Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bag cranberries
rinsed*
- 3/4 cup water
150g
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
60ml
- 3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar*
150g
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
- 1
Read before you begin: You need fresh orange juice and orange zest. I recommend zesting the orange first, setting the zest aside, then cutting the orange for the juice. (Harder to zest a cut orange!) You need about half of a large orange for 1/4 cup juice. Juice the other half of the orange if you need more to yield 1/4 cup.
- 2
After rinsing the cranberries, set 1/2 cup cranberries aside. You will stir these in at the end for extra texture.
- 3
Combine the remaining cranberries, water, orange juice, and brown sugar together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally as the mixture comes to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat to low-medium. While stirring occasionally, continue to cook until liquid has reduced and cranberries have burst and thickened, about 15 more minutes.
- 4
Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup reserved cranberries, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- 5
Sauce is excellent served warm or at room temperature. Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
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About this Recipe
Tired of store-bought cranberry sauce that's overly sweet and one-dimensional? This Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe brings vibrant, fresh flavor to your table, proving that homemade is always better.
What makes this recipe truly stand out is its thoughtful blend of bright citrus notes and rich sweetness. The addition of fresh orange juice and orange zest cuts through the tartness of the cranberries, while brown sugar provides a deeper, more nuanced sweetness than plain white sugar, avoiding that cloying taste often found in canned versions. A touch of pure vanilla extract adds a subtle warmth, making this sauce anything but ordinary.
Expect a beautifully jewel-toned sauce that's bursting with the natural tang of cranberries, perfectly balanced by the sweet, aromatic essence of orange and vanilla. The texture will be rustic, with many cranberries popped open, creating a luscious body while still offering some whole berries for delightful bursts of flavor. This simple yet elegant sauce comes together effortlessly, promising a truly satisfying accompaniment to any meal.
Customization & Variations
This recipe is naturally vegetarian and vegan, making it a crowd-pleasing option for diverse dietary needs. You have the flexibility to adjust the sweetness to your preference; simply slightly reduce or increase the brown sugar to achieve your ideal balance. The recipe calls for either light or dark brown sugar, so feel free to use whichever you have on hand for a slightly milder or deeper caramel note in your finished sauce.
Serving & Context
This Easy Cranberry Sauce is an absolute must-have for holiday meals, especially alongside roasted turkey or chicken, but its bright flavor is welcome at any time of year. Serve it chilled or at room temperature, and watch it become the star condiment on your plate.