Cranberry Sauce for Two

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The best, easiest Cranberry Sauce for Two you’ll ever make flavored with fresh orange juice and just a little sugar. This classic version makes enough for two people and is ready in under 10 minutes.

A bowl of cranberry sauce.


 

Tart, sweet, and spiced, my Grandma’s “famous” homemade cranberry sauce recipe brightens up the plate and cleanses your palate in-between bites of mashed potatoes and gravy. And it cooks fast! No long simmering required.

At my house, no holiday dinner is complete without it.

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for cranberry sauce.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Orange zest and juice: Zest the orange first, then juice it for the sauce.
  • Cranberries: Fresh cranberries freeze really well, so stock up when you see them. If your cranberries are already frozen, no need to thaw. Just cook them straight from the freezer and add 2 minutes to the simmering time.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a saucepan, mix together the sugar, water, orange juice, orange zest,  and salt and bring to a boil.
Orange juice, water, and sugar in a small pot.
  1. As soon as the mixture boils, add the cranberries.
Making cranberry sauce in a small pot.
  1. Simmer until the berries begin to pop and break down, about 10 minutes.
Making cranberry sauce in a small pot.
  1. Cool, cover, and chill.
A bowl of cranberry sauce.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe uses only 6 ounces of cranberries to make 1 cup of sauce, enough for 2 (1/2-cup) servings or 4 (1/4-cup) servings.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: Cranberry sauce is a great recipe to make ahead of time. Cool the sauce completely, then keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
  • Freezer: Cooled sauce can be frozen up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • More sweeteners: This recipe calls for white sugar, but you can substitute brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey, to taste (the flavor will change, but not in a bad way).
  • Customize your flavors: Omit the orange juice (swap in extra water if needed) and try vanilla extract, a splash of red wine, a cinnamon stick, a pinch of salt, or warming spices such as ginger and cloves.
  • Classic Cranberry Sauce: Sweetened with orange juice and sugar, this classic Thanksgiving side dish is perfect for cutting through all the richness of the other holiday recipes.
  • Cranberry sauce with applesAdd 1 cup of peeled and diced apples (about 4 ounces) and cinnamon for a delicious twist on cranberry sauce.
  • Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce: When stove-top and oven space are in high demand, Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce is a no-brainer.
  • Cranberry Relish: This no-cook version is 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep (plus 8 hours of chilling time so the flavors can blend).
  • Leftovers: Extra cranberry sauce is delicious on Leftover Turkey Sandwiches or folded into my favorite Cranberry Cheesecake Galette. You can also drizzle it over ice cream for dessert (maybe add a handful of pecans?), pancakeswaffles, and crepes.
A plate of roasted Cornish hen, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable casserole, and cranberry sauce.
Thanksgiving for Two: Cornish Hens with Bread Stuffing for Two, Mashed Potatoes for Two, Green Bean Casserole for Two, and Cranberry Sauce for Two.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are cranberries in season?

Cranberries are usually available at the grocery stores starting in November and all through December. Personally, I like to stock up and vacuum-seal a few bags for the freezer!

Where are cranberries grown?

There are five states that produce all the cranberries in the United States, and more than 50% come from Wisconsin. Massachusetts grows the second largest amount, about 30%, and the rest come from New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington.

More Thanksgiving recipes for two

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Cranberry sauce in a white bowl.

Cranberry Sauce for Two

The best, easiest Cranberry Sauce recipe you'll ever make flavored with fresh orange juice and just a little sugar. This classic version makes enough for two people and is ready in under 10 minutes.
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Calories 241
5 from 3 votes

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange zest from 1 orange (see note 1)
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon Salt
  • 6 ounces fresh cranberries rinsed and picked over (see note 2)

Instructions 

  • In a medium saucepan, bring sugar, water, orange zest, orange juice, and salt to boil. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
  • Stir in cranberries. Simmer until slightly thickened and the berries begin to pop, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature or chill.

Notes

  1. Orange zest and juice: Zest the orange first, then juice it for the sauce.
  2. Cranberries: Fresh cranberries freeze really well, so stock up when you see them. If your cranberries are already frozen, no need to thaw. Just cook them straight from the freezer and add 2 minutes to the simmering time.
  3. Yield: This recipe uses only 6 ounces cranberries to make 1 cup of sauce, enough for 2 (1/2-cup) servings or 4 (1/4-cup) servings.
  4. Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5 cupCalories: 241kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 149mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 4gSugar: 55gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. This is the recipe I used this weekend for me and my Mom since we didn’t have the big get together we normally do. It was delightful!5 stars