Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Fruit and Nuts

This easy recipe for cranberry sauce with orange and lemon zest, apples, and pecans is an upscale version of the classic sauce. With only 15 minutes and a handful of ingredients, you can transform a bag of cranberries into a unique and delicious side dish for the holidays. 

Whether you like it smooth or chunky, sweet and tart, homemade cranberry sauce is the perfect complement to the traditionally rich dishes served for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is no comparison to the canned stuff, and it’s quicker and easier to make than you ever thought possible. 

Here’s what you will need to make it:

To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients: fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, an apple, an orange, a lemon, and toasted pecans. That’s it! And, if you prefer plain cranberry sauce, all you need are cranberries and sugar.

Here’s how to make it:

1. Add the cranberries, sugar, and one cup of water to a medium-size saucepan set over medium heat.
2. When the mixture starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.
4. Add the orange and lemon zest, chopped up apples and pecans, and stir to combine. 
5. Chill in the refrigerator before serving. 

Frequently asked questions:

What to serve it with?

Cranberry sauce is delicious in its own right, and as a classic holiday side dish, it pairs perfectly with main dishes such as turkey, ham, prime rib, or beef tenderloin.

What to do with leftovers? 

• Leftover cranberry sauce is the main ingredient in my popular appetizer, Cranberry Brie Bites.
• Without the apples and pecans, it also makes a wonderful glaze on chicken or pork tenderloin.
• Leftover cranberry sauce is also incredible on turkey or ham sandwiches, and it makes a flavorful sauce for cocktail meatballs.
• Add a few tablespoons to your favorite muffin, quick bread, or pancake batter, or make cranberry maple syrup by combining it with syrup.
• You can also spice up your morning yogurt by adding a tablespoon or so of leftover sauce along with a handful of granola. 
• Mix leftovers with softened butter for cranberry butter or mayonnaise for cranberry aioli, and a bagel topped with cream cheese and a spoonful of cranberry sauce makes a tasty treat. 
• Add it to your barbecue sauce next time you grill for a fun and different new taste sensation. 
• The list is endless; let me know your favorite way to use this versatile and delicious ruby-red holiday gem. 

What’s the difference between sauce and relish?

You might be wondering what the difference is between cranberry sauce, relish, conserve, and cranberry compote? According to most experts, cranberry relish usually contains raw ingredients. After that, the line blurs, and it seems that they all can contain ingredients other than cranberries, so it’s hard to tell one from the other. 

Can it be made ahead of time?

Yes, it keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to ten days or in the freezer for a month. If you are making it ahead, don’t add the apples or pecans until you are ready to serve it. Allow the frozen sauce to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before adding the ingredients and serving it. 

Variations:

By now, I hope I have convinced you about the benefits of making your own cranberry sauce. Another plus is that you can customize the recipe to fit your family’s tastes and preferences. I like to add orange and lemon zest, apples, and pecans, but feel free to personalize your sauce with any one or a combination of these other tasty additions: 

• Cinnamon or ginger
• Jalapeno peppers
• Scallions or green onions
• Replace some of the water with orange juice, bourbon, wine, or brandy
• Clementines
• Satsumas
• Pears
• Dried fruit
• Blueberries

Looking for more easy and delicious holiday recipes?

There is no doubt about it; Thanksgiving and Christmas are food lovers’ holidays. And, if you are looking for some new recipes, I think you might also like these roundups, which are full of quick, easy, and mostly make-ahead options. 

• 42 Best Savory Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
• 35 of the Best and Easiest Sweet Potatoe Recipes
• 22 No-Fuss Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
• 25 Best Thanksgiving Dressing and Stuffing Recipes
• 40 Best Desserts for Thanksgiving
• 50 Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
• 27 Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes and Menu Ideas
• 29 Best Christmas Dessert Recipes
• 25 Best Christmas Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
• 30 Easy and Elegant Christmas Dinner Recipes and Menu Ideas
• 31 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts
• 37 Fun & Festive Holiday-Party Appetizers

And, in the event you need even more inspiration, check out all of my Thanksgiving recipes or Christmas recipes by clicking on the links.

★ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

**This recipe was originally published on November 11, 2016. It was republished on November 23, 2020, with new photos, expanded directions, and the addition of a FAQ section.