Description
Classic Cranberry Sauce is a simple, tangy-sweet condiment made with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and a hint of orange zest, perfect for holiday meals or any time you want to add bright flavor to your dishes. This easy stovetop recipe yields a smooth, thickened sauce with bursts of cranberry flavor and optional warming cinnamon notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, and orange zest. Add the cinnamon stick, if desired, to infuse warm spice flavors into the sauce.
- Bring to Boil: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. As it heats, the cranberries will start to pop, releasing their juices.
- Simmer and Thicken: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This simmering thickens the sauce and bursts most of the cranberries to create a luscious texture.
- Adjust and Remove from Heat: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness if necessary. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to reach your desired consistency.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely. It will thicken further as it cools. Serve the sauce chilled or at room temperature alongside your favorite dishes.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries interchangeably.
- Orange zest and juice add a fresh citrus note to balance the tartness of cranberries.
- Omitting the cinnamon stick yields a more straightforward cranberry flavor, while including it adds a warm spice dimension.
- Cool the sauce completely before serving for best texture.
- Store leftover cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
