Aron’s Famous Cranberry Sauce
A bright, homemade upgrade to the canned classic. This cranberry sauce comes together with just four ingredients — fresh cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and water — simmered until the berries burst into a naturally thick, glossy sauce with a citrusy finish. Perfect for holiday tables and endlessly better than store-bought.
Prep time: 5 min | Cook time: 20–25 min | Servings: 6–8
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup water
Directions
- Combine the base. In a saucepan, combine sugar, orange juice, and water.
- Dissolve the sugar. Set over medium heat and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Add the cranberries. Stir in the cranberries and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.
- Cool and serve. Remove from heat and let cool slightly — the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Serve warm or chilled.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 4 ingredients: Simple pantry staples, no shortcuts needed
- Naturally thickened: No cornstarch or gelatin — the pectin in cranberries does the work
- Make-ahead friendly: Tastes great chilled and keeps well in the fridge for days
