Do you love having cranberry sauce with your Thanksgiving dinner? This year, try making it from scratch at home! It’s really easy.
- You only need 4 ingredients
- It takes just 20 minutes to make
- You can prepare it up to a week before Thanksgiving
- It tastes way better than canned sauce
Want to learn how? Keep reading for the simple recipe.
What You’ll Need
To make homemade cranberry orange sauce, you’ll need:
- 12 ounces of fresh cranberries (or frozen if that’s all you can find)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 orange (both the juice and the zest)
- 1/2 cup water
How to Make It
Photo Credit – Flickr
Making the sauce is so quick and easy:
- Combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and water in a medium-sized pot.
- Heat the mixture on the stove until it boils, causing some cranberries to burst open.
- Turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Don’t stir it; leave it alone.
- After 15 minutes, take the pot off the heat. Let it cool, and you’ll observe the sauce thickening.
That’s it! Your cranberry sauce is done. I told you it was easy.
Customizing Your Sauce
This basic recipe is delicious on its own. But it’s also really easy to customize and make it your own. Here are some yummy variations to try:
Incorporate spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom.
Use honey, agave, or even fruit like pineapple instead of sugar
- Make it spicy with a chopped jalapeรฑo
- Stir in some chopped pecans or walnuts at the end
Storing and Serving
Once your sauce has cooled, refrigerate it for up to a week. It will further thicken as it chills.
I like to put mine in a cute little glass jar. I can serve it on the Thanksgiving table. It looks so pretty, especially with a rosemary sprig on top.
The Final Word
Elevate your Thanksgiving spread with homemade cranberry orange sauce. This straightforward recipe calls for just four essential ingredients and can be made beforehand.
Isn’t it awesome when delicious and impressive foods are super easy to make? This sauce is guaranteed to be a hit with your family and friends.
Will you be trying this recipe for Thanksgiving this year? Do you have another favorite cranberry sauce recipe? Let me know in the comments!
Photo Credit – Flickr
