Crockpot Cranberry Sauce

I love converting traditional holiday recipes to slow cooker recipes because it makes life so much easier on a busy day. Not only that, but it can free up oven and stove top space. We have a Crockpot Turkey recipe, a Crockpot Stuffing recipe, and now this amazing Crockpot Cranberry Sauce.

All cranberry sauce is made basically the same way. You combine orange juice (or water) and sugar over heat and then add fresh (or frozen) cranberries. While the sauce cooks, the cranberries break down and you end up with a delicious sauce.

For this fresh cranberry sauce, we make everything super simple by letting the crockpot do all the work.

The Secret Ingredient to Cranberry Sauce

I love this cranberry sauce recipe because of one ingredient: the cinnamon!

As you stir in the cinnamon, it will seem like you’ve really gone overboard. I promise you haven’t. It adds so much delicious flavor to this recipe.

The cinnamon combined with the cranberries made my house smell amazing! Isn’t it crazy how just a smell can create a feeling of joy in a house?

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Here is a brief overview of how to make cranberry sauce in a crockpot. For the full recipe including measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Make the base. Stir the sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon together in the crock pot.
2. Add the cranberries. Add in the fresh cranberries and stir to combine.
3. Cook. Set your crockpot to low for 4 hours, stirring once or twice while cooking.

This cranberry orange sauce will seem runny right when it is done cooking but it thickens as it cools.

Serving Size

This recipe is great for a crowd. It makes a total of 2 cups, which is enough for 1/4 cup per person. While that may not sound like a lot, on your plate with all of your other holiday sides it will be the perfect amount.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe You Can Double

This is a great recipe to double or triple! Please keep in mind that this recipe works perfectly in the small crockpot you see pictured here and linked below. You will need a bigger slow cooker if it is going to be doubled.

Can I Use a Larger Crock Pot to Make This Recipe

Yes! Just make sure you keep a closer eye on it. Some of the bigger crock pots can dry out this recipe or cook it more quickly. I would cook it on low and start checking on it at the two-hour mark.

Because cranberry sauce does not need to be hot when it is served, give yourself the full four hours on low that this recipe calls for. That way if it is done after two hours you will have the perfect cranberry sauce at dinner time.

Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce can be made the day before. Store it in the refrigerator and and put it out right when the turkey is being carved.

Since cranberry sauce is delicious warm or cold, this is a great thing to take off your to-do list the day of. That said, since the prep time on this recipe is so little, you might just want to let it cook while everything else is going. Plus then you will get the great smell of it as everyone arrives.

How Long Does Cranberry Sauce Last

If you do make this ahead of time or if you are thinking about your leftovers, you will want to eat this cranberry sauce within three days of making it.

Be sure to store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Always use your best discretion with leftovers.

Other Great Holiday Sides

Looking to round out your holiday table with other classics? Here are some of my favorites:

• This Homemade Stuffing Recipe could win awards. It is the absolute best!
• We are adding this Brussels Sprouts with Bacon to our holiday table this year.
• It just doesn’t get any better than a classic Pumpkin Pie.
• And of course, we make this Turkey Recipe every single year!

When you try this cranberry sauce or any of my other recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think!