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

1. Combine the base. In a saucepan, combine sugar, orange juice, and water.
2. Dissolve the sugar. Set over medium heat and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
3. Add the cranberries. Stir in the cranberries and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
4. Simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.
5. 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