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Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce features tart cranberries simmered with spices and orange for a tangy and sweet sauce that is the perfect complement to a variety of desserts.
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Cranberry sauce is a classic dish that is often a popular condiment or side dish, but it can also be used for quick breads, muffins, and desserts. Bright and festive, it is so easy to make your own cranberry sauce and tastes much better than the canned stuff from the grocery store.
Dessert sauces can make any treat more indulgent! Hot Fudge Sauce, Salted Caramel Sauce, and Toffee Sauce are three more easy and delicious homemade dessert sauces to save on top of all of your favorite treats.
Cranberry Sauce Ingredients
You will need:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup orange juice
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Substitutions and Additions
SPICES: Cloves and cinnamon are optional but add a nice warm earthy flavor to the cranberry sauce.
CINNAMON: You can substitute ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon for the cinnamon stick.
FROZEN VS. FRESH: Frozen cranberries work just as well as fresh and may be more readily available. The cranberry sauce will take a few minutes longer to come to a boil than if using fresh cranberries.
SUGAR: Some recipes call for brown sugar rather than white sugar for cranberry sauce. Both work fine in this recipe. For a twist, you could also opt to use maple syrup as a sweetener instead.
ORANGE JUICE: You can use either fresh orange juice or orange juice made from concentrate in this perfect cranberry sauce recipe.
How to Make Cranberry Sauce
STEP ONE: Combine sugar, water, and juice in a 12-inch saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil.
PRO TIP: If you prefer a slightly more tart cranberry sauce, you can adjust the amount of sugar, adding more or less sugar to suit your tastes.
STEP TWO: Add cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Heat over medium until the sauce returns to a boil.
PRO TIP: The cranberries can be added to the pot either frozen or thawed. They will thaw pretty quickly while coming to a boil.
STEP THREE: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens and turns deep red. The sauce will thicken further as it cools, so remove from heat as the sauce is approaching jam consistency.
STEP FOUR: Remove from heat and cool cranberry sauce. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick.
STEP FIVE: Transfer to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
PRO TIP: When serving your cranberry sauce, make sure to put it in a pretty clear glass bowl so you can show off the bright vibrant deep red color of this yummy condiment.
How to Serve Cranberry Sauce
There is no reason you have to limit making this best cranberry sauce recipe to just the holiday season. Enjoy it all year round! Use it as a filling for thumbprint cookies, as a topping for cheesecakes, or even pour it over ice cream for a sweet and tangy treat.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Store your homemade cranberry sauce, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Leftover cranberry sauce can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 4 months.
PRESERVING: Cranberry sauce can be canned and stored at room temperature. Make sure you follow safe canning procedures. The jars must be processed in a hot water bath and must be sealed properly.
Cranberry sauce is a favorite during the holiday season. Tart cranberries are simmered with spices and orange for a tangy and sweet sauce that is the perfect complement to a variety of baked goods and desserts. This amazing homemade cranberry sauce is sure to be a huge hit, no matter what time of year you make it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do you get the bitterness out of cranberry sauce?
Adding a small spoonful of maple syrup or honey will help eliminate any bitterness in your cranberry sauce.
Can you make cranberry sauce ahead of time?
Cranberry sauce can easily be made ahead of time and will keep in the refrigerator for up to ten days. It also freezes well. Cranberry sauce is also a great dish to preserve in mason jars and will keep for an extended period of time that way (please follow proper sterilizing and canning procedures).
Should I use fresh or frozen cranberries?
You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this homemade sauce. If you use frozen berries they can be added to the pot frozen as they will thaw pretty quickly while coming to a boil.
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Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce features tart cranberries simmered with spices and orange for a tangy and sweet sauce that is the perfect complement to a variety of desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup orange juice
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine sugar, water, and juice in a 12-inch saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil.
- Add cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Heat over medium until the sauce returns to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens and turns deep red. The sauce will thicken further as it cools, so remove from heat as the sauce is approaching jam consistency.
- Remove from heat and cool cranberry sauce. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick.
- Transfer to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
Notes
If you prefer a slightly more tart cranberry sauce, you can adjust the amount of sugar, adding more or less sugar to suit your tastes.
The cranberries can be added to the pot either frozen or thawed. They will thaw pretty quickly while coming to a boil.
When serving your cranberry sauce, make sure to put it in a pretty clear glass bowl so you can show off the bright vibrant deep red color of this yummy condiment.
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