Description
Homemade cranberry sauce brings festive cheer to holiday tables with its perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors. Families will savor this simple, classic recipe that elevates seasonal gatherings with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) cranberries
- 1 cup (200 grams) white sugar
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) orange juice
Instructions
- Pour orange juice and sugar into a medium saucepan, heating over medium-high temperature.
- Stir mixture constantly until sugar completely dissolves and liquid reaches a rolling boil.
- Add fresh cranberries to the bubbling liquid, reducing heat to create a gentle simmer.
- Cook cranberries for approximately 10 minutes, gently stirring occasionally until berries begin to pop and break down.
- Remove saucepan from heat, allowing the sauce to naturally thicken and develop a rich, glossy texture.
- Transfer cranberry mixture to a clean serving bowl, letting it cool completely at room temperature.
- Once cooled, the sauce will transform into a jellied consistency with whole berry chunks.
- Chill in refrigerator for at least one hour before serving to enhance flavor and maintain optimal texture.
- Optional: Stir sauce gently before presenting to redistribute any settled ingredients and ensure uniform consistency.
Notes
- Swap white sugar with honey or maple syrup for a more natural sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Fresh cranberries provide the best texture and brightness, but frozen work well in a pinch – just add an extra minute of cooking time.
- Zest some orange peel into the sauce for an extra citrusy punch that enhances the cranberry’s tartness.
- For a sophisticated twist, add a splash of Grand Marnier or cinnamon stick during simmering to create complex, warm undertones.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 147 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg