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Homemade cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries and orange juice.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

A quick and easy homemade cranberry sauce that is bright, flavorful, and can be made ahead of time, perfect for any holiday meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 100
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries One standard bag
  • 3/4 cup sugar Adjust to taste
  • 1 cup water or orange juice Use half and half for best flavor
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest Optional
  • 1 small cinnamon stick Optional
  • 1 tiny splash vanilla Optional

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the cranberries and pick out any soft ones.
  2. In a small pot, add the water or juice, sugar, and salt. Bring it to a gentle simmer.
  3. Add the cranberries. Keep it at a simmer and stir every so often.
  4. After about 5 minutes you will hear the pops from the cranberries as they cook.
  5. Continue simmering for about 8 to 12 minutes total, until most berries have burst and the sauce looks a bit thickened.
  6. Turn off the heat. Taste carefully. If it is too tart, add a little more sugar. If it is too sweet, a tiny squeeze of lemon helps.
  7. Let it cool. It thickens a lot as it sits. Then chill it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Notes

This sauce can be made 2 to 3 days ahead for better flavor. Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 7 to 10 days and it freezes well for about 2 months.