Description
This homemade cranberry sauce is a simple and classic recipe made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and orange juice. It delivers a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors and is an ideal side dish for holiday meals or anytime you want a fresh, vibrant sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
- ⅓ cup water
- ⅔ cup orange juice
- 12 oz cranberries, rinsed and picked through to remove bad or bruised ones
Instructions
- Combine sugars and liquids: In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, light brown sugar, water, and orange juice. Stir occasionally until the sugars dissolve completely and the mixture comes to a boil.
- Add cranberries and boil: Add the rinsed cranberries to the boiling mixture, then return it to a boil to start cooking the berries.
- Simmer and reduce: Reduce the heat to low and let the cranberries simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the berries have burst and the mixture thickens slightly. Be careful of splatter during this process. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
- Cool the sauce: Transfer the cranberry sauce to a bowl and allow it to cool at room temperature for at least 20 minutes to help it set up.
- Refrigerate before serving: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the cranberry sauce for at least 2 hours before serving to enhance the flavors and texture.
Notes
- This easy homemade cranberry sauce uses fresh cranberries and a simple combination of sugars and orange juice for sweet-tart flavor.
- You can adjust the cooking time to make the sauce thicker or thinner according to your preference.
- The sauce can be made a day ahead, making it perfect for holiday preparations.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator; it lasts about one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 159 kcal
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
