Description
Make your holiday table pop with this easy classic cranberry sauce! It’s vibrant, jammy, and bursting with fresh flavor from real cranberries and a splash of orange. Whip it up in just 20 minutes for a quick breakfast addition, healthy snack, side for dinner ideas, or classic holiday dish. This easy recipe is perfect for make-ahead food ideas and will quickly become your favorite way to serve cranberries.
Ingredients
200 g (2 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
100 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
60 ml (1/4 cup) orange juice
60 ml (1/4 cup) water
1/2 tsp orange zest (optional)
1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
1. Add cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, salt, and optional orange zest to a medium saucepan. Stir to combine.
2. Place saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and sauce thickens.
4. Remove from heat. Let sauce cool— it will thicken further as it cools.
5. Transfer to a serving bowl or airtight container. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Refrigerate leftovers up to 1 week, or freeze up to 3 months.
Notes
Taste and adjust sweetness after cooking: add more sugar or a drizzle of honey if desired.
For extra flavor, simmer with a cinnamon stick or a splash of vanilla; remove before serving.
Sauce thickens as it cools— if too thick, stir in a splash of water before serving.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Sauce, Holiday Side
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 37mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: cranberry sauce, easy, Thanksgiving, holiday, quick, side, homemade