What To Use Instead Of Orange Juice In Cranberry Sauce

No Thanksgiving table is complete without a dish of cranberry sauce in the middle. The sweet, tangy condiment stands out as a perfect counterpoint to the many rich, savory dishes that make up the rest of the spread. But for those that can't have orange juice, or simply don't like the taste, it can be difficult to find a good recipe for that favorite sauce. Fortunately, despite it being such a common ingredient in cranberry sauces, there are plenty of excellent substitutes that you can make for that orange juice.

At its most basic, cranberry sauce requires nothing more than cranberries, sugar, and water. Sugar counterbalances the tart berries, and the water helps them to cook down into the thick, jam-like sauce that we all know and love. But there is a reason that oranges are so often considered a secret ingredient for better homemade cranberry sauce. Orange juice adds needed moisture, some of its own sweetness, and a bright aroma — particularly if you use fresh oranges for both the juice and the zest. So, while you can just swap the OJ for plain water, you might find the results a bit flat. 

For best results, you'll want to use a substitute that fulfills all of those roles — and maybe adds a few more flourishes of its own. Fortunately, there are a lot of other juices and ingredients that provide similar characteristics to orange juice while also giving an interesting new take — and you don't need to find just a like-for-like swap. 

Sticking to autumnal ingredients, apple juice and apple cider both make a great substitution for orange juice in your cranberry sauce. They add the needed moisture and plenty of sweetness — and while apple aroma is a bit different than that of orange juice, it is also an excellent complement to cranberries. Another option is to stick to fruit juices that match the same color palette. Pomegranate juice, cherry juice, and cran-raspberry juice all work great to add moisture, sweetness, and another hint of complementary fruit flavor. But, the biggest thing that you need to be careful about with these juices is how tart they are. Cranberry sauce needs a lot of sweetness, so adding a cup of another tart juice isn't going to do you any favors. Stick to the sweeter end of the spectrum or counterbalance the tartness by adding more sugar to the recipe.

There's no reason that you need to be limited to just juice. Adding a tipple of booze is one of the many excellent tips for making homemade cranberry sauce. You'll want to have a light hand with the alcohol so the cranberries remain the star, but anything from red wine and port to brandy and a splash of bourbon can take on supporting roles in your cranberry sauce – and to incredible effect too. None of these substitutions will quite match the sweet, bright flavor of oranges, but that's okay. Consider it an invitation to experiment. Herbs like thyme and rosemary can be an interesting addition, along with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. You can even give your cranberry sauce a spicy kick with pungent ingredients like ginger or chiles. With a little experimentation, you might just nail down a recipe that will live on in the family for generations.