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Perfect Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe – Easy & Homemade

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This bright, tangy, and just sweet enough cranberry orange sauce comes together in about twenty minutes and tastes like you spent all day on it. It’s the perfect make-ahead side for your holiday table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340g) fresh cranberries
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large navel orange (zested, juiced, and sliced)
  • ½ cup (120ml) water
  • 1 small cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prep the orange: Wash the orange thoroughly. Zest about 1 tablespoon of the peel, avoiding the white pith. Cut the orange in half and juice it (about ¼ cup juice). Slice 2-3 thin rounds from the remaining orange half, peel and all. Set aside.
  2. Combine the base ingredients: In a medium saucepan, add the fresh cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, and cinnamon stick. Stir to combine.
  3. Bring to a simmer: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a steady simmer.
  4. Add the orange slices: Tuck the thin orange slices into the simmering mixture.
  5. Simmer until thickened: Let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it coats the back of a spoon and leaves a trail when you run your finger through it.
  6. Remove the cinnamon stick and orange slices: Fish them out with a fork or tongs.
  7. Stir in the vanilla and salt: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
  8. Cool and serve: Let the sauce cool in the saucepan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a serving bowl or jar. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Notes

Don’t rush the simmer; a gentle simmer allows the cranberries to break down evenly. The sauce will thicken as it cools, so aim for a consistency slightly looser than desired. Make ahead for best flavor. Don’t skip the salt—it enhances the natural flavors.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, cranberry orange sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving side dish, easy cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/perfect-fresh-cranberry-orange-sauce-recipe-easy-and-homemade/