Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (2024)

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Learn how to turn fresh whole cranberries and sugar into homemade cranberry juice! This easy recipe for canning cranberry juice is fast and very beginner friendly!

Nothing can compare to homemade juices! And believe it or not, you do not need a juicer or juice press to make some of the homemade juices. This canned cranberry juice recipe being one of them. It is sooo easy to make and just so delicious!

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (1)

This is a cheap way to make cranberry juice that your family can enjoy all year long! Trust me---you will never want store-bought cranberry juice after you try your homemade recipe.

If you want to watch this recipe in a short form video, here is an instagram reel I shared the last time I canned cranberry juice.

Jump to:
  • Why this recipe works
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Helpful Equipment
  • Tips and Troubleshooting
  • Serving Suggestions
  • How to store cranberry juice
  • FAQ
  • Recipe
  • TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
  • SERVING SUGGESTIONS
  • HOW TO STORE/REFRIGERATE/FREEZE/THAW
  • Related
  • More recipes from scratch
  • Comments

Why this recipe works

The perfect time to use this cranberry juice is during the Christmas season when you are making your Christmas co*cktail! You can also use it to flavor your kombucha in a second fermentation. If you are interested in learning about kombucha, you can read more about it here.

Serving your own cranberry juice with some of our favorite breakfast dishes is always a joy as well. We love to drink it while enjoying some Sourdough Coffee Cake, Venison Breakfast Casserole, or Homemade Cinnamon Rolls early in the morning.

Ingredients

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (2)
  • 2 bags of whole cranberries: The average fresh cranberry bag is 3 ½ cups, so 2 bags is perfect.
  • 7 quart mason jars with rings and lids.
  • 3 ½ cups of sugar.
  • Water bath canner: I use my pressure canner as a dual purpose water bath canner.
  • A funnel & jar holder.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (3)

1. Soak the fresh cranberries in your favorite fruit and veggies wash. Rinse well and pick out any blemished or rotten cranberries.

Wash the canning jars and lids in very hot soapy water or submerge them in a large stock pot of boiling water. You'll want clean jars to be warmed up for the next step!

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (4)

3. Fill your canner with water to the quart sized water bath line, or so that the jars will be submerged by at least an inch once they are in the canner.

Set it on the stove and heat water to a boil over medium-high heat.

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (5)

3. Put the funnel in the jar and pour ½ cup of sugar into each quart.Add one cup of whole berries to each jar.

You can add more or less cranberries to make the juice more juice-like or a concentrate.

Add more sugar to make it sweeter, or less sugar to make it more tart.

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (6)

4. Top the jar off with boiling or very hot water.

5. Leave 1 inch headspace at the top of the jar, wipe the rims of jars with a clean towel dipped in vinegar, add the lid and secure the screw bands finger tip tight. You don’t want to really crank them down, because air needs to be able to escape as it heats in the boiling water.

5. Use the jar lifter to transfer the cranberry jars to the water bath canner. Watch out for steam! It can really burn you. The jars should be close, but not touching. 7 quart jars fit perfectly in my canner, and I’m guessing they will fit in yours, too.

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (7)

6. Once the water has reached a full rolling boil, set a timer for 15 minutes. Once the jars are done processing, I shut off the burner and wait until the water stops spoiling before I remove the jars from the canner.

If I were canning a food like pickles that are prone to turning mushy, I would remove the jars immediately. But the cranberries don’t mind! Set the jars on a few layers of tea towels and leave them undisturbed overnight.

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (8)

The lids have probably not sealed yet, and over the next few hours you will probably start hearing soft little “ping” sounds as they seal.

7. Wait at least 12-24 hours before testing the seal and removing the rings. You need to make sure the jars of cranberry juice have came to room temperature. Give the glass jars a good shake once a day or so until the color is a bright cranberry red.

Label to jars and put them in your pantry for later!

Hint: Hot jars + hot canner (remember this forever!). The canner and the jars need to be the same temperature, or the jars can break during canning.

Helpful Equipment

  • Water bath canner, also known as a boiling water canner, or pressure canner that you can use as a water bath canner- I personally use my pressure canner as a dual-purpose canner by using it for water bath canning as well.
  • A set of measuring cups- For this recipe you will only need measuring cups and not measuring spoons. I have a set of these measuring cups that I use all of the time and absolutely love!
  • Canning lids and rings - Good quality canning lids and rings are a must. My favorite brand canning lids and rings is FORJARSUSA (save with code MEG10).
  • Canning jars - There are many different types of canning jars out there, the most common being Ball canning jars.I actually have lost faith with Ball the last few years because jars have been breaking and the lids not sealing. Now I try to find off brands, if possible.
  • Basic Canning Utensil Set- This set includes a canning funnel, magnets stick to easily remove the lids from hot water, and a pair of jar tongs for adding the jars to the water bath and removing the jars from the water bath

Tips and Troubleshooting

  • Your processing time will vary based on your elevation. If you live above 1000ft elevation you will have to water bath can for an additional 5 minutes. If you live above 6000ft you will increase the canning time by 10 minutes.
  • You process pints and quarts for the same about of time.
  • It is very important to wipe jar rims with a cloth that has vinegar on it because the vinegar can remove any greases on the rim of the jar that can prevent the jar from sealing.

