Description
Joanna Gaines’ cranberry sauce blends tangy berries with warm spices, creating a festive holiday classic. Home cooks can elevate their seasonal table with this simple, delightful condiment that brings comfort and cheer to family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (12 oz / 340 g) cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) sugar
- 1 cup (250 ml / 8.5 fl oz) water
- Pecans (optional)
- Orange zest (optional)
- Raisins (optional)
- Currants (optional)
- Blueberries (optional)
- Cinnamon (optional)
- Nutmeg (optional)
- Allspice (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly rinse cranberries under cool water, discarding any damaged or discolored fruits.
- Sugar Syrup: Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan, heating on high and stirring until sugar completely dissolves and mixture reaches a vigorous boil.
- Cooking Cranberries: Add cleaned cranberries to the boiling syrup, stirring to distribute evenly and allowing the mixture to return to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, watching berries burst and release natural pectin.
- Flavor Enhancement: Optional ingredients like chopped pecans, orange zest, ground cinnamon, or nutmeg can be gently folded into the sauce during the final minutes of cooking to add depth and complexity.
- Cooling and Setting: Remove saucepan from heat and let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature, which will naturally thicken the consistency and intensify the flavors.
- Chilling and Serving: Transfer sauce to a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to achieve optimal texture; serve chilled as a vibrant accompaniment to roasted meats, holiday dishes, or as a tangy spread for sandwiches and appetizers.
Notes
- Rinse Carefully: Remove any soft, bruised, or discolored cranberries to ensure a pure, fresh sauce with the best possible flavor and texture.
- Monitor Boiling Process: Watch the sugar syrup closely to prevent burning, stirring continuously until sugar completely dissolves and reaches a rolling boil.
- Control Simmering Time: Gently simmer for exactly 10 minutes, allowing berries to burst naturally and release pectin without overcooking or losing vibrant color.
- Enhance Flavor Strategically: Experiment with optional mix-ins like orange zest or warming spices to elevate the sauce’s complexity without overwhelming the cranberries’ natural tartness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg