Canned Cranberry Sauce That Tastes Homemade

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Wondering how to make boring canned cranberry sauce taste homemade? Look no further! This recipe will make that canned stuff *SHINE BRIGHT* on your holiday table! Just a few simple ingredients and about ten minutes is all it takes to make a can of cranberry sauce taste fresh and homemade!

Cranberry sauce made from canned cranberries in a white serving bowl

I laugh as I write this because when I first met my husband, he insisted on Ocean Spray canned jellied cranberry sauce for every Thanksgiving dinner….you know, the jellied sauce…the kind you slice that shows the outline of the can?!

His taste buds have evolved since then, but I will say I can’t go through a holiday season without buying him a can of it and putting it– straight from the can–on the holiday table!

We laugh about it, but there is really nothing wrong with canned cranberry sauce! All it needs is a little bit of doctoring up to make cranberry sauce from a can taste like homemade!

Serve this canned sauce alongside your turkey, mashed potatoes, and these amazing crack green beans! It’s also divine on leftover turkey sandwiches!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Such an EASY fix to turn canned cranberry sauce into your own special homemade sauce.
Only uses FIVE ingredients and takes no time to make!
The perfect complement to your holiday dinner table.
SO many other uses for this sauce aside from the holidays!
You can use whole-berry canned cranberry sauce or the jellied version.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this kicked-up Canned Cranberry Sauce Recipe:

Ingredients needed to make canned cranberry sauce taste better.

INGREDIENT NOTES

Canned Cranberry Sauce: You have two choices when you buy a can of cranberry space: Whole Cranberry Sauce and Jellied Sauce. EITHER will work in this recipe! I prefer whole berry, but honestly, there isn’t a lot of difference in taste or texture between the two! Just sayin’.

Maple Syrup: Canned cranberry sauce on its own is always sweetened. But the maple syrup adds a deeper, rich flavor. All you need is a touch!

Fresh Oranges: The juice of one big orange + the zest is the perfect tartness to balance out the sweetness of the cranberry sauce.

HOW TO MAKE CANNED CRANBERRY SAUCE TASTE BETTER: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Add canned cranberry sauce to a medium pan. Using a wooden spoon, break it up a bit. Then, add all other ingredients and stir to combine.

Canned cranberry sauce in a arge saucepan with cinnamon, orange zest and other ingredients.

Step 2: Bring to a boil, then simmer 1-2 minutes, stirring, until flavors marry together. Serve warm, cold or at room temperature.

All ingredients for the cranberry sauce mixed together and heated in a saucepan with a wooden spoon.

⭐️ CONFIDENCE TIP ⭐️
Don’t be afraid to TASTE your homemade sauce as it cooks. Too sweet? Add a little lemon juice. Too tart? Add a bit more maple syrup. Adjust the flavors until they are just how you like! That is the beauty of cooking at home!

STORAGE & REHEATING

Storage: If you are making this cranberry sauce recipe ahead, store it in an air-tight container in the fridge OR cover it tightly with plastic wrap for up to 5 days. Store leftover cranberry sauce the same way.

Reheating: If you want to reheat your cranberry sauce, place it in a saucepan over the stove and heat through.

Freezing: Cool completely. Then transfer cranberry sauce to a large zip-top bag and freeze flat for up to 6 months.

OTHER WAYS TO MAKE CANNED CRANBERRY SAUCE TASTE BETTER

Here are a few other things you might want to add to your homemade canned cranberry sauce to doctor it up a bit:

Chopped nuts
Ground ginger
Port
Brown sugar
Honey
Apples
Raisins/dried fruit

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you serve canned cranberry sauce hot or cold?

This is totally a personal preference! Some people like hot cranberry sauce and others like it chilled. My personal preference is serving this cranberry sauce at room temperature.

How do you thicken canned cranberry sauce?

Canned cranberry sauce is already thick on it’s own. This cranberry sauce recipe with the added ingredients will continue to thicken as it simmers on the stove. No need to do anything further.

What are some ways to enjoy cranberry sauce?

Although cranberry sauce is a popular side dish alongside Thanksgiving turkey, you can also use it in so many other ways (not just around the holidays, either!)

* Alongside pork dishes such as pork chops or a pork roast.
* As a topping for ice cream.
* Mixed with yogurt and granola for a quick breakfast.
* A topping for pancakes, waffles, and french toast (also try my caramel apple pie filling for this too!)
* Use it to make overnight oats.
* As a topping on toast or English muffin.
* My favorite…on leftover turkey sandwiches!

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A large spoonful of cranberry sauce made from canned cranberries.

TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE

Check out all of my kitchen essentials in my Amazon store!

Citrus Juicer: Super handy!

Wooden Spoon: Love this set.

My favorite medium sized pan: Perfect pan and I love the color! Super easy to clean and doubles as a dutch oven.

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OTHER FAVORITE RECIPES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

I hope you love this Canned Cranberry Sauce that tastes homemade! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!