Cranberry Wine Sauce Recipe for Holiday Roasts and Sides

Open a bottle of wine while you make your holiday meal and use a cup to add a little something extra to the cranberries in this Cranberry Wine Sauce!

Cranberry Wine Sauce in a white serving dish.

Elevating Thanksgiving Staples

The house is quiet. The rooms are ready for guests, the kitchen is clean for now, and the table is set. With a final check of the menu and a short list for my husband to pick up at the store, I’m heading to the airport early tomorrow to fetch two essential additions to our holiday: my sister and brother-in-law.

Freshly washed fruit in a white ceramic colander.

With the house ready, I finally allow myself to get excited. The first dish is already done and cooling in the fridge. I always begin with cranberry sauce — it’s an easy, satisfying way to start holiday cooking — and this year I’ve given it a little upgrade: Cranberry Wine Sauce.

A glass of white wine with a bowl of cranberries in the background.

Cranberry Wine Sauce

If you have a bottle of wine on hand — and perhaps a glass while you cook — use a cup to add depth and brightness to fresh cranberries. As the mixture heats and the berries pop, the aroma becomes reminiscent of mulled wine, transforming into a glossy sauce with added character and warmth.

This sauce brings a festive note to the table. Let the cranberries have a little fun — the wine brings out their natural tartness and balances the sweetness for a refined, flavorful condiment.

P.S. If you have any leftover Cranberry Wine Sauce, it’s wonderful in a Cranberry Wine Galette, Cranberry Sauce Slab Pie, or stirred into cornbread batter for Cranberry Sauce Cornbread Muffins.

MORE THANKSGIVING RECIPES TO TRY

Buttered Rum and Candied Sweet Potato Crumb Cake
Butternut Squash Creamed Corn
Pumpkin Cheddar Biscuits
Pumpkin Sage Polenta
Roasted Acorn Squash and Kale Salad
Savory Herb Stuffing Bread
Butternut Squash Bruschetta

Cranberry Wine Sauce

Cranberry Wine Sauce brings a touch of elegance to your Thanksgiving table!

Course
Condiments, Side Dish

Cuisine
American

Prep Time
5 minutes

Cook Time
15 minutes

Total Time
20 minutes

Servings
6 servings

Calories
144kcal

Author
Liren Baker

Ingredients

3 cups fresh cranberries
3/4 cup white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
3/4 cups granulated sugar
zest of 1 lemon

Instructions

Combine the cranberries, wine, and sugar in a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat.
Bring to a boil, stir in the lemon zest, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for about 5–10 minutes, until the cranberries have popped and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Transfer the sauce to a glass container and cool completely. It can be made a few days ahead and refrigerated.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 32g
|
Protein: 1g
|
Fat: 1g
|
Fiber: 2g

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