Description

This homemade cranberry sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, making it an ideal accompaniment for any festive meal. Quick and simple, it only requires a handful of ingredients and delivers the freshest, most flavorful cranberry sauce you’ve ever had. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just as a delightful side to roast meats. It’s easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time to save you stress on the big day.

Ingredients

12 oz (340g) fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 cup (240ml) water
Zest of 1 orange
Juice of 1 orange
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 tsp ground cloves (optional)

Pinch of salt

Instructions

Prepare the Cranberries
Rinse the cranberries under cold water, discarding any stems or soft berries. Set them aside.
Cook the Cranberries
In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add the Citrus
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and add the orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir occasionally.
Simmer & Thicken
Allow the mixture to simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.

Cool & Serve
Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat. Let it cool to room temperature before serving. The sauce will thicken even more as it cools.

Notes

Add Spice: For a more aromatic sauce, add ground ginger or nutmeg.

Sweeter or Less Sweet?: Adjust the sugar to your preference. Add more sugar if you like it sweeter, or swap out half the sugar for honey or maple syrup.

Consistency: For a chunkier sauce, leave it as is. For a smoother version, blend the sauce with an immersion blender or in a food processor.

How to Store & Reheat:
Store leftover cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months. To reheat, simply place the sauce in a saucepan over low heat and stir until warm. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of water to loosen it.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Side Dish, Sauce
Method: Stove-top
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, cranberry recipe, Thanksgiving sauce, orange cranberry sauce