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Easy Cranberry Sauce made with fresh cranberries and orange juice for Thanksgiving

Easy Cranberry Sauce with Fresh Orange

A quick and delightful homemade cranberry sauce infused with fresh orange juice and zest for a balanced flavor, perfect for holiday meals.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 110
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries One standard bag
  • 1 medium orange For juice and zest
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar Start with less, add more if needed
  • 1/2 cup water Or more orange juice for extra citrusy flavor
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tiny pinch cinnamon Optional

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the cranberries and pick out any mushy ones.
  2. Zest the orange first, then juice it.
Cooking
  1. Add cranberries, orange juice, water, sugar, salt, and about 1/2 teaspoon of zest to a saucepan.
  2. Bring it to a gentle boil, then lower to a simmer.
  3. Stir occasionally to prevent the sugar from sticking.
  4. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes. You will hear cranberries popping, and the sauce will start looking glossy.
  5. Turn off the heat when it looks a bit thinner than desired as it thickens as it cools.
  6. Taste it. If too tart, add more sugar. If too sweet, add a squeeze of orange or a tablespoon of water.

Notes

Cranberry sauce keeps thickening as it cools. For a smoother texture, mash with a fork or blend a portion before mixing it back in. Make ahead-friendly, tastes better after a night in the fridge.