Ingredients (~6 servings)
- 6 oz fresh cranberries (~1 3/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white sugar, plus 1/2 Tbsp extra
- 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- Zest of 1/2 orange (~1 1/2 tsp)
- 1/8 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- Additional orange zest for serving (optional)
Dissolve the Sugar in Water
Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Whisk until the sugar completely dissolves – this takes ~2-3 minutes.
The mixture should be clear with no grainy texture when you stop whisking.
Add Cranberries and Simmer
Add the fresh cranberries, salt, and orange juice to the pan.
Bring to a simmer – you won’t see big rolling bubbles at first, but the cranberries will start to crack and pop with lots of small bubbles forming.
Once simmering, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for ~12-14 minutes, stirring often.
The berries will burst open and break down into a chunky sauce. Some will stay whole and that’s totally fine.
Finish with Orange Zest and Adjust Seasoning
Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest and the extra 1/2 Tbsp of sugar.
Taste and add more salt a pinch at a time until the flavors brighten up and become more pronounced.
The sauce will be pretty loose at this point but thickens considerably as it cools.
Cool completely before serving – this takes ~30 minutes at room temperature.
Garnish with extra orange zest if you want it to look fancy.
Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
Ingredients (~6 servings)
- 6 oz fresh cranberries ~1 3/4 cups
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white sugar plus 1/2 Tbsp extra
- 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- Zest of 1/2 orange ~1 1/2 tsp
- 1/8 tsp salt plus more to taste
- Additional orange zest for serving optional
Instructions
- Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk until sugar dissolves, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add cranberries, salt, and orange juice and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 12-14 minutes, stirring often, until berries burst and break down into chunky sauce.
- Remove from heat and stir in orange zest and extra 1/2 Tbsp sugar.
- Taste and adjust salt as needed.
- Cool completely before serving, about 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Garnish with extra orange zest if desired.
