Description
This Easy Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is a simple, flavorful condiment perfect for holiday meals or everyday dishes. The combination of tart cranberries, sweet orange juice, and a touch of zest creates a vibrant sauce that thickens beautifully and can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup orange juice
Sweetener
- 1 cup sugar
Main Ingredient
- 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
Flavor Enhancer
- ½ teaspoon orange zest (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Liquids: In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the water and orange juice to a boil. Then add the sugar and stir until fully dissolved.
- Add Cranberries and Simmer: Pour in the cranberries and stir until they begin to burst. Lower the heat to a simmer, add the orange zest if using, and allow the sauce to cook for 10 minutes, letting it thicken and flavors meld.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature. Then transfer it to the refrigerator and chill for at least one hour to thicken further and enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Do not add the orange zest too early to avoid bitterness in the sauce.
- For a smoother texture, blend some or all of the sauce using an immersion blender.
- Adjust the consistency by adding more or less liquid or thickening with cornstarch if needed. The sauce thickens more as it chills.
- Allow the sauce to cool completely to let the flavors fully develop and the texture set.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 50 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
