Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice is an incredibly easy recipe and so much more delicious than buying a bottle at the grocery store. You can make your own cranberry juice with simple ingredients like fresh cranberries, agave nectar or sweetener of choice, orange juice, lemon juice, and water. It’s packed with vitamin c and so much better than store-bought cranberry juice and has much better health benefits.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (1)

At a recent Costcoexcursion, I picked up a giant sized bag of cranberries. My thought was “I *need* this giant bag to make cranberry sauce with for Thanksgiving”. As it turns out, I only needed about 2 cups worth of this enormous monster of a bag, which to the naked eye, didn’t even make a dent in its contents. So I made this cranberry sauceand tossed the rest of the berries back in the fridge. I really had no idea what I was going to use them for. One thought was to dry them, but I never can quite master the timing for drying fruit where it doesn’t turn out like a hockey puck, so I quickly discounted that thought. Then it dawned on me….why not make cranberry juice? I love drinking it, so why not make it and it’s a great way to use up the bag of cranberries? Well here we go…let’s make it together? This homemade cranberry juice recipe is super easy and FAR better than store-bought juice that contains artificial sweetener.

Ingredients for Fresh Cranberry Juice

You will be shocked at how easy it is to make this recipe using fresh whole berries. You can control the amount of sugar by reducing or increasing the agave nectar or by using your choice of sugar like using a sugar-free sweetener or coconut sugar.

  • Fresh Cranberries: this recipe calls for 8 cups so you’ll need approximately 2-12 oz bags of cranberries.
  • Agave nectar: this is the only sweetener used. If you’d prefer, you could use simple syrup, coconut sugar, cane sugar, sugar-free sweetener, maple syrup, or raw honey. You could also omit the added sugar and make an unsweetened cranberry juice if you’d prefer.
  • Fresh Citrus: oranges and lemons add sweet and acid to balance the cranberries tartness.

Find the printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions below.

How to Make Cranberry Juice

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (2)

Start off with 8 cups of cranberries and 8 cups of water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn down and simmer for 25 minutes. You should hear the cranberries popping like little red balls of popcorn.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (3)

They should all be popped and starting to break down after 25 minutes of simmering. It’s starting to smell good in here!

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (4)

Juice enough lemons to make 1/2 cup. It took 3 small lemons for me.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (5)

And enough oranges to make another 1/2 cup. This was 1 1/2 for me. The remaining half was added to fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Mmm. Add the 2 juices to the bottom of the bowl you’ll be using to collect the cranberry juice mixture.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (6)

Use a food mill to pass the cranberry mixture through the smallest plate. The mixture will be a little thick, don’t worry, we’re going to run it through a sieve later. Believe me, it’s all worth it.

Blender Version

Alternatively, you can blend this in a blender and pass through a fine sieve to remove the skins and pulp.

Add agave nectar to the cranberry citrus mixture to your taste. I started with 1/2 cup and ended up with 1 cup of nectar to the 9 cups of juice. You could also use 1/2 cup of white sugar or 1/2 cup of honey for this. Just taste test as you go to achieve your desired sweetness.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (8)

Stir in the nectar until it’s all incorporated.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (9)

Pass the sweetened mixture through a fine mesh sieve. Stir to help the draining process. Don’t mash the pulp too hard or it will pass through and your resulting juice will be thick. Remove the pulp to a bowl and set aside. Repeat with the remaining juice. Save the pulp for another use.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (10)

Refrigerate the juice and serve any way you’d like. Cosmo anyone? 🙂

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (11)

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice

Author: Heather Scholten

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice is so simple to make and absolutely delicious. This recipe is a great use for cranberries when they are in season.

PRINT PIN RECIPE SAVE

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine All Cuisines

Servings 9 Cups

Ingredients

  • 8 cups fresh cranberries
  • 8 cups water
  • ½ – 1 cup agave nectar
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  • Add the cranberries and water to a large stockpot. Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

  • Pass the cranberry mixture through a food mill with the smallest plate. Add agave nectar to your taste. Add the 2 juices to the bowl and stir to combine.

  • Set a fine-meshed sieve over a large bowl, pass the cranberry mixture through the sieve, trying to not press the solids too much (this will result in a thicker juice). Remove solids to a bowl and repeat with remaining cranberry mixture. Save solids for another use (fruit leather perhaps). Refrigerate juice and serve.

Notes

  • Use a blender if you don't have a food mill and pass through a sieve.
  • Save the solids and spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake at 250ºF for around 2-3 hours, or until dry.

Nutrition

Calories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 113mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 82IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.3mg

Keyword Christmas Recipes, cranberry, Holiday Recipes, thanksgiving recipes

Tried this recipe? I’d love to see what you made!
Mention @farmgirlgourmet or tag #farmgirlgourmet !

More Cranberry Recipes

  • Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Twists
  • Classic Cranberry Sauce
  • Pumpkin Challah Pudding with Dried Fruit

Recipe By:

Heather Scholten

Co-Founder at Spiceology | More About Heather...

Heather is a recipe developer and content creator living in Vancouver, Washington. She started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006, almost 20 years ago, as a way to share recipes with friends and family. Heather is also the co-founder of Spiceology , a unique spice company, which she started in 2013. She shares family friendly recipes for easy everyday meals with a gourmet twist.

