Cranberry sauce

Cranberry sauce recipe

Cranberries have a delicious tartness and maintain their shape well after cooking, which make them the perfect ingredient for many condiments, including cranberry sauce. Suitable to pair with both sweet and savoury dishes, this cranberry sauce recipe is versatile and easy. It’s a perfect addition to Sunday roasts and Christmas entertaining. 

Essential ingredients for cranberry sauce recipes

Cranberries have quite a short season and are imported from America or Canada, which is why the fresh variety can be quite difficult to source when looking to make cranberry sauce. However, frozen or dried cranberries are readily available in Australia, which makes them our preferred ingredient for this recipe. Dried cranberries, like in this dried cranberry sauce recipe, are a kitchen staple and can be used in a variety of dishes, including muffins and cakes.

How to make cranberry sauce

How do you make cranberry sauce from dried cranberries? Firstly, it’s a good idea to simmer the cranberries slowly so they plump up again and become soft and flavourful. We like to stir in some lemon juice to the cooked and simmered cranberries to help them maintain their signature flavour. The lemon juice helps keep the sauce fresher for longer, too.   

Using cranberry sauce in recipes

Cranberry sauce is quite versatile – you can swirl it through your breakfast (it’s delicious with porridge or yoghurt), or dollop it inside a jaffle for a simple pie. With its combination of tart and sweet flavours, homemade cranberry sauce works beautifully with savoury dishes, too. Cranberry sauce for turkey is the traditional accompaniment for Christmas lunch (or Thanksgiving if you celebrate that holiday) and really complements all poultry dishes.

Love this recipe?

The best cranberry sauce recipe can be a great addition to a wide variety of recipes. Try using it in the ever-popular cob loaf with this great recipe for baked brie cob with cranberry sauce, or these cranberry and cheddar mini garlic breads, a cheesy and tasty starter that is easy to prepare. If you want a twist on cranberry sauce for a special occasion, try this cranberry relish, which also includes dried cranberries, but adds vinegar for a tangy twist.