Print

Perfect 15-Minute Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe

15-minute cranberry orange sauce - featured image
Print Recipe

This quick and easy cranberry orange sauce comes together in just 15 minutes, with bright citrus flavor and a perfect jammy texture. It’s a lifesaver for holiday hosting and tastes even better than the slow-simmered versions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 large navel orange (zest and juice)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon or Grand Marnier (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your orange: Wash and dry the orange. Zest the entire orange using a microplane, being careful to only get the bright orange part (about 1 to 2 tablespoons of zest). Set aside. Cut the orange in half and juice it to get about ¼ cup of fresh orange juice. Strain out any seeds.
  2. Combine the base: In a medium saucepan, add the sugar, water, and fresh orange juice. Stir to start dissolving the sugar. Place the pan over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the cranberries: Add the cranberries (fresh or frozen) and the cinnamon stick if using. Stir to combine. The liquid should just barely cover the berries.
  4. Bring to a boil: Let the mixture come to a full, rolling boil. The cranberries will start to pop open, about 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer.
  5. Simmer and stir: Let the sauce simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will continue to pop and the liquid will thicken into a syrupy consistency. The sauce is done when most of the berries have burst and the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
  6. Finish with zest: Remove the pan from the heat. Remove the cinnamon stick if used. Stir in the reserved orange zest and a tiny pinch of salt.
  7. Cool and set: Let the sauce cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Transfer to a serving bowl or jar. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Notes

Add the orange zest at the very end to preserve its bright flavor. The sauce thickens significantly as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks loose initially. For a smoother sauce, mash some berries with a potato masher after cooking. This sauce can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, orange cranberry sauce, 15-minute cranberry sauce, easy cranberry sauce, holiday side dish, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/perfect-15-minute-cranberry-orange-sauce-recipe/