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Perfect Make-Ahead Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe: Easy & Homemade

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This easy, homemade cranberry orange sauce is perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, with bright citrus flavor and a make-ahead convenience that makes it ideal for Thanksgiving or any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (about 3 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Zest and juice your orange first. Wash the orange well, zest it using a microplane (avoid the white pith), then cut it in half and juice until you have 1/2 cup. Set both aside.
  2. Combine everything in the saucepan. Add the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, cinnamon, and salt to a medium saucepan. Stir briefly. Do not add the zest yet.
  3. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until cranberries start to pop, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest and vanilla extract (if using).
  6. Let the sauce cool completely in the pot (about 20 minutes), then transfer to a jar or airtight container.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.

Notes

The sauce gets better after a day or two in the fridge. For a smoother sauce, mash the cranberries with a potato masher after they soften. If the sauce is too thick after chilling, stir in a tablespoon of warm water or orange juice. If too thin, simmer a few minutes longer or add a cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) during cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange sauce, make-ahead cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, easy cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://platebelle.com/perfect-make-ahead-cranberry-orange-sauce-recipe-easy-and-homemade/