Description
This vibrant and tart-sweet cranberry sauce is perfect for any occasion, not just the holidays. Infused with warming spices and bright citrus, it’s a versatile addition to your meals year-round.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 bags (12 ounces each) of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- 1 cup of fresh orange juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
- a pinch of ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- zest of one large orange
- a pinch (about 1/4 teaspoon) of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse and sort the cranberries under cool water, discarding any soft, shriveled, or bruised berries.
- In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the rinsed cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice, cinnamon stick, ground ginger, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg. Stir gently to mix.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for about 10-15 minutes until most cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Stir periodically to prevent sticking.
- Remove the saucepan from heat once the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency and discard the cinnamon stick.
- Stir in the fresh orange zest and, if using, the vanilla extract.
- Transfer the cranberry sauce to a heatproof bowl or jar and let it cool completely at room temperature before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Taste the sauce once cooled and adjust sweetness with more sweetener or a squeeze of lemon juice if needed. For a smoother texture, mash the cranberries or blend after cooling.