Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Canning Instructions (2024)

Table of Contents

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Port Wine and Cinnamon Sticks Step One: Step Two: Step Three: Step Four: If you ARE Making Canned Cranberry Sauce Step Four: If you're NOT Canning the Cranberry Sauce Cranberry Sauce with Port Wine and Cinnamon Sticks Ingredients Instructions Notes PIN THIS FOR LATER More Canning Posts You May Enjoy: Reader Interactions Comments Leave a Reply FAQs References

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July 23, 2019 by Victoria 44 Comments

The best homemade cranberry sauce recipe to compliment any holiday meal! Make it fresh, or can it for a quick side dish any time!

You can make this cranberry sauce to eat fresh or follow the canning directions to have home canned cranberry sauce without dirtying a single dish.

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Learn how to make homemade cranberry sauce this holiday season and wow everyone at the table! This cranberry sauce recipe can be made as a single batch for just one meal, or make it in bulk for canned cranberry sauce!

For me, one of the biggest joys of any season is canning with my mom.

From the time that I was 15 my mom and I have always canned together. It's always such an enjoyable experience that I look forward to as each crop comes into the height of its season. Potatoes, apples, green beans, peaches, strawberries...

Recently she joined me for a full day of canning cranberries.

We canned 22 pints over the course of about 5 hours (though there were many breaks in there to rest our backs and enjoy a glass of tea) and now we are all set for holiday meals.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Port Wine and Cinnamon Sticks

This cranberry sauce recipe features port wine and whole cinnamon sticks in every jar. It's very fast to make, and the canning is quick as well!

It's been a staple at every holiday meal for the last 6-7 years. One taste and you will be absolutely hooked!

Step One:

First, make sure you have everything. Even with 7 years of making this recipe under our belts, we still forgot that we needed red wine vinegar. (You really do need it as it makes the PH level of this recipe appropriate for canning).

Next, combine the sugar, water, and red wine vinegar in a large pot. Make sure the pot is large enough that when the sauce boils and doubles in size (briefly) it won't overflow.

Step Two:

Set the pot to high heat, stirring the sugar to avoid burning while it dissolves.

Once the sugar is at a rolling boil, add the cranberries.

Turn the heat to medium and set a timer for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Note: The berries pop as the cook and you may get splattered a bit. Splatter is hot. So, you may not want to let the kids help with this step.

Step Three:

If the timer goes off and your sauce doesn't look like the next picture, wait until it does!

It should have this nice thick pink foam bubbling up all around the berries. If you skip this important step, your sauce will not set up! Ask me how I know ;-)

Step Four: If you ARE Making Canned Cranberry Sauce

If you've made a large batch of cranberry sauce for canning, you'll prepare the jars as outlined in my Water Bath Canning Guide.

Once those are ready, ladle the sauce into the clean jars and process in a water bath canner for 15 minutes.

Remove from pot and place on a folded towel on the counter. Allow to cool fully before moving.

Once they are done processing, step back and enjoy your hard work! I tried to get a picture of all 22, but nothing seemed to look as nice I wanted! So, here is just a taste...

Step Four: If you're NOT Canning the Cranberry Sauce

Your cranberry sauce is now ready to chill and serve.

Cranberry Sauce with Port Wine and Cinnamon Sticks

This easy cranberry sauce recipe for whole berry cranberry sauce can be made as a small batch, or in bulk for home canned cranberry sauce!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Canned Cranberry Sauce, Cranberry Sauce Recipe, Homemade Cranberry Sauce, How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 Cups

Ingredients

Fresh Batch (2 cups):

1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Water
1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
2.5 Cups Cranberries washed and sorted
1/2 Cup Port Wine
2 Cinnamon Sticks

Canning Batch (4-6 pints, 8-12 Cups):

4 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water
4 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
10 Cups Cranberries washed and sorted
2 Cups Port Wine
8 Cinnamon Sticks
4-6 Pint Canning Jars
4-6 Lid and Ring Sets

Instructions

Combine water, sugar, and vinegar in large pot.
Heat on high, stirring the whole time.
Once sugar is at a rolling boil, add cranberries.
Reduce heat to medium, return to boil, boil for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, add port. Stir well.

To Can:

Add two cinnamon sticks to the bottom of each jar.
Follow water bath canning instructions to prepare jars and process sauce for 15 minutes in a water bath canner. Leave 1/2 inch headspace.

