You've found the Best Ever Cranberry Sauce! This tasty and easy recipe only requires a few ingredients and fifteen minutes to prepare! Orange juice and cinnamon combine to create the perfect amount of sweetness and sourness! The perfect accompaniment to your Christmas meal! Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Check out this super easy Slow Cooker Citrus and Herb Turkey Breast with the Best Turkey Gravy Recipe for the most spectacular Thanksgiving yet!
What's in This Recipe for Cranberry Sauce?
The recipe card that can be found on fresh cranberry packets calls for three basic ingredients: sugar, cranberries, and water or another liquid, like orange juice.
Gathering the Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this cranberry sauce recipe:
. Fresh cranberries—for tartness
. Dried cranberries—for sweetness
. Sugar—you could use brown sugar if you wanted, or a mix of sugar and maple syrup
. Water
. Kosher salt
. Orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier, if desired—this adds an extra bump of citrus, but if you don’t care for the taste, you can leave it out.
How to Make This Cranberry Sauce Recipe
It only takes a few minutes to make this cranberry sauce.
Here are the steps to follow in order to make it:
Bring the kosher salt, sugar, and water to a boil. Bring a medium saucepan or pot to a boil, adding enough water to dissolve the sugar and kosher salt (I prefer to use one with a heavy bottom).
Add the orange liqueur, zest, and both fresh and dried cranberries. Simmer over medium heat, stirring from time to time, after briefly coming to a boil. In order to create the jammy sauce, the cranberries will naturally release their pectin when they soften and pop during cooking. It will take roughly five minutes for the dried cranberries to plump and soften, and it will break and burst for the fresh cranberries to be cooked.
The sauce thickens as it cools. Like any jam or sauce, the cranberry sauce thickens as it cools. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Creating the Cobbler Topping
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the chilled butter pieces and use a pastry cutter or your hands to incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the boiling water and stir until a sticky dough forms.
How to Jazz up Cranberry Sauce
As a purist, though, I adore this cranberry sauce recipe just the way it is. Here are some suggestions to experiment with adding different flavors:
. Insert a cinnamon stick.
. Instead of using orange zest, try lemon zest.
. Grate some fresh ginger and add it.
. Include a vanilla bean or essence.
. Add some raspberry or cherry preserves and stir (you should definitely reduce the amount of sugar if you do this).
Prepare it in advance.
Making this homemade cranberry sauce ahead of time is ideal because it keeps well for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
Is Cranberry Sauce Freezer Safe?
It is possible to freeze cranberry sauce. Freeze for up to three months after transferring to an airtight container or Ziploc gallon bag. To use, let it defrost overnight in the fridge.
What to Serve With Cranberry Sauce
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. Swedish Meatballs
. Juicy Roast Turkey Breast
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