If you're looking for an alternative to cranberry sauce in a can, this Easy Cranberry Sauce with Orange Marmalade is the answer and it's almost just as easy! It tastes about 100 times better than canned cranberry sauce but it's simple, doesn't take a lot of time, and you can make it ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate it until Thanksgiving Day. And if you've read my post about Turkey Gravy, you know I'm all about making things ahead and freeing up some time on Thanksgiving Day. This cranberry sauce is tart yet sweet and has an orange flavor that really makes it unique and so flavorful!
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Here's the entire recipe guys: (So easy!!)
Add everything to a pan, bring it to a boil for about 15 minutes (until the cranberries start to pop) and then reduce the heat to medium and reduce everything down for 15 minutes (uncovered). Let it cool completely. It will thicken as it cools.
Note: If you like your sauce smooth instead of chunky, just pop it in the blender or use an immersion blender to smooth it out.
That's it! 
Easy Cranberry Sauce with Orange Marmalade
Ingredients
- 2 12 ounce bags of fresh cranberries
- 1 18 ounce jar of orange marmalade (about 1.5 cups)
- ¾ cup of brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and heat on high while stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
- After the cranberries start to pop, reduce the heat to medium and reduce, uncovered for another 15 minutes.
- Let cool and either freeze or refrigerate until ready to serve.
- (I serve mine at room temp)
Alli says
Totally trying this - I just added the ingredients to my Thanksgiving shopping list! I can't wait, it looks amazing.
Coco and Ash says
Awesome Alli!! I hope you like it 🙂 I LOVE your blog too! I'm always so jealous of your gorgeous scenery lol
Liza Null says
Thank you for this recipe, I've had this cranberry sauce before and it's a lovely accompaniment to pork as well as bird.
Thanks again - we're having it today!
Coco and Ash says
So glad you like it Liza!!
Laurie says
Love this idea. Anyone out there thinking this could be a water bath recipe? Maybe add a pouch of liquid pectin? This would be a great gift.
Dawn McAnally says
I have Ocean Spray dried cranberries. Do you feel it will also work?
Coco and Ash says
Unfortunate it won’t work with dried cranberries.
D A says
Couldn’t you rehydrate the dried cranberries in a bit of water and then add other ingredients
Coco and Ash says
Dried cranberries usually have quite a bit of extra sugar so I don’t think it would be the same unfortunately
Julie says
Do you think nuts could be added? And if so would you cook them or add after? Thanks!
Coco and Ash says
I’ve never actually had cranberry sauce with nuts in it so I can’t say! Let me know if you try it!
Jamie Lowe says
I usually add chopped walnuts to mine. Delicious!!
Seleana says
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a hit. Super easy!
Gayla Moon-Burgess says
This recipe is now our favorite! I used the leftover to make cranberry orange nut bread and it turned out fabulous!!
Coco and Ash says
Great idea!! 😀
Shelby Jean says
I have one bag of raw cranberries and one bag of frozen cranberries will this recipe work with that?
FYI: I add chopped nuts in my cranberry salad we enjoy it that way.
Coco and Ash says
I haven’t made it with frozen cranberries but I think it should be fine 🙂
Maybe just add a little less water to start since the frozen ones can contain more water.
Kim says
I make this each year for Christmas and it is fantastic! My family loves it and my Mama says it is better than her homemade recipe. When I told her how easy it is/was, she wanted to slap me, lol. She no longer slaves over her old way and requests I make this each yr. Thanks for a great and easy, homemade recipe that makes my Mom happy and gives her a break, too. 🙂
Joseph says
Excellent and very easy and quick to make
lois schneider says
are cranberries drained after cooking with juice saved for drinks?
Bobbi Hannah says
I don’t think you could. By the time they cook and cool, there isn’t a lot of extra juice. You could maybe take some juice out before it cools.
Deia says
My husband has made this for last few years and everyone loves it! I am making it this year due to our schedules but I am adding 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. I think it will add a great flavor to it. Fingers crossed lol
Bobbi Hannah says
I made this for Christmas dinner and it was terrific! Everyone really liked it. It has just enough sweet and tart to balance the flavors. I made it exactly as the recipe said. I just printed it out so I will have it for the future.
JLK says
So easy and it tastes great. I made it for a family dinner a while ago and even the picky eaters who will only eat canned cranberry sauce loved it. I did use the immersion blender on it and it turned out so good. Making it again and again and again.
Gina Ruff says
Making this now for 2024 Thanksgiving.
Used Walmart brand 18 oz orange marmalade for this recipe and it is fantastic!
So easy and I didn't want to waste orange juice..it's 4.59 even at Aldi's. Orange mar. Was 2.49.
Great recipe!
Wynona Abber says
this this is exactly what I was looking- and my first time making homemade. I added a bit of cloves and did quite use the entire jar of marmalade- using half an orange for its juice and rind zest. Delish!!
Patrick Lee says
Have been using this recipe for years, the family loves it! Can cut the recipe in half if you don’t need a large batch.