Description
This Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a quick and flavorful upgrade to your holiday meals! Made with just 4 simple ingredients in 15 minutes, it’s sweet, tart, and beautifully vibrant. You can customize it with citrus zest, warm spices, or a splash of wine for an extra festive touch. A must-have for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any fine dining recipe lineup
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
½ cup orange juice (optional)
16 oz fresh cranberries
Optional Add-ins:
1 tsp orange zest
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick or pinch of ground cinnamon or cloves
Orange peel or splash of wine or rum
1 split vanilla bean
Instructions
Rinse cranberries and discard any that are bruised or damaged. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and orange juice. Cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until it comes to a boil.
Stir in the cranberries and return to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for 5–10 minutes, or until most cranberries have burst.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. Sauce thickens as it cools and can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
-
For extra flavor, add orange zest, cinnamon, or vanilla extract.
-
A splash of red wine or rum adds depth and a festive flair.
-
Sauce will thicken significantly once chilled.
-
Make ahead for holidays—this sauce keeps well for up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
-
Can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 batch
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg