Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Cranberry sauce in a small serving bowl with plates and a roasted turkey in the background.

My easy Cranberry Sauce recipe is ready in a flash with very minimal effort. Just simmer five simple ingredients until jammy and enjoy!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings servings / 2 cups

Calories 100kcal

Author John Kanell

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce/338g) bag cranberries fresh or frozen
1 cup granulated or light brown sugar (200g)
¼ cup water (60ml)
Zest of 1 orange (grated or in large strips)
¼ cup orange juice (1 orange) (60ml)

Instructions

If using fresh cranberries, rinse them thoroughly and discard any shriveled or brown ones. Then, place the cranberries in a medium saucepan. (If using frozen cranberries, you don’t need to rinse or thaw them.)
Add the sugar, water, orange zest and juice. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberry mixture starts to simmer, about 10 minutes.
Decrease the heat to medium-low and stir occasionally, cooking until the berries burst and the liquid thickens the desired amount, 5 to 10 minutes. (Keep in mind the sauce will thicken as it cools.) Remove from the heat. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

Notes

Balance the flavor with salt. If you find your sauce is a little too tart for your taste, add a pinch (about ⅛ teaspoon) of salt to balance the flavors. This is an easy way to tamp down the tartness of the cranberries without adding more sugar!
Feel free to adjust the sugar depending on your taste preference. Reduce the sugar by using up to ¼ cup less for a tarter flavor, or increase it by up to ¼ cup for added sweetness. Taste and adjust as you go to find your perfect sugar ratio.

Nutrition

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