Description
A simple and delicious homemade cranberry sauce recipe featuring fresh cranberries simmered with orange juice, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla. Perfect as a holiday side or condiment, this sauce balances tart and sweet flavors with a fresh citrus zest.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag cranberries, rinsed
- 3/4 cup (150g) water
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh orange juice (about 1/2 large orange)
- 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Orange: Zest a large orange first to get about 1 teaspoon of orange zest. Then cut the orange and juice about half to obtain 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice. This ensures easier zesting on an uncut orange.
- Set Aside Cranberries: Rinse the cranberries thoroughly and set aside 1/2 cup for later to add texture to the sauce.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, add the remaining cranberries, water, orange juice, and brown sugar. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally as the mixture heats up.
- Simmer Cranberries: When the mixture comes to a simmer, reduce heat to low-medium. Continue cooking with occasional stirring until the cranberries burst, and the liquid reduces and thickens, about 15 minutes.
- Finish Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the reserved 1/2 cup cranberries, orange zest, and vanilla extract. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
- Serve or Store: Serve the cranberry sauce warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing: Prepare the sauce up to 3 days in advance. Cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Rewarm on stove or microwave before serving. To freeze, cool completely, store in an airtight container for up to 3 months, thaw in refrigerator, then warm before serving.
- Cranberries: One 12 oz bag yields about 3-4 cups. Fresh or frozen cranberries may be used. No need to thaw frozen cranberries before cooking. Rinse before use.
- Brown Sugar Sweetness: 3/4 cup brown sugar provides a moderately sweet sauce; increase to 1 cup if you prefer it sweeter.
- Tools Recommended: Zester, citrus juicer, saucepan, wooden spoon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup (about 60g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
