Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe - Sugar Free, Keto, Instant Pot Options (2024)

Homemade cranberry orange sauce bursting with whole fresh cranberries! This homemade fresh cranberry sauce recipe is perfect for special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but is super easy to make. You can even make it in your Instant Pot! Sugar free & keto cranberry sauce options included below.

In 2017 we did a fun Cranberry Chutney recipe with orange, apple, and warm spices, which is lovely on curries and as a cheese board accoutrement. For Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner though, I usually prefer the classics I loved as a kid.

The sides were always my favorite and fresh cranberry sauce topped them all. Other favorite Thanksgiving and holiday sides include our Truffle Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, Wild Mushroom Gravy, and Balsamic Brussels Sprouts.

Fresh cranberries seem so special, as they are only available November-December. I always stock up to make Cranberry Smoothies and Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites.

Cranberry Orange Sauce Ingredients

• Fresh orange juice
• Orange zest
• Fresh or frozen cranberries
• Sugar (see below for how to make sugar-free cranberry sauce)

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Start with orange juice or water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add your sugar, or monkfruit, for sugar-free.

Bring the orange juice/water and sugar to a boil and give a little stir to dissolve the sugar.

Add the berries right in on top of the liquid. You can find bags of fresh cranberries November through about January in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. Some also carry frozen cranberries.

Stir the cranberries in and let simmer over medium-low heat until the berries begin to burst. If, like me, you like some whole berries in your cranberry sauce, take care not to cook for very long. About 5 minutes is perfect.

Any longer and the sauce will quickly turn into cranberry jam. I recommend removing from the heat just before you think you should, as the residual heat will continue cooking the sauce.

Fresh cranberry sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

Transfer to a glass jar. This 1/2 liter Weck jar is the perfect size and looks nice enough to serve out of. I get them at World Market but you can also get them on Amazon (affiliate link) here as a set.

Let your homemade cranberry orange sauce cool at room temperature, then serve or refrigerate for up to a week.

Sugar Free Keto Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Many people are looking for a sugar-free or keto cranberry sauce recipe, and it’s easy to make. By “sugar-free” we mean no sugar added, as cranberries and oranges both do contain natural sugar. When testing this recipe, my family couldn’t tell the difference between the sugar-free and traditional versions.

• My favorite sugar substitute for cranberry sauce, which happens to be keto-friendly is monk fruit. I recommend Lakanato breand, which you can get at Sprouts, Whole Foods, or via my Amazon Affiliate link here (this means I make a small commission when you make a purchase through my link – thanks!). This is a blend of erythritol and monk fruit that is zero calorie, keto approved, and works well as a 1:1 sugar replacement.
• To reduce the sugar further, use water instead of orange juice, and go a bit heavier on the orange zest.

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

There never seems to be enough stovetop space on Thanksgiving, and cranberry sauce actually works beautifully in the Instant Pot. The trick is to cook half the cranberries at pressure, then simmer the other half on saute mode. That way you get a nice jammy base filled with a bunch of whole berries.

Also, as usual with pressure cooking, you’ll need to reduce the liquid, as there is very little evaporation. This may be my very favorite way to make cranberry sauce.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe Variations

• For a more grown-up Cranberry Orange Sauce, stir in 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier), and garnish with another teaspoon orange zest just before serving.
• Substitute Champagne or prosecco for the orange juice for a fancy Champagne Cranberry Sauce.
• Add 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon for a Spiced Cranberry Sauce.

Common Cranberry Sauce Questions

How long does cranberry sauce last?

Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Let sit at room temperature for half an hour before serving.

Can you freeze cranberry sauce?

Yes! To freeze cranberry sauce, store in an airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn. It’s best when used within a few months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

How do you serve cranberry sauce?

Cranberry sauce is best served at room temperature, though I think it’s still delicious when warm from cooking or cold from the refrigerator. Cranberry sauce is traditionally served with turkey, though as a vegetarian, I still absolutely love it with just the sides, or you can try it with our Mushroom Wellington or Lentil Loaf (just omit the ketchup topping).

What to do with leftover cranberry sauce?

Try our favorite , or make a fancy grilled cheese with brie and cranberry sauce.