The EASIEST Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cranberries

Cranberry sauce with dried cranberries in a bowl, topped with sliced oranges and a cinnamon stick.

The EASIEST Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cranberries

No fresh cranberries?! No problem! You can easily make a homemade Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cranberries instead. It's perfect for the busy holiday season. Just cook it up with just 8 ingredients and 4 simple steps. It's way better than the store-bought canned stuff!

Course Dips, Dressings, Sauces, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free, Kosher, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 11

Total Time 21

Servings servings

Calories 99kcal

Author Alana Lieberman

Cost $10

Equipment

Saucepan

Ingredients

1 ½ cups dried cranberries
1 cup cranberry juice (no sugar added) SEE NOTES
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Zest from 1 orange
Juice from 1 orange
1 cinnamon stick
Small pinch of kosher salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup water

Instructions

To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add dried cranberries, cranberry juice, brown sugar, zest and juice of 1 orange, cinnamon stick, and salt.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries rehydrate and turn plump. Discard the cinnamon stick.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water. Add to the cranberry sauce and stir to combine. Cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more until the sauce thickens.
Serve warm or room temperature. The cranberry sauce will thicken more as it cools.

Notes

If using cranberry juice with added sugar, you may want to use less brown sugar and adjust to taste. However, I highly recommend using a brand that just has “cranberry juice” as the only ingredient.

Nutrition