Description
This Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a quick and flavorful upgrade to your holiday meals! Made with just 4 simple ingredients in 15 minutes, it’s sweet, tart, and beautifully vibrant. You can customize it with citrus zest, warm spices, or a splash of wine for an extra festive touch. A must-have for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any fine dining recipe lineup.
Ingredients
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 cup water
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1/2 cup orange juice (optional)
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16 oz fresh cranberries
Optional Add-ins (See Notes):
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1 teaspoon orange zest
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1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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1 cinnamon stick or a pinch of ground cinnamon or cloves
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Orange peel or splash of wine or rum
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1 split vanilla bean
Instructions
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Rinse the cranberries and discard any that are bruised or damaged. Set aside.
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In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and orange juice. Cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil.
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Stir in the cranberries and return to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium. Cook for 5–10 minutes, or until most of the cranberries have burst.
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Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
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Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. Sauce will thicken as it cools and can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
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Add orange zest or cinnamon for a festive twist.
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A splash of red wine, rum, or a split vanilla bean makes this perfect for elegant holiday meals.
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Serve warm or chilled—it pairs beautifully with turkey, ham, or as a spread on sandwiches.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0mg