This holiday season, kiss the canned cranberry sauce of your youth goodbye and make a homemade cranberry sauce instead. Using real cranberries lets you adjust the sweetness levels yourself, and you can spice it up with new and interesting flavors. Plus it’s not just for the turkey—use the leftovers in everything from yogurt to waffles to smoothies. Scroll down to see our favorite recipes below.
Spiced Cranberry Sauce
Chef Ryan Rendano offers up a wonderfully spiced version of cranberry sauce that only takes 20 minutes to make. We love that the recipe includes lemon and orange, some of the best winter produce around. Get it here.
Maple Cranberry Sauce
This easy cranberry sauce from The View from Great Island takes just 15 minutes to make, is made with just two ingredients, and has the perfect amount of tartness. Get the recipe here.
Keep it simple with this easy recipe from Eat Within Your Means. It’s sweetened with apple cider and maple syrup instead of sugar and makes a perfect alternative to the canned stuff. To get the recipe, click here.
This refreshing take on cranberries from Kevin Is Cooking turns the traditional sauce on its head. Instead of cooking the cranberries, they’re blitzed up with orange and mixed with cherry jello to make a yummy relish. Cross your fingers for leftovers—this will taste fantastic on those day-after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. To grab the recipe, click here.
This paleo sauce from Anya’s Eats is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The cranberries are complemented by fresh orange juice and ginger. Just a touch of maple sugar ensures that the berries’ bright flavor shines through. Get the recipe by clicking here.
Step outside the box by making this flavorful chutney from Magnolia Days. Not only will it taste great with the turkey, but you can also pair it with cheese and crackers for an easy appetizer. With apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and jalapenos, this sauce is bursting with bold flavors. To grab the recipe, click here.
Instead of using sugar to sweeten the sauce, this recipe from Dad with a Pan uses fresh mango chunks—yum! Tropical fruit on the Thanksgiving table is definitely something we can get behind. Click here to get the recipe.
The secret ingredient in this recipe by 2 Aussie Travellers is balsamic vinegar—it cuts the bitterness of the cranberries while adding some depth. The thicker, chunkier texture keeps the cranberries closer to their natural state, unlike some of the more jelly-like sauces. To get the recipe, click here.
Pears, cinnamon and ginger come together to help create this sauce from Veggie Inspired. Your whole family will love the warm fall flavors. Get the recipe by clicking here.