Homemade Fresh Cranberry Juice - Farmgirl Gourmet (2024)

FAQs

How do you make 100% cranberry juice taste better? ›

Lemon/Lime juice: for added brightness to the juice (add alone or alongside orange juice), add a splash of lemon juice or lime juice. Pineapple juice: pineapple juice is a great way to naturally sweeten this cranberry juice recipe, so you can add less additional sweetener. Plus, the combination tastes delicious.

Is Ocean Spray cranberry juice made with real cranberries? ›

Pucker up for Ocean Spray® Pure Unsweetened Cranberry Juice. No funny business, made from the juice of over 650 cranberries. No added sugar. No artificial flavors.

Can I put raw cranberries in a juicer? ›

You can also use a juicer, blender or another device to puree the cranberries. Doing so will allow you to get more juice out of the berries; however, you may need to add more sugar to the recipe to compensate for the added tartness.

What are the benefits of drinking raw cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system healthy and functioning properly. It fights against oxidative stress from free radicals and helps kill harmful bacteria. Some studies also link low vitamin C intake to poor immune function. Infection prevention.

Does cranberry juice make your 🐱 taste better? ›

While one study list diets as one of several factors that influence the vagin*'s microbiome, no scientific evidence supports the claim that cranberry juice can improve vagin*l taste ( 1 ). Thus, drinking cranberry juice is unlikely to boost your sex life.

Is it OK to drink 100 pure cranberry juice? ›

To avoid excess consumption of added sugars and maximize the potential benefits of cranberry juice, it is best to choose pure, unsweetened cranberry juice. While cranberry juice is safe for most people, consuming too much can lead to side effects, like upset stomach and diarrhea.

What is the lawsuit against cranberry juice? ›

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Ocean Spray Cranberries over claims that the labeling of its juice products falsely say they contain “no preservatives,” but they are allegedly made with citric acid—a preservative used in food and beverage products. This complaint was first surfaced by Law.com Radar.

What is the healthiest cranberry juice to drink? ›

Opt for one with 100% pure cranberry juice and no "added sugars" on the nutrition label. This is different from the naturally occurring sugars from the fruit which will be present in the juice.

Is homemade cranberry juice better than store-bought? ›

You can make your own cranberry juice with simple ingredients like fresh cranberries, agave nectar or sweetener of choice, orange juice, lemon juice, and water. It's packed with vitamin c and so much better than store-bought cranberry juice and has much better health benefits.

What can you not mix with cranberry juice? ›

Possible Interactions
  • Warfarin (Coumadin): Cranberry may raise the risk of bleeding, especially if you already take medications to thin the blood such as warfarin. ...
  • Aspirin: Like aspirin, cranberries contain salicylic acid. ...
  • Other medications: Cranberry may interact with medications that are broken down by the liver.

What's the difference between 100 cranberry juice and pure cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice is usually labeled "100% juice." Other fruits are sometimes added to balance the tart cranberry taste, but that label indicates that the product is made with 100% fruit juices. Cranberry juice co*cktail, meanwhile, has added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup for extra sweetness.

Are fresh cranberries better than juice? ›

It's key to remember as well that cranberry juice and sauces often contain much more sugar than fresh cranberries, so it's always best to go for fresh berries or unsweetened juices.

When should you not drink cranberry juice? ›

Cranberry juice is high in salts called oxalates, which can make kidney stones more likely, especially if you already tend to get these types of stones. If you take the blood-thinning medication warfarin, you should avoid cranberry products, because cranberries can interact with warfarin and cause bleeding.

Why can't you drink cranberry juice everyday? ›

Although cranberry juice is safe to consume in moderation, drinking too much can cause side effects such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and blood sugar spikes. In the past, it was believed that cranberry juice can slow the growth of bacteria and therefore is useful in treating urinary tract infections.

Is cranberry juice good for your prostate? ›

Cranberry juice is rich in phytonutrients which are known to be good for bladder health. This may be one of the reasons it is helpful for those with an enlarged prostate.

What is the best way to drink pure cranberry juice? ›

Like lemon juice, real cranberry juice is typically not enjoyed by itself. Contrary to pre-mixed co*cktails, you can enjoy your drink just the way you like it by adding still or sparkling water, along with a dash of maple syrup or sugar to taste.

How do you take the bitterness out of cranberry juice? ›

Try A Softer Sweetener

If you don't have maple syrup (pancake syrup WILL NOT do, y'all), try honey or a more neutral sweetener like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, or even simple syrup. All of these syrupy ingredients are a perfect quick fix for bitter cranberry sauce.

How much should I dilute cranberry juice? ›

Even if you went to a health food store and bought 100 percent pure cranberry juice (so unpleasantly tart to most palates that the label recommends drinking only three ounces of it daily, diluted in eight ounces of water), you'd still need to drink a lot to get the necessary amount of PACs to be effective.

Can I add water to my cranberry juice? ›

Dilute it with more water! Treat it like a concentrate and just add some water. You can also use it like a cranberry syrup and add it to co*cktails or mocktails. My favorite is to add a splash of my homemade cranberry juice to a fizzy glass of sprite or lemon seltzer water.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg Kuvalis

Last Updated:

Views: 5674

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg Kuvalis

Birthday: 1996-12-20

Address: 53157 Trantow Inlet, Townemouth, FL 92564-0267

Phone: +68218650356656

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Knitting, Amateur radio, Skiing, Running, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.