If You're NOT Canning:

Allow the sauce to cool a bit so it doesn’t break the container you are using, then pour it into the dish you wish to serve in.
Chill for at least 4 hours, overnight is better. Serve and enjoy!!
See Also
Homemade Christmas Sugar Scrub Recipes {+ Printable Labels}

Notes

If you are not canning, add the cinnamon sticks to the bottom of the container in which you will be storing or serving the cranberry sauce.

Tried this recipe?Mention @AModHomestead or tag ##amodernhomestead!

THIS RECIPE IS INCLUDED IN THE FROM SCRATCH HOLIDAY COOKBOOK

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Canning Instructions (7)

This is one of my favorite ways to save time on big holiday days, what's yours? Tell me all about it!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Kari H. says
August 3, 2020 at 7:16 pm
Another question… can this recipe be doubled when canning? You replied to a comment on your strawberry jam recipe that jams and jellies should only be made in single batches, does that apply to sauces also?
Thank you :)
Reply
Rebecca Jones says
November 10, 2020 at 3:39 am
Hi I’ve just made this and canned several jars. How long does it last when canned? Thanks
Reply
- Victoria says
  November 11, 2020 at 10:26 pm
  Hi Rebecca! It will last for 5-10 years when stored in a cool, dry place. We had a jar of this recipe that I canned in 2015 just this week. Delicious!
  Reply
Karen says
November 26, 2020 at 11:21 am
Actually, cranberries have a ph of 2.5. Anything with a ph of 4.2 or under is safe to water bath can, without adding vinegar
Reply
SanDee says
December 25, 2020 at 7:54 am
My daughter says this is not sweet enough for her I like it more on The tartan but I’ve got company coming for this Christmas day and how do I get sugar to dissolve and be thick enough to add to the already made up and nice consistency cranberry sauce?
Reply
- SanDee says
  December 25, 2020 at 7:55 am
  I.e., I skimped somewhat on the sugar and it’s tart so how can I sweeten it up properly?
  Reply
  - Victoria says
    December 25, 2020 at 8:16 am
    Hi SanDee! I would reheat a small part of it (depending on how much you made) in a sauce pan and add sugar after it melts. So maybe a cup, add sugar to taste, and then pour into the container for serving. That way your daughter has some sweeter, but you don’t risk the whole batch.
    I hope that helps!
    Reply

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Canning Instructions (2024)

FAQs

How long do you water bath cranberries? ›

Canned Cranberries

Using a slotted spoon, pack cranberries into sterile pint or quart canning jars, leaving 1/2” of head space. Pour liquid over cranberries to cover. Cap with lids and bands and process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes.

Find Out More ›

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

Learn More ›

Does canned cranberry sauce need to be cooked? ›

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

View Details ›

What is the best way to preserve cranberries? ›

Place plastic bags of cranberries directly in the freezer for up to twelve months and use without thawing—just run cold water over them to rinse before using. Because some bruised and soft berries and some stems and leaves are often in the bags, you might prefer to sort and wash the berries before freezing them.

Why do you float cranberries in water? ›

Wet Harvesting

Cranberries have pockets of air inside the fruit. Because of this, cranberries float in water, and thus, the bogs can be flooded to aid in removal of fruit from the vines. Water reels, nicknamed “egg-beaters” are used to stir up the water in the bogs.

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

The sugar in the syrup helps the mixture thicken. It could also be because you haven't cooked the mixture long enough. The cranberries need to cook long enough to burst so that they release plenty of pectin which is a thickener naturally found in cranberries.

Is canned cranberry sauce better than homemade? ›

While there are some editors who prefer homemade cranberry sauce, the canned variety also has quite a following. "There's something so beautifully perfect about the texture of canned cranberry sauce, and none of those homemade mess will ever compete," says Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland.

Discover More Details ›

Why won't my cranberry sauce set? ›

One possibility is that you may not have used enough sugar: Sugar helps the sauce firm up, so be sure to use the full amount called for in a recipe. Another possibility is that the cranberries need to boil for longer, releasing their pectin and ensuring a jelly consistency.

Read On ›

Why is my cranberry sauce so watery? ›

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

Tell Me More ›

How long do you water bath fruit? ›

No need to add water put on the canning lids and process in a boiling water bath. Canning time Pint jars 35 minutes, Quart jars 45 minutes. Always remember to can in the peak of ripeness. You will appreciate your efforts while eating peaches in a snowstorm.

See Details ›

Can you soak cranberries in water overnight? ›

To rehydrate dried cranberries for baking recipes, simply soak them in hot water, juice or other liquid. You don't need to soak dried cranberries overnight.