Traditional Cranberry Sauce

Whole-berry cranberry sauce in a white bowl beside slices of jellied cranberry sauce, fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks.

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5 from 3 votes

A bright, sweet-tart cranberry sauce simmered with orange juice, orange peel, and a cinnamon stick.

Prep Time5

Cook Time14

Cooling Time30

Total Time49

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: american food, american recipe, traditional cranberry sauce

Servings: people

Cost: $

Ingredients

3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Orange Juice
1/2 cup Water
12 oz Fresh Cranberries
Pinch of Salt
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Piece of Orange Peel

Instructions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, orange juice, and water. Stir the mixture to combine.
Add the fresh cranberries, salt, cinnamon stick, and orange peel to the saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Continue cooking for about 10 minutes or until all or most of the cranberries have popped. It's nice to leave a handful of berries whole for texture.
Remove the cinnamon stick and orange peel. Allow the cranberry sauce to cool for at least 30 minutes, then cover and refrigerate promptly until ready to use. Allow extra refrigerator time for a fully chilled sauce.
This cranberry sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance, making it a convenient and flavorful addition to your holiday meal. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Do not judge the final thickness while the sauce is piping hot; it sets further as it cools.
Keep the heat at a simmer and stir often so the sugar does not catch on the bottom.
Remove the cinnamon stick and orange peel before serving.

Nutrition is estimated for one-fourth of the recipe using fresh cranberries, orange juice and a pinch of salt modeled as 1/16 teaspoon. Water and the discarded cinnamon stick and orange peel are not counted; amounts absorbed from the aromatics are not measured. Actual serving size and salt amount change the estimate.

Nutrition