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Cranberry Sauce

Mix sugar and water in pot till bubbly. Add fresh cranberries, cook till they pop and get soft. Stir in orange peel, cinnamon or other spices you like. Let cool till thick. Makes bright red sauce that's both sweet and tangy. Perfect with turkey or spread on bread.

Featured in Kitchen Flavor Boosters.

Fatiha
Updated on Sun, 05 Jan 2025 01:26:26 GMT
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A white bowl filled with cranberry sauce garnished with cranberries and a cinnamon stick, surrounded by crackers and an orange slice. Pin it
A white bowl filled with cranberry sauce garnished with cranberries and a cinnamon stick, surrounded by crackers and an orange slice. | zestplate.com

Want to make the best cranberry sauce recipe for your holiday table? You're in the right spot! This homemade cranberry sauce turns those bright berries into a sweet-tangy treat that'll make your turkey sing. It's so much better than anything from a can, and I'll show you just how easy it is to make.

Why This Recipe's a Winner

Looking for fresh cranberry sauce recipe ideas? This one's a keeper. It brings that perfect mix of sweet and tart to your holiday spread, and man, does it make turkey taste amazing! The best part? You can make it days ahead, which is a lifesaver when you're juggling all those holiday dishes. Plus, you can jazz it up with orange, spices, or whatever strikes your fancy.

What You'll Need

  • Sugar: Regular white sugar works great, or try brown sugar for a deeper flavor
  • Water: Plain old tap water, or swap half with orange juice for extra zip
  • Cranberries: Fresh ones are perfect, but frozen work just as well
  • Optional Goodies: Try pecans, orange zest, raisins, or cinnamon - whatever makes you happy

Let's Cook!

Clean Those Berries
Give your cranberries a good rinse and pick out any sad-looking ones - you want the firm, pretty ones for your recipe for cranberry sauce.
Get the Sugar Going
Mix water and sugar in a pot over high heat. Stir until the sugar melts and you see bubbles.
Berry Time
Toss in your cranberries and let them do their thing - about 10 minutes of simmering until they pop and get saucy.
Make It Your Own
Now's when you can add those extra touches - nuts, spices, whatever you're feeling.
Cool It Down
Let everything cool off, then pop it in the fridge. Watch how it gets all thick and gorgeous as it chills.

Why Everyone Loves This Sauce

Funny how such a simple thing can make such a big difference, right? This cranberry sauce recipe is one of those holiday must-haves that makes turkey taste like a million bucks. It's got that perfect balance - sweet but tangy, smooth but with texture, and that gorgeous ruby color that makes your table look amazing.

Making It Your Own

Here's where you can get creative with your cranberry sauce recipes. Switch up the liquid - maybe use some OJ or apple cider instead of water. Toss in some cinnamon if you're feeling spicy, or add chopped nuts for crunch. That's the fun part about making it yourself - you get to decide what goes in.

Why Make It Early

Here's a pro tip: make this sauce a few days before the big feast. Not only does it free up your kitchen on the busy day, but it actually tastes better after hanging out in the fridge for a bit. The flavors get friendlier with each other, and the texture gets just right.

A stainless steel pot filled with glossy cranberry sauce sits on a stove, with some whole cranberries visible and oranges in the background. Pin it
A stainless steel pot filled with glossy cranberry sauce sits on a stove, with some whole cranberries visible and oranges in the background. | zestplate.com

Beyond Turkey Day

Don't limit yourself to just Thanksgiving! This sauce is great all year round. Spread it on sandwiches, dollop it on your morning oatmeal, or even use it to jazz up a cheese plate. Once you see how easy it is to whip up, you'll find all sorts of ways to use it.

Keeping It Fresh

Your sauce will stay good in the fridge for a couple weeks, perfect for all those leftovers. Want to save some for later? Just pop it in the freezer - it'll keep for months. When you're ready for more, just let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Easy as pie!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How long it keeps?

Two weeks in cold box. Box it up tight though. Gets better with time. Watch for spots. Fresh still best.

→ Make it early?

Few days ahead great. Flavors mix better. Keep it cold good. Stir before serve. Makes life easy.

→ Too sour taste?

More sugar helps. Add juice maybe. Touch honey works. Taste while warm. Can't fix too sweet.

→ Can you freeze it?

Works real nice. Use good container. Keeps months cold. Thaw in cold box. Still tastes fresh.

→ Want different taste?

Add some spice in. Orange peel's nice. Nuts work good too. Even wine helps. Don't hide berry taste.

→ Getting too thick?

Add splash juice. Warm it bit. Stir real good. Watch it close. Easy fix quick.

→ Taking it places?

Keep it cold packed. Box with tight lid. Bring serving spoon. Maybe backup jar. Worth the work.

→ Need it faster?

Use quick sugar mix. Watch pot close. Skip extra stuff. Still tastes good. Takes bout half hour.

→ Making big batch?

Double works fine. Need bigger pot. More cook time. Watch sugar amount. Berries pop lots.

→ Want more pop?

Fresh ginger bits. Add some spice. Try mint leaves. Even nuts work. Start small though.

→ Not thick enough?

Cook bit longer. Let cool good. Less juice maybe. More berries help. Patience works best.

→ Berries too whole?

Cook longer time. Mash some up. Leave some whole. Mix textures nice. Watch they don't burn.

Conclusion

Love this? Try fresh berry mix next. Or make sweet berry bread. Both use tart berries good.

Cranberry Sauce

Fast holiday berry sauce.

Prep Time
5 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
20 Minutes
By: Fatiha

Category: Sauces & Marinades

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 9 Servings (2 1/4 cups)

Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1 cup (200g) sugar.
02 1 cup (250ml) water.
03 4 cups (one 12-ounce package) fresh or frozen cranberries.
04 Optional: pecans, orange zest, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.

Instructions

Step 01

Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse them under cold water, picking out any damaged or bruised berries.

Step 02

In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine water and sugar, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil.

Step 03

Add the cranberries to the boiling sugar water. Return to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cooking for about 10 minutes, or until most cranberries have burst.

Step 04

If desired, stir in optional mix-ins such as half a cup of chopped pecans, a pinch or two of orange zest, or holiday spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Step 05

Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the sauce to cool to room temperature. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator, where it will thicken further as it cools.

Notes

  1. To accentuate the flavor, substitute 1/2 cup of water with orange juice for a citrusy twist.
  2. You can adjust the sugar level to your taste; starting with half the amount and adding more if needed.
  3. This cranberry sauce is a classic addition to Thanksgiving dinners.

Tools You'll Need

  • Colander.
  • Medium saucepan.
  • Stirring spoon.
  • Bowl.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 103
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: 27 g
  • Protein: ~