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Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce

Fresh cranberry orange sauce simmers on the stovetop until most of the berries burst and the sauce thickens. Orange juice and finely grated zest add bright citrus flavor, and it thickens further as it cools.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Cooling 20 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 99
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag (12 oz) cranberries fresh, rinsed and picked over
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 0.5 cup orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest finely grated

Equipment

  • 1 2-quart saucepan

Method
 

  1. Combine the cranberries, sugar, water, orange juice, and orange zest in a 2-quart saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
  4. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened.
  5. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
  6. Let the sauce cool for at least 20 minutes; it will thicken more as it cools.

Notes

Let the sauce cool fully for the thickest texture. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. It is naturally vegan and gluten-free, so no dietary swap is needed.