Description
A simple and quick homemade cranberry sauce recipe perfect for holiday meals or as a tangy condiment. Made with fresh cranberries, sweet brown sugar, and a hint of cinnamon, this sauce is easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup water or orange juice
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberries: Pick out any cranberries that are soft, shriveled, or past their prime and discard them to ensure the best quality sauce.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cranberries, water or orange juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon stick into a medium-sized saucepan. Stir the mixture well to combine.
- Simmer Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries begin to pop and the sauce starts to thicken.
- Thicken Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for an additional 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reaches your desired thickness.
- Cool and Store: Remove the cinnamon stick, transfer the cranberry sauce to a container, and let it cool. The sauce will thicken further as it cools. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use orange juice instead of water for a fruitier, more complex flavor.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar according to your preferred sweetness.
- The sauce can be made up to a week in advance and refrigerated.
- For a smoother sauce, pulse in a blender after cooking.
- Remove the cinnamon stick before serving to avoid a strong cinnamon bite.