Serving Suggestions

  • You can enjoy your real cranberry juice while eating breakfast in the morning. Try warming it up and drinking hot juice for a sweet and savory drink on a chilly morning. If you are feeling a little spicy, a great way to enjoy your homemade can even freeze the juice into Ice cubes and use it for a co*cktail during the holiday season, or any time of year for that matter.

How to store cranberry juice

  • You can store homemade canned cranberry juice for up to a year in your pantry shelf when water bath canned. It is recommended to store it in a cool dark place.
  • Once you open a jar of this delicious juice, make sure to store the juice in the refrigerator and drink within a week.

FAQ

Can I make this cranberry juice sweeter or more sour?

The sweetness of your cranberry juice can be adjusted based on how much sugar is added to each jar. If you want it to be more sweet you will need to add additional sugar to each jar. For a more bitter juice, add less sugar to the jars. once you figure out the sweetness that you like,

Can I make this juice more or less concentrated?

You can make a less concentrated juice by added water to the finished product when you open it. If you are looking for a more concentrated juice, you will want to add more cranberries to the mason jar when you make it.

Can homemade cranberry juice be water bath canned?

You can water bath homemade cranberry juice. It is not a juice that needs any pressure canning.

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. For more delicious recipes from scratch and homesteading tips, follow me on instagram @NinnescahHomestead

Recipe

Canning Cranberry Juice

Learn how to turn fresh whole cranberries and sugar into homemade cranberry juice! This easy recipe for canning cranberry juice is fast and very beginner friendly!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Water bath canning time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, happy hour

Cuisine American

Servings 14 servings

Calories 193 kcal

Equipment

  • water bath canner

  • 7 quart mason jars, lids and rings

  • funnel & jar lifter

Ingredients

  • 7 cups fresh whole cranberries
  • cups sugar

Instructions

  • Soak the fresh cranberries in your favorite fruit and veggies wash. Rinse well and pick out any blemished or rotten cranberries.

  • Wash the canning jars and lids in very hot soapy water or submerge them in a large stock pot of boiling water. You'll want clean jars to be warmed up for the next step!

  • Fill your canner with water to the quart sized water bath line, or so that the jars will be submerged by at least an inch once they are in the canner.

    Set it on the stove and heat water to a boil over medium-high heat.

  • Put the funnel in the jar and pour ½ cup of sugar into each quart.Add one cup of whole berries to each jar.

  • Top the jar off with boiling or very hot water. Leave 1 inch headspace at the top of the jar, wipe the rims of jars with a clean towel dipped in vinegar, add the lid and secure the screw bands finger tip tight. You don’t want to really crank them down, because air needs to be able to escape as it heats in the boiling water.

  • Use the jar lifter to transfer the cranberry jars to the water bath canner. Watch out for steam! It can really burn you. The jars should be close, but not touching. 7 quart jars fit perfectly in my canner, and I’m guessing they will fit in yours, too.

  • Once the water has reached a full rolling boil, set a timer for 15 minutes. Once the jars are done processing, I shut off the burner and wait until the water stops spoiling before I remove the jars from the canner.

  • Wait at least 12-24 hours before testing the seal and removing the rings. You need to make sure the jars of cranberry juice have came to room temperature. Give the glass jars a good shake once a day or so until the color is a bright cranberry red.

Notes

TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING

  • Your processing time will vary based on your elevation. If you live above 1000ft elevation you will have to water bath can for an additional 5 minutes. If you live above 6000ft you will increase the canning time by 10 minutes.
  • You process pints and quarts for the same about of time.
  • It is very important to wipe jar rims with a cloth that has vinegar on it because the vinegar can remove any greases on the rim of the jar that can prevent the jar from sealing.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

  • You can enjoy your real cranberry juice while eating breakfast in the morning. Try warming it up and drinking hot juice for a sweet and savory drink on a chilly morning. If you are feeling a little spicy, a great way to enjoy your homemade can even freeze the juice into Ice cubes and use it for a co*cktail during the holiday season, or any time of year for that matter.

