Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Jessica Pinney on , last updated

Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (1)

As far as I’m concerned, the cranberry sauce is the most important thing on the table at Thanksgiving. I’ve felt this way my whole life and very few people seem to agree with me. That’s alright, I relish being an outsider.

Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (2)

Because of my unmatched enthusiasm for this little crimson berry, I believe I am one of the world’s foremost cranberry experts (totally a real thing). That means you can 100% trust me when I tell you that this is the best cranberry sauce I’ve ever had. Hands down!

The bay leaf, orange, and cinnamon stick directly infuse the flavor of the holidays into thisdish. It blows that single-flavored canned stuff out of the water!

This recipe is just so easy to make, there’s no excuse not to make it!

This year, treat your family to the cranberry sauce they deserve, this cranberry compote.

Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (3)

Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe

The perfect holiday cranberry sauce! Easy cranberry compote flavored with cinnamon and orange.

Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (4)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup sweet Riesling (make sure you get sweet, not a dry variety!)
  • 2 packages of Ocean Spray cranberries (about 1.5 lbs)
  • 1 medium whole orange (quartered and deseeded)
  • ½ cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole allspice berries
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions

  • 1. Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and wine. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Cook about 6-8 minutes until the sugar has dissolved andthe mixture simmers with thick.

  • 2. Add the cranberries and reduce the heat to low. Gently stir to combine with sugar and wine. After 3 minutes, squeeze the juice from the orange quarters into the pan. Add two of the squeezed orange quarters as well as the cinnamon stick, allspice, bay leaf, and salt. Stir often and cook another 10-15 minutes until the cranberries begin to burst and the sauce thickens.

  • 3. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the orange quarters, cinnamon stick, allspice berries and bay leaf, and set the compote aside to cool completely. Depending on the texture of sauce you like, you may want to put the finished compote in a blender or food processor and purée. I just left mine as is because I like having the whole berries.

  • 4. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal (10%)

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  1. Nancy Hall says

    I have the BEST bomb diggity cranberry sauce hands down 12 ounce bag cranberries, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup peach schnapps, juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 cup sugar. Combine in a heavy pan and cook low and slow until most of the cranberries have popped, and the sauce has thickened. You can adjust the sugar content if you want sweeter add another 1/4 cup or tart add a,1/2 cup less.

    Reply

    • Jessica Pinney says

      Peach schnapps sounds really interesting, I’ll have to give that a try some time.

      Reply

  2. Pie lady says

    I kno this precious blogger is NOT going to say. But it doesn’t mean that I CANNNOT ….so here goes ….HOW IN THE HAMM sandwich wud post YOUR own recipe in HER website!!!!! Go get ur own and POST ur recipe THERE…!!!!! get it???got it!!…good!

    Reply

    • Lora says

      I was thinking the same thing! Like WTF!!!

      Reply

  3. Robby says

    Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (5)
    My oh my is this delicious! I made it today to serve tomorrow. I put one third of it in the food processor and left the rest as is so it would have whole berries like you mentioned. Thanks for the great recipe.

    Reply

  4. Brian Finley says

    Does anyone have the Cranberry Compote recipe with the currants and ginger it’s from a 90s Thanksgiving Issue of bon appetit, please let me know thanks.

    Reply

Homemade Holiday Cranberry Compote Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long is cranberry compote good for? ›

Refrigerate leftover cranberry sauce for up to 2 weeks. Or freeze the sauce for up to 6 months.

How do you make Bobby Deen cranberry sauce? ›

Bobby Deen's recipe

Cooking is as simple as combining the sugar, orange juice, ½ cup of water, the cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes - and then let cool before serving.

What's the difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry jam? ›

While both are cranberry-based spreads, they differ in texture and sweetness. Cranberry jam tends to have a smoother, more spreadable consistency compared to the thicker cranberry sauce. Moreover, jam typically includes a higher sugar content, making it sweeter.

What are the two types of cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce can be served either as a gooey liquid or as a solid jelly. The jellied version is solid enough to retain the shape of the container in which it's placed whereas the sauce version is much more fluid. The difference between the fluid sauce and the jelly versions comes down to pectin.

Can I freeze cranberry compote? ›

While refrigeration is a suitable method, leftover cranberry sauce will only last for a few weeks this way. So if you want to keep cranberry sauce longer than that, turn to the freezer to extend the life of your cranberry sauce.

Should you make cranberry sauce the day before? ›

Make It Ahead

Cover it well and store it in the fridge. Don't be tempted to freeze cranberry sauce; the structure will break down, and you could lose the gelling. A raw sauce has a shorter shelf life than a more stable cooked one. You can make it a day or two ahead.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce not thickening? ›

One possibility is that you may not have used enough sugar: Sugar helps the sauce firm up, so be sure to use the full amount called for in a recipe. Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

Why do we eat cranberry sauce at Christmas? ›

Why Do We Serve Cranberry Sauce at Christmas? Following in the footsteps of America, we traditionally add cranberry sauce to our plates at Christmas to add a sweet and tangy taste to our turkey.

What brand is the best cranberry sauce? ›

Best Jellied Cranberry Sauce: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce. The Ocean Spray brand is pretty much synonymous with all things cranberry, so it's not really a surprise that they have their cranberry sauce dialed in.

Why is cranberry sauce so expensive? ›

But that's not the case for prepared cranberry sauces, where prices are up. Lochner pointed out that processors set those prices, not growers, and that there are higher input costs unrelated to berries — like “processing the fruit and getting it to market.” Ocean Spray isn't immune either.

What's healthier homemade or store bought cranberry sauce? ›

Nutritional Facts Face-Off

The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium!

Are Ocean Spray cranberries good for you? ›

Research suggests that there are multiple, powerful elements found within cranberries that are linked to a variety of health benefits. Besides helping consumers meet their recommended daily fruit intake, cranberries work hard for your whole-body and can support urinary tract, stomach, oral and heart health.

How long is jellied cranberry sauce good for after expiration date? ›

As long as an unopened can of cranberry sauce is stored in a consistently cool pantry, it'll keep and taste good for at least a year beyond the date stamped on the can. (That date is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the cranberry sauce will remain at peak quality and is not a safety-related expiration date.)

How long does cranberry compote last in the fridge? ›

There are foods that can be kept in the refrigerator for quite a bit longer than others, such as olives, pickles, and, maybe surprisingly, cranberry sauce. The sweet and tangy fruit compote can remain edible for up to two weeks if it's stored properly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

How long does compote last in the fridge? ›

Compote is not as thick as jam or jelly, and it's meant to be consumed relatively soon after making (it will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator). It's not designed to be canned or preserved for the months or years ahead.

How long will fresh compote last? ›

Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To keep compotes for longer, freeze, in batches, in plastic containers so you can defrost only as much as you need. Spices Oriental flavours such as star anise, ginger and cardamom are fantastic for fruit with a rich flavour, such as plums and berries.

How long can cranberries last in the fridge? ›

Fresh cranberries are usually good stored in the refrigerator for two weeks. If kept longer, you will find a gradual deterioration of quality with more soft or bruised berries. Berries can be stored in the original packaging in the refrigerator crisper for up to four weeks.

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