Cranberries have traditionally been one of those holiday dishes that I would pass on. Growing up I thought they were much too tart. They always seemed to get in the way of the delicious, savory foods like stuffing and gravy and mashed potatoes.
But I’ve come to appreciate them in the past few years and their tartness flavor. I find that when it’s combined with the savory food staples, cranberries bring a beautiful balance to the meal.
Cranberry History
History believes the pilgrims and the Native Americans ate cranberries at the first Thanksgiving due to the abundance in the 1500s. Cranberries during the holidays, specifically Thanksgiving, is rooted in our history in the United States.
Growing Cranberries
And contrary to popular belief, or what many have seen on commercials, Cranberries do not grow in water. They are a low-lying shrub or vine. They prefer bogs with soil made of sand, peat, gravel and clay.
The reason you see them in water is because farmers harvest them “wet.” This means cranberry farmer floods bogs with water when the cranberries are ripe. They are “beaten” off the vines if they haven’t fallen off and the ripe berries will float. After that, they are then sucked into a machine for harvesting.
You can see them flooding the fields and beating them off the vines here.
You can see them harvesting them from the fields here.
Easy Cranberry Recipe
This cranberry recipe is perfect for winter gatherings like Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other winter holiday. However, this recipe is also really easy to make on a regular basis if you’re a cranberry lover.
With just three ingredients, it’s probably the easiest recipe I’ve ever made and pairs wonderfully with these sour cream mashed potatoes. Grab the simple recipe below and make these for your next holiday feast.
Easy Cranberry Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz of cranberries (usually 1 bag)
- 1/4 cup natural, real honey
- 2 sprigs of rosemary
Instructions
- Add honey and cranberries to a sauce pan and heat on medium.
- When it starts to bubble add sprigs of rosemary.
- Let the mixture simmer for 10 -20 minutes stirring frequently.
- Serve warm
If you love cranberries, check out this Cranberry Upside Down Cake. For additional recipes, click here.
This looks so yummy. I’m hosting Thanksgiving so I am researching great recipes as we speak!
Yummy! I have never really been a cranberry sauce fan, but that’s probably because we always had the canned kind. I’ll have to try making it myself this year.
I love cranberry sauce but I’ve never attempted to make my own! But you made it look easy (and delicious!). Thanks for sharing, pinned!
That sounds so good! I love cranberry sauce. It goes with everything on our holiday table. I’ve never tried to make my own, though.
Cranberries or a favorite of this family. We love to use cranberries with Thanksgiving every year. It does not feel like Thanksgiving without cranberries on the table LOL. I would love to try this one.
Cranberry sauce is one of my fave parts of Thanksgiving dinner. I love the way this one looks. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
I’m a huge fan of cranberry sauce. I love how super easy this recipe is to make. Looking forward to giving it a try.
I have never been one for cranberries but I think I’ll have to try it again?
One of my favorite sides for Thanksgiving. I will admit, I mostly eat the canned cranberry sauce! This is a great recipe that I’ll have to try.
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorites for Thanksgiving. Quick, easy and delicious recipe!
Once I tried real cranberry sauce I was so done with the cans! This recipe looks really delicious!
Once I tried real cranberry sauce I was so done with the cans! This recipe looks really delicious and perfect for turkey day.
Once I tried real cranberry sauce I was so done with the cans! This recipe looks really delicious and perfect for turkey day this year.
We always have this for Thanksgiving. I’ve never tried making it myself though. My husbands grandparents always make it. I’ll have to try out this recipe.
Definitely my dream side dish for Turkey Day! I can never make it just right – will try your version.
This recipe looks so delicious. And I love how easy it is! I just may have to try this for Thanksgiving for this year!
-Jennifer
https://maunelegacy.com
My family loves a good cranberry sauce.
This looks so easy! Sadly we always use canned 🙁 but I might have to try this
Cranberries are so perfect for holiday dinners. They make it more festive somehow! Your sauce look fabulous!
This is such a perfect cranberry recipe! Love how easy this is!
I love homemade cranberry sauce! This looks so delicious!
This looks absolutely amazing. I have never made homemade but, I will this year.
This looks absolutely amazing. I have never made homemade but, I will this year. Yummy!
This looks absolutely amazing. I have never made homemade but, I will this year. Yummy! Bookmarking!
I’ve been looking for a good cranberry recipe! I’m in charge of cranberry this year, thanks for sharing!
I love cranberry sauce. Trying your recipe. Thank you for sharing.
I am a cranberry lover, but often don’t think to make them outside of the holidays. It was fun seeing how they are harvested. I must admit I thought they grew in water.
I love a good cranberry sauce and it’s one of the things that I look forward to having during the holidays. Your recipe sounds good!
This looks so tasty and simple! Can’t believe Thanksgiving is just a few days away!
I may be weird, but the cranberry sauce is my favorite of all the Thanksgiving dishes. It is so easy to make it yourself, and is so much better than the canned variety.
I’m usually such a big fan of the jellied cranberry sauce in the can… But this looks amazing. We had some like this at my work the other day and it was soooo good.
Wow! This looks like the perfect dish to take to my brother’s Thanksgiving dinner!
I’ve never been a cranberry fan either ,my family however likes them ,thanks for the recipe
Wow! This looks amazing! It certainly makes for a great dish to take to my brothers.
I love all things cranberry!! Thanks for the recipe!
I was the same way – wasn’t into cranberries or sauce growing up but LOVE them now! I find them to be so tasty. I made cranberry sauce for the first time last year. I’ll need to use your recipe this year. And super fascinating about the watering down the bogs. I guess I never really thought of why the guys were standing in water with cranberries floating on the commercials. Thanks for the little lesson!
I love cranberries so much and I am always looking for new recipes!! Also cranberry sauce is essential for thanksgiving!
Kileen
cute & little
I have only started making my own cranberry sauce last year if you can believe it! We always just bought already made cans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So silly – it’s so easy. Now I’m excited to try your recipe out because now I’m in the mode of trying out different styles of Cranberry sauce. Yours looks delish!
This looks wonderful, I’ve never thought to put rosemary in it! I make ours fresh every year too. It’s one of my favorites for the holidays!
This looks amazing I’ll definitely have to try this.
I love a good cranberry sauce. This sounds delicious and I love that it is homemade.
Thanks for this recipe, it’s definitely a must try this coming holiday season. Nice post..!
I don’t eat cranberry sauce. My mom usually makes a small lot during the holidays. I can share this recipe with her.
I AM HIGhly allergic to cranberry, but my twin brother isn’t and loves it. I will share this with him.
I usually get canned. THis is perfect for me to try out for thanksgiving this year.
Yummm! You got me craving Cranberry sauce! I used to just buy them canned and finally discovered that it’s so easy to make and WAAAAY more delicious this way. I’ve never tried it with Rosemary. Excited to give this a whirl!
I cook every year and love anything cranberry. This looks yummy.
I’ve never made cranberry sauce, but this sounds delicious thanks for sharing.