Perfect Microwave Cranberry Sauce

When it comes to my favorite holiday recipes, there are a handful of dishes I make year after year, and this homemade cranberry sauce is one of those go-tos. 

It has been a staple at our holiday gatherings for at least 20 years, and I can always count on it to turn out perfectly. It’s tasty, everyone loves it, and it’s incredibly simple to put together because it’s made in the microwave! 

Calling for only 3 ingredients and taking just 7 minutes to make, this microwave cranberry sauce will be the easiest dish on the menu! 

What makes it even easier is that you can make it a few days ahead of time, giving you one less thing to think about on the day you’re hosting. 

Properly stored, homemade cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.  If you need to keep it longer than that, pop it in the freezer.

In addition to traditional turkey or ham, cranberry sauce also pairs beautifully with chicken, beef, and pork, either as a side dish or as a glaze. 

It’s also an amazing addition to a charcuterie board or a meat and cheese platter! 

Even better, cranberries are loaded with health benefits. 

You’ve probably heard about their ability to protect the urinary tract, but they’ve also been shown to reduce the incidence of various infections, promote heart health, decrease inflammation, and support digestive health (making them an especially beneficial Thanksgiving side dish!).

Unlike other homemade cranberry sauce recipes, which call for lots of spices and seasonings, this simple recipe allows the wonderful tart-sweet flavor of the cranberries to shine through. 

This is one of our all-time favorite holiday recipes, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!  

Microwave Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Makes 6-8 side dish servings

Ingredients

1/2 pound fresh cranberries (2 cups)

1 cup white sugar (if you prefer a tart cranberry sauce, reduce to 3/4 cup)

1/2 cup orange juice (or water)

Directions

1. In a microwave safe glass bowl or large glass measuring cup, mix together cranberries, sugar, and orange juice (or water). 
2. Cover the bowl or measuring cup with waxed paper and microwave on high power until the cranberries pop (about 7 minutes), stopping half-way through to stir.  Be very careful when removing the bowl from the microwave as the mixture will be extremely hot!  Note:  if you prefer not to use the microwave, place all ingredients in a medium-size sauce pan and cook over medium heat until the cranberries pop, stirring occasionally.
3. Allow the mixture to cool before placing in the refrigerator.  Chill in refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving.  Can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and refrigerated.
4. Store leftover cranberry sauce in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. 

Enjoy! xo Jane

Here are a few more recipes you might enjoy:

White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Blondies

Amazing Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes with Sugared Raspberries

Dreamy Chocolate Mousse with Ricotta Cheese

Easy Microwave Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Recipe

Crispy Garlic and Herb Oven Roasted Potatoes

Easy Stacked Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce & Sour Cream

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