Try This Zingy Cranberry Sauce Recipe For Holiday Magic

Cranberry sauce bursts with festive flavors that instantly spark holiday cheer.

This ruby-red delicacy transforms simple berries into a culinary masterpiece that dances across your palate.

Generations of home cooks have perfected the art of creating this vibrant condiment that elevates every seasonal spread.

Tart and sweet notes intertwine, creating a symphony of taste that tingles the senses.

Minimal ingredients unlock maximum flavor in this surprisingly simple recipe.

Fresh cranberries become a luxurious sauce that connects family traditions and celebrates culinary magic.

Let’s craft a sauce that will become the star of your holiday table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 230 kcal

Servings: 8

Cranberry Sauce Ingredient Guide

• Water: Select filtered or spring water for the cleanest flavor profile.
• Granulated Sugar: Choose pure white sugar with fine, consistent crystals for smooth dissolving.

• Fresh Cranberries: Pick plump, firm berries with deep red color and glossy skin, avoiding soft or shriveled ones.

• Orange Zest: Select bright, firm oranges with vibrant, aromatic outer skin, ensuring no white pith is included when zesting.

Tools and Utensils for Cranberry Sauce

• Medium-sized saucepan: Perfect for creating smooth, bubbling cranberry sauce.
• Wooden spoon: Ideal for gentle stirring without scratching the pan.
• Measuring cups: Ensures precise ingredient quantities for consistent results.
• Grater: Helps create delicate orange zest for extra flavor.
• Spoon: Great for skimming foam and transferring sauce.
• Storage container or serving dish: Provides a place to cool and store your homemade sauce.
• Refrigerator: Helps sauce thicken and develop rich flavors.

Cooking Directions for Cranberry Sauce

• Prep Your Cooking Station

Grab a medium saucepan and wooden spoon. Get ready to transform simple ingredients into a vibrant cranberry sauce that’ll make your taste buds dance.

• Craft the Sugar Base

Heat water and sugar together, stirring until the sugar melts completely. Watch the mixture bubble and transform into a clear, glossy syrup that sets the stage for deliciousness.

• Introduce the Cranberries

Drop the fresh cranberries into the simmering syrup. Let them swim and pop, turning soft and translucent while releasing their tangy essence. The berries will break down naturally, creating a luscious texture.

• Add Zesty Spark

Sprinkle some orange zest into the sauce for a bright, citrusy twist. This little touch elevates the flavor from simple to spectacular, adding complexity and depth.

• Finish and Chill

Remove the sauce from heat and pour into a serving dish. Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. The sauce will thicken and develop a rich, robust flavor as it chills. Serve cold and watch everyone fall in love with your homemade cranberry creation.

Tips for Texture and Sweetness Adjustments

Introduce warm spices like cinnamon, star anise, or ginger to create a more complex flavor profile that elevates the traditional cranberry sauce.

Splash in a bit of bourbon, rum, or orange liqueur during the simmering process to add depth and a sophisticated adult touch to your sauce.

Mash some cranberries slightly while cooking for a chunkier consistency, or blend completely for a smooth, silky sauce that spreads beautifully.

Experiment with alternative sweeteners like maple syrup or honey to replace granulated sugar, adding unique nuanced flavors to your cranberry creation.

How to Plate and Serve Cranberry Sauce

• Pair with Holiday Feast: Drizzle this vibrant cranberry sauce over roasted turkey, golden-brown ham, or succulent pork roast during festive family gatherings.
• Breakfast Boost: Spread the tangy sauce on warm, buttery toast, fold into morning pancakes, or swirl into creamy yogurt for a delightful breakfast upgrade.
• Cheese Plate Companion: Serve alongside a selection of aged cheddar, creamy brie, and sharp blue cheese to create a stunning appetizer that balances sweet and savory flavors.
• Dessert Topping Magic: Spoon over vanilla ice cream, cheesecake, or pound cake to add a burst of festive color and bright, tart complexity to your sweet treats.

Storing Fresh or Leftover Sauce

• Preserve Perfectly: Store this cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. The sauce maintains its vibrant flavor and smooth texture when chilled.
• Quick Cooling Strategy: After cooking, spread the sauce in a shallow dish to help it cool faster and more evenly. This technique prevents bacterial growth and speeds up the chilling process.
• Freezing for Future: Freeze the sauce in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving, ensuring minimal texture changes.
• Portioning Pro Tip: Divide the sauce into smaller containers for easy serving and to prevent repeated thawing and freezing, which can affect quality and taste.

Tangy Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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4.9 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Homemade cranberry sauce elevates holiday tables with its perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors. Rich crimson sauce pairs beautifully with roasted meats, offering simple seasonal elegance you will savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups (1 lb / 454 g) cranberries
• 2 cups (400 g) sugar
• 2 cups (480 ml) water
• 1 orange zest (finely grated, optional)

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Instructions

1. Sugar Syrup Preparation: In a medium saucepan, dissolve granulated sugar in water over medium heat, bringing the mixture to a vigorous rolling boil, stirring occasionally to ensure complete sugar integration.
2. Cranberry Infusion: Reduce heat to low, gently introduce whole fresh cranberries into the simmering syrup, allowing them to cook without stirring for approximately 5 minutes until they begin to burst and become translucent.
3. Flavor Enhancement: Delicately skim any foam from the surface and sprinkle freshly grated orange zest into the mixture, imparting a subtle citrus undertone to the developing sauce.
4. Finishing and Cooling: Remove the saucepan from heat, carefully transfer the glossy cranberry mixture to a clean serving dish or storage container, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the syrup to set and flavors to meld completely.

Notes

• Master Sugar Syrup: Precisely dissolve sugar completely before adding cranberries to ensure smooth, even texture and prevent crystallization.
• Gentle Cranberry Cooking: Avoid stirring during simmering to maintain berry integrity and prevent breaking; let syrup naturally coat berries.
• Surface Skimming Technique: Remove foam periodically with a small spoon to maintain clear, clean appearance and prevent unwanted residue.
• Chilling for Flavor Depth: Refrigerate for minimum one hour or overnight to allow syrup to set and enhance overall taste profile of the sauce.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 230
• Sugar: 32g
• Sodium: 0mg
• Fat: 0g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 59g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg