How To Make Canned Cranberry Sauce
Homemade canned cranberry sauce is packed with sweet-tart flavor that is so much better than the store-bought stuff, and with just four ingredients, it couldn't be simpler to can at home!
Of course, this whole berry Cranberry Sauce recipe directly from the makers of Ball® home canning products is great to put out on your Thanksgiving table (and it takes a dish off your turkey day to-do list), but once you have it stashed in your pantry, you'll be amazed at how many uses you'll find for cranberry sauce (not up for canning? This homemade cranberry orange sauce is amazing too!).
Serve it as a condiment to roasted pork or roasted chicken. Slather it onto a turkey sandwich. Pour it onto brie or softened goat cheese for a speedy appetizer. It's so versatile! Let's get canning.
What ingredients will I need?
This canned cranberry sauce only needs four ingredients-all of which are readily available at your local grocery store. Here's what you'll need:
- Sugar-just regular granulated sugar
- Water
- Fresh cranberries-you can get these in most grocery stores during the fall months
- Orange zest
Don't I need pectin?
Nope! Even though cranberry sauce is basically just cranberry jam, you don't need added pectin to get a good gel. That's because cranberries are naturally rich in pectin-heating the sauce will activate the pectin and cause the cranberry sauce to thicken.
What are the best jars in which to can this cranberry sauce?
We like putting this cranberry sauce in Ball® Half-Pint Jars-it's the perfect size to serve cranberry sauce as a condiment for a meal. If you need more for a larger gathering (like Thanksgiving), just open a couple of jars!
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How do you serve canned cranberry?
Yes, cranberry sauce can be eaten alone, but we think it really shines as a condiment to roasted meat like my dry brine turkey recipe, roasted chicken, or Instant Pot pork shoulder roast.
Do you heat up canned cranberry sauce?
Nope! Serve cranberry sauce cold or at room temperature. If you heat up cranberry sauce, it will lose some of its gel and become too thin to be enjoyable.
How long is canned cranberry sauce good for?
When properly canned and stored in a cool dark place, cranberry sauce will last indefinitely as long as the seal is intact. However, the flavor, nutritional density, and color will start to decline past the one-year mark, so both Ball® and the USDA recommend eating the cranberry sauce within a year.
How long can cranberry sauce last in the fridge?
Once opened, we recommend storing your cranberry sauce in the fridge and eating it within one week.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Canned Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 cups water
- 8 cups fresh cranberries about 2 pounds
- Grated zest of 1 large orange optional
Instructions
- Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.
- Combine sugar and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil hard for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and return mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until all berries burst, and liquid begins to sheet from a metal spoon, about 15 minutes. Stir in orange zest, if using, during the last few minutes of cooking
- Ladle hot cranberry sauce into hot jars leaving ¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar and apply band, adjust to fingertip tight. Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
- Process jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat, remove lid, let jars stand 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool 12-24 hours. Check lids for seal, they should not flex when center is pressed.
Nutrition
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment, and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.
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Am i able to run this mix through a sieve? Or use an immersion blender?
Hi Larissa! We’ve never tested this recipe with blending, so we can't say for sure that it would still be safe for canning. Sometimes pureed foods can be too dense to can safely!
Hi! My granddaughter and I just discovered orange and cranberry sauce. We both love it on everything!!! However, I’ve been making it fresh, every time. Can I substitute organic, fresh orange juice for the water or will that wreck the safety in canning it that way?
Hi Nanette! We always recommend you follow a canning recipe exactly as written for safety reasons. If you'd like to make adjustments, we recommend seeking out a tested recipe from a trusted source that has those adjustments already in the recipe. That's the best way to ensure it's safe for canning!