Description
This easy cranberry sauce recipe is a simple, delicious way to elevate your holiday table or any meal needing a touch of tart sweetness. Made from fresh cranberries simmered with orange juice, zest, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla, this sauce balances tangy and sweet flavors with a luscious, thick texture. Perfect served warm or at room temperature, it can be prepared in advance and stored for convenience.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag cranberries, rinsed
- 3/4 cup (150g) water
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh orange juice (about 1/2 large orange)
- 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Orange: Zest the orange first and set the zest aside. Then cut the orange in half and juice about half a large orange to yield 1/4 cup fresh orange juice.
- Rinse Cranberries: Rinse the 12-ounce bag of cranberries in a colander under cold water. Set aside 1/2 cup of whole cranberries for later use.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the remaining cranberries, water, fresh orange juice, and brown sugar. Stir occasionally as the mixture heats.
- Simmer Cranberries: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low-medium. Continue cooking for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst, the liquid has reduced, and the sauce thickens.
- Finish Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the reserved 1/2 cup whole cranberries, orange zest, and vanilla extract. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Serve and Store: Serve the cranberry sauce warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- You can prepare this cranberry sauce up to 3 days ahead. Cool completely and refrigerate tightly covered.
- Warm the sauce on the stove or microwave before serving if desired.
- To freeze, cool sauce completely, freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries; if frozen, no need to thaw before use.
- Adjust sweetness by increasing brown sugar to 1 cup if a sweeter sauce is preferred.
- Recommended tools include a zester, citrus juicer, saucepan, and wooden spoon for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
