Description
Rich and tangy cranberry sauce elevates holiday meals with its perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. Homemade flavors surpass store-bought versions, offering you a delightful condiment that brings festive cheer to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) orange juice, freshly squeezed preferred
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- 1 tsp orange zest, optional
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan, ensuring thorough mixing of all ingredients.
- Heating: Activate the stove to medium heat, gradually bringing the mixture from a gentle simmer to a robust boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Simmering: Reduce heat and allow cranberries to gently burst, releasing natural pectin and creating a luxurious, glossy texture. The sauce will progressively thicken and develop a deep, rich color.
- Flavor Enhancement: Introduce orange zest during the final cooking moments, infusing the sauce with a bright, citrusy undertone that complements the cranberries’ inherent tartness.
- Cooling and Finishing: Remove from heat and let the sauce cool naturally, allowing it to continue thickening. Transfer to a serving dish, creating a vibrant, jewel-toned condiment perfect for festive gatherings.
- Storage: Preserve the cranberry sauce in an airtight container within the refrigerator, maintaining its robust flavor profile for up to one week.
Notes
- Precision Simmering: Maintain a steady, low heat to prevent burning and ensure cranberries burst evenly, releasing their natural pectin for a perfect sauce texture.
- Zest Timing: Add orange zest at the end of cooking to preserve its bright, fresh flavor and prevent bitterness from prolonged heat exposure.
- Consistency Control: Let the sauce cool naturally to achieve the ideal thickness, as it will continue to thicken as it reaches room temperature.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the cranberry sauce up to a week in advance, storing it in the refrigerator to develop deeper, more complex flavors and save time during holiday meal prep.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 74
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg