While canned jellied cranberry sauce holds a nostalgic place in my heart, I prefer the flavor that comes from making my own from scratch. Homemade cranberry sauce boasts a vibrant freshness that simply can’t be replicated by its store-bought counterpart. With just a few ingredients—fresh cranberries, sugar, and a splash of red wine—this sauce transforms into a rich, complex condiment that enhances the flavors of your holiday meal. It can easily be made ahead of time so it won’t interfere with valuable kitchen space around the holidays. The sweet, yet tart, homemade red wine cranberry sauce contrasts well with lean turkey meat. Serve it as a side dish or use a bit of it over baked brie for an impressive appetizer. For more Thanksgiving side dishes, check out my complete guide here.

Tip: Stir any leftover cranberry sauce together with a bit of mayonnaise to spread on turkey leftover sandwiches for the ultimate use of Thanksgiving leftovers!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Orange and Red Wine

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Orange and Red Wine

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

Cranberries – Cranberries are in season from mid-September through mid-November. They are harvested from bogs throughout the Northeast. It can be very difficult to find fresh cranberries in the off-season, so I recommend using frozen cranberries if needed.
Sugar – Granulated sugar helps to lightly cut the tartness of the cranberries and creates a jam-like consistency.
Red wine – Red wine adds a complexity to the cranberry sauce. While I will use just about any red wine in a pinch, I prefer cooking with a dry red wine like pinot noir. The biggest tip when cooking with wine is to use good quality wine – never cook with anything you wouldn’t drink!
Orange – This recipe uses both orange zest and juice to add a subtle citrusy flavor that rounds out the sauce and complements the tart flavor of the cranberries.
Ginger – Fresh ginger, simmered with the sauce, then removed, adds a pleasant zing.

How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

homemade cranberry sauce ingredients in saucepan.

Step 1: Combine ingredients in saucepan.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cranberries, sugar, red wine, ginger, orange zest, orange juice, salt and ¼ cup (60g) water. Continue to stir until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.

Step 2: Simmer cranberry sauce.

Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the cranberries pop, about 10 minutes.

Tips and Tricks for This Recipe

Swaps and substitutions

Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used to make the sauce.
Omit the ginger if desired.
The orange zest can be swapped for another citrus like lemon zest.

How to Store Cranberry Sauce

Let the cranberry sauce cool completely to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container or a jar with a secure lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Stir just before serving for the best consistency.

What to serve this with

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Other Recipes To Try

If you enjoy this cranberry orange ginger red wine sauce recipe, give these a try: