Description
This Classic Christmas Cranberry Sauce is a simple and festive condiment made with fresh cranberries, orange juice, and warm spices. Perfectly balanced with sweet and tart flavors, it’s an easy-to-make sauce ideal for holiday meals, especially with turkey.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
Fresh Produce
- 12 oz fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over
- 1 strip orange peel
Spices and Sweeteners
- 1 cinnamon stick
- small pinch salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Combine liquids and sugar: In a large saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, orange juice, and water, mixing well to start dissolving the sugar.
- Heat and dissolve sugar: Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir frequently until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is well combined.
- Add cranberries and spices: Add the fresh cranberries, a pinch of salt, the cinnamon stick, and the orange peel strip to the saucepan.
- Distribute ingredients: Stir gently to evenly distribute the cranberries and spices within the liquid.
- Simmer the mixture: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring often to prevent sticking or burning.
- Cook until cranberries pop: Continue cooking for about 10 minutes, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Cool the sauce: Remove the pan from heat and let the cranberry sauce cool in the saucepan for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the sauce to set.
- Refrigerate: Transfer the cooled cranberry sauce to a covered container and refrigerate until ready to serve, ideally a few hours or overnight.
Notes
- The sauce thickens further as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems slightly thin while hot.
- Removing the cinnamon stick and orange peel before serving improves texture and eating experience.
- This sauce can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- For variation, you can add a splash of brandy or sprinkle some grated ginger for extra flavor.
