. Then I would slice it and try to fan the slices on the plate to look pretty! Then I grew up … learned to like whole berry cranberry sauce and eventually made it myself!
Cranberry sauce is so easy to make … can’t believe that it took me so long to give it a try! It can be made a day or so ahead and kept covered in the fridge … very convenient for the busy holidays.
Since fresh cranberries are not always available … I buy a big bag at Costco and divide it up into 12 ounce bags and freeze them, so that I always have cranberries available.
Simple Cranberry Sauce
- 12 ounces of fresh (or frozen, thawed) cranberries (about 3-1/2 cups)
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- Pinch of salt
- Pick over cranberries … look for stems and any possible bad berries, then rinse.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium (2 to 3 quart) sauce pan.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until most of the cranberries pop. The sauce will be slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
- Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. The mixture will thicken as it cools. Makes 2 cups.
recipe adapted from Mary Engelbreit’s ‘Tis The Season Holiday Cookbook
My personal recommendation … make sure that will have enough Cranberry Sauce for leftovers and make this for yourself …
my favorite Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
I like to have a little cranberry sauce on each bite of turkey … how do you eat your cranberry sauce? You know that I ♥ your comments!
♦ I share my stuff with these fun parties ♦
SWEET SIMPLE STUFF 
Mix cranberry saude and peanut butter together for a wonderful sandwich .
LikeLike
Should be sauce not saude. Sorry for the typo.
LikeLike
I never thought of that and I love PB & jam sandwiches 🙂
LikeLike
We have only had the Cranberry’s in the can. I will share this with my family & friends. Thank you for sharing this with us. I do know that this wish is just a tad early ,but I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
LikeLike
Thank you very much Anna! I would like to wish you, your family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
LikeLike
I wish Sam’s Club sold the 3lb. bag of cranberries as I have been wanting to make some homemade canned Cranberry Jelly/Jam. I’m just waiting to see if anyone has them on sale and will buy up a bunch and store in freezer.
Thanks for sharing this cranberry sauce recipe. (What; No Nutter Butters or chocolate in your berry recipe? :}
Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving
ColleenB.
LikeLike
I froze my cranberries and I’m thinking about buying more … looking for the sale too!
Regarding the Nutter Butters in cranberry sauce … everything has it’s place … please don’t share this info with my hubby 😉
LikeLike
I’ve always made my own cranberry sauce since it is so easy & keeps well. Sometimes I leave it as whole cranberry sauce & other times I run it through a colander and have jellied sauce which I put in a small loaf pan & chill. Then it is easy to unmold & slice in pretty servings. I’ve also made it in a small mold that is pretty when served unmolded on a bed of lettuce. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
LikeLike
Wow … I’m impressed!!! Your molded creation sounds gorgeous 🙂
LikeLike
Looks so pretty! The only person who likes the berry kind is my SIL husband. I will make a special treat for him this year with a fresh batch! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us! Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLike
Thank Lizy 🙂 I hope your hubby appreciates it!
LikeLike
Love that first photo! Bright and zesty cranberry sauce that is homemade is the best. It is so easy to make who would ever want to eat the gelatine one that comes out formed the the inner casing of the can ever again?! Take care, BAM
LikeLike
Thank you so much Bam 😉
LikeLike
We always make our cranberry sauce but I have never even thought about using brown sugar! Will give that a try for Thanksgiving this year! Orange jest is very tasty with it too!
LikeLike
I like orange zest too 😉 Give the brown sugar a try … it gives a little different flavor!
LikeLike