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Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Cinnamon

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A quick and easy homemade cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, orange, and cinnamon. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday meal, this sauce comes together in under 20 minutes and is a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large orange (zest and juice)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ¼ cup water
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prep your orange: Wash the orange thoroughly. Zest it using a Microplane or grater to get about 1 tablespoon of zest. Cut the orange in half and juice it to get about ¼ cup of fresh orange juice. Set both aside.
  2. Combine the base: In a medium saucepan, add the fresh cranberries, granulated sugar, orange juice, water, and a pinch of salt. Stir with a wooden spoon.
  3. Add the cinnamon: Drop in the whole cinnamon stick, nestling it into the cranberries.
  4. Bring to a boil: Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, about 3-4 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent boiling over.
  5. Reduce and simmer: Reduce the heat to medium-low so the sauce is at a gentle simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the cranberries have popped.
  6. Watch for the pop: Around the 8-minute mark, most cranberries should have burst. The sauce will look thin but will thicken as it cools.
  7. Remove from heat: Take the saucepan off the burner. Remove the cinnamon stick. Stir in the orange zest.
  8. Cool and thicken: Let the sauce cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. It will thicken as it cools. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  9. Transfer and chill: Pour the sauce into a glass jar or serving bowl. Let it come to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Make this sauce a day ahead for best flavor. It thickens significantly as it cools, so remove from heat when still slightly loose. For a smoother sauce, use a fine-mesh strainer. For a boozy version, stir in 2 tablespoons of bourbon or Grand Marnier after removing from heat.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, easy cranberry sauce, orange cranberry sauce, cinnamon cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, Christmas cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/easy-homemade-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-and-cinnamon/