HOW TO STORE/REFRIGERATE/FREEZE/THAW

  • You can store homemade canned cranberry juice for up to a year in your pantry shelf. It is recommended to store it in a cool dark place.
  • Once you open a jar of this delicious juice, make sure to store the juice in the refrigerator and drink within a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 50gFat: 0.2gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 1mgSugar: 50gCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.02mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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  • Best Way to Store Fresh Strawberries
  • How to Freeze Dry Milk

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Thanks for coming! Let me know what you think:

  1. Karen

    Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (22)
    This was a perfect way for me to use the cranberries I bought on sale! And boy is this juice perfect! Thank you for sharing! It was sooooo easy to can!

    Reply

Canning Cranberry Juice (Homemade Cranberry Juice Recipe) - Ninnescah Made (2024)

FAQs

Can cranberry juice be water bath canned? ›

You can store homemade canned cranberry juice for up to a year in your pantry shelf when water bath canned. It is recommended to store it in a cool dark place. Once you open a jar of this delicious juice, make sure to store the juice in the refrigerator and drink within a week.

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

How to get rid of bitter taste in cranberry juice? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

One of the best foils for bitter flavors are acidic ingredients, like citrus juices or vinegars. Their sharp tang counteracts bitter flavors without having to add extra sugar.

Are cranberries high acid for canning? ›

Both cranberries and apples are high acid foods, meaning they are safe to process in a water bath canner. I also add a some lemon juice to ensure acidity and preserve color.

How long do you water bath juice? ›

Pour into hot, sterile jars and process in a boiling water bath: 5 minutes for pints and quarts; 10 minutes for half gallons. To freeze - Cool juice, pack into moisture vapor-resistant containers. If using glass or plastic jars, leave 2 inch headspace.

Can you can cranberry juice in half gallon jars? ›

There are historical recommendations for canning foods in half-gallon jars; however, they are not currently accepted or endorsed by the USDA, by the Cooperative Extension System or by home canning jar manufacturers in the USA.

Is homemade cranberry sauce good for you? ›

The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium! Thankfully, buying cranberry sauce at the store is not the only option. We have the perfect Simple Cranberry Sauce recipe to make for the upcoming holidays!

What happens if you overcook cranberry sauce? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

Can homemade cranberry sauce be left out overnight? ›

What to Do if You Left Out Cranberry Sauce Overnight. We hear you: After a full day cooking and hosting and (hopefully) enjoying Thanksgiving, some things are bound to fall by the wayside. But if you leave cranberry sauce out over night, whether it is homemade or store-bought, please throw it away.

How to make 100% cranberry juice taste good? ›

Buy the 100% cranberry, then add a splash of water and sweet, low nutrition juice like apple or grape juice to make sweeter.

What makes cranberry juice taste better? ›

Fresh Citrus: oranges and lemons add sweet and acid to balance the cranberries tartness.

What medications does cranberry juice interfere with? ›

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.

Are canned cranberries good for kidneys? ›

4. Cranberries. Cranberries are low in potassium and high in vitamin C, making them another great choice for people with kidney disease. Cranberry juice has also been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections, which are typical for people with kidney disease.

What is a substitute for citric acid in canning? ›

Lemon juice is another natural acidulent commonly used in home food preservation. To assure safe acidity in whole, crushed, or juiced tomatoes, add 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice per quart of tomatoes or 1 tablespoon per pint.

What to do with cranberries after making juice? ›

Seven ways to reuse your leftover fruit juice pulp
  1. Add interest to smoothies. Try adding some nutritious pulp to the blender when you make your next breakfast smoothie. ...
  2. Make flavoured ice cubes. ...
  3. Liven up pancakes. ...
  4. Make chewy fruit leathers. ...
  5. Make popsicles. ...
  6. Add to homemade granola. ...
  7. Add to baked goods. ...
  8. Apples.
Jun 25, 2021

What can not be water bath canned? ›

Water-bath canning is NOT for meats, seafood, poultry, chili and beans, corn, and other low-acid vegetables that require a higher temperature (240°F) to raise the heat inside the jars above the boiling point of water (212°F) and hot enough to kill harmful bacteria. Low-acid food requires pressure canning.

What can be canned in water bath? ›

High-acid foods including most fruits, jams, jellies, pickled products, sauerkraut, preserves, salsa and acidified tomatoes can all be home canned using a water bath canner and a research-based recipe. A water bath canner is a large, deep kettle that has a lid and a rack to hold jars.

Can all fruits be water bath canned? ›

There is one really important thing to note about water bath canning: it can only be done with high acid foods. High acid means a pH lower than 4.6. This includes most of our fruits and any vegetables preserved in a high acid solution (like vinegar for pickling).

Can you put cranberry juice in water? ›

Avoid cranberry juice co*cktails as these are often mixed with other juices, such as grape juice and apple juice, and contain added sugars that can take away from the benefits of pure cranberry juice. If you find pure cranberry juice too tart, dilute it with water to make it more palatable.

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