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    Home » Side Dishes

    Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cranberries

    Lindsay Moe

    454 shares
    bowl of cranberry sauce with dried cranberries topped with orange zest with a spoon sticking out
    bowl of cranberry sauce with dried cranberries topped with orange zest

    Cranberry sauce is a classic Thanksgiving dish, but if you want something easy without eating from a can, you’ll love this cranberry sauce made from dried cranberries! It’s sweet, juicy, and ready in just minutes.

    bowl of cranberry sauce from dried cranberries topped with orange zest
    Jump to Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

    Anybody else start day dreaming and planning their Thanksgiving meal months in advance? I have a few staples I need to see on the table every year, but I also like to have a couple new things to try.

    I hope you’ll try my cranberry sauce this year. Even if you’re not eating turkey I think you’ll still enjoy it on it’s own, with a bite of stuffing or potatoes, or spread on your favorite dinner roll.

    Why make cranberry sauce from dried cranberries?

    Dried cranberries may be easier for some people to find than fresh cranberries. You’re also able to order them online, making them a good choice for people who can’t or don’t want to leave their home.

    I always have dried cranberries on hand for adding to salads or for snacking (the kids love them!), which makes this recipe super easy to throw together any night of the week, but especially on a holiday. The ingredients list is simple, the cooking only takes a few minutes, and the taste can’t be beat!

    Cranberry sauce ingredients

    • Dried cranberries
    • Cranberry juice
    • Brown sugar
    • White sugar
    • Orange juice and zest
    • Salt
    • Cornstarch
    • Water
    an overhead shot of all the ingredients needed to make cranberry sauce with dried cranberries

    How to make cranberry sauce with dried cranberries

    1. Bring everything except cornstarch and water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
    2. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until the cranberries have plumped up, 3-5 minutes.
    3. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Add this mixture to the cranberries, stir, and cook another minute.
    bowl of cranberry sauce with dried cranberries topped with orange zest

    Top tips and questions

    Can you make cranberry sauce with dried cranberries?

    Yes, you can make cranberry sauce with dried cranberries. The liquid in the recipe gets absorbed by the dried berries which plumps them up, and the cornstarch thickens it into a thick, sweet sauce.

    Should I use sweetened or unsweetened dried cranberries to make cranberry sauce?

    I used sweetened, but if you prefer a more tart sauce you could use unsweetened dried cranberries. You could also add more sugar to taste if using unsweetened.

    Are dried cranberries craisins?

    Dried cranberries are sometimes sold under the name Craisins. It’s like a cross between a cranberry and a raisin since the cranberries are dried similar to a raisin. You can use dried cranberries and craisins interchangeably. 

    close up of a bowl of homemade cranberry sauce topped with orange zest

    What kind of cranberry juice should I use?

    I chose to use a naturally sweetened cranberry juice blend to help lower the sugar content of this recipe, but feel free to use regular sweetened or unsweetened cranberry juice. Just keep in mind you may need to adjust the sugar to accommodate your juice preference.

    A tip for your Thanksgiving planning

    If you’re making homemade cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or another holiday, I suggest testing it out before hand to make sure you enjoy it and know how to make it on the big day. It can be really stressful making a new recipe on Thanksgiving, especially since you’re probably keeping an eye on a number of other dishes as well.

    Can I make cranberry sauce ahead of time?

    You can make this easy cranberry sauce ahead of time, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. It will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, or 3 months in the freezer.

    bowl of cranberry sauce with dried cranberries topped with orange zest and a spoon sticking out

    Tips for customizing

    • If you prefer a more tart cranberry sauce, use unsweetened dried cranberries or less sugar.
    • Want a smoother sauce? Use an immersion or regular blender to blend some of the sauce.
    • Use this sauce as a topping for vanilla ice cream.
    • Spread leftovers on toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
    • Spread on top of a wheel of brie and wrap in puff pastry to make a brie en croute appetizer

    More vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes

    • Mashed Potato Bake
    • Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
    • Simple Vegetarian Stuffing
    • Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing
    • Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
    • Thanksgiving Baked Tempeh
    • Creamy Mushroom Tempeh
    • Vegetarian Lentil Meatloaf Muffins
    • Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
    • Fall Cheese Board
    • Apple Cider Cocktail
    • Oven Roasted Vegetables
    • Oven Roasted Carrots with Thyme
    • Pecan Pie Bars
    bowl of cranberry sauce with dried cranberries topped with orange zest with a spoon sticking out

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

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    bowl of cranberry sauce with dried cranberries topped with orange zest

    Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cranberries

    Homemade cranberry sauce from dried cranberries is the easiest holiday side dish you’ll ever make! Complete your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal with this tart and sweet recipe.
    3.27 from 23 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 minutes
    Total Time: 11 minutes
    Servings: 14 2 tablespoon servings
    Calories: 63kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups sweetened dried cranberries, (Craisins)
    • ¾ cup cranberry juice, preferably naturally sweetened with other fruit juices
    • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon white sugar
    • Juice and zest of 1 orange
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    Instructions

    • In a small pot over medium heat, combine cranberries, juice, brown sugar, white sugar, orange juice and zest, and salt and bring to a boil.
    • Cover, reduce the heat, and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the cranberries have plumped up a bit.
    • In a small bowl, combine water and cornstarch. Add this mixture to the cranberries, stir, and allow to cook 1 minute more.
    • Serve warm or at room temperature and garnish with orange zest or peel.

    Notes

     

    Tips for customizing

    • If you prefer a more tart cranberry sauce, use unsweetened dried cranberries or less sugar.
    • Want a smoother sauce? Use an immersion or regular blender to blend some of the sauce.
    • Use this sauce as a topping for vanilla ice cream.
    • Spread leftovers on toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
    • Spread on top of a wheel of brie and wrap in puff pastry to make a brie en croute appetizer.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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    1. Franny says

      November 24, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Lindsay! Excellent recipe and a real life-saver for me at Thanksgiving this year. I wasn’t able to find fresh cranberries at my local markets, but then realized I could substitute dried cranberries and found your recipe. I had a bag of apple-juice-sweetened dried cranberries in the pantry (equaling 1 cup, so I had to reduce the rest of the ingredients a bit). I didn’t have cranberry juice or a fresh orange on-hand, so I used bottled orange juice and maple syrup to sweeten. Turned out beautifully! My partner is delighted that he gets his favorite cranberry sauce this year. Whew, thanks so much! I will print your recipe for future use. Happy holidays from Franny 🧡

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        November 29, 2021 at 8:59 am

        Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m so glad it helped make your holiday special!

        Reply
    2. Sue says

      December 17, 2021 at 2:37 pm

      I plan on making this for Christmas but want to know how far ahead I can make this in advance

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        December 30, 2021 at 3:50 pm

        I apologize for the delayed response, you could make this up to 3 days ahead.

        Reply

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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    454 shares