Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce
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Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce is the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas Dinner. It's such an easy recipe using fresh whole cranberries, orange zest and a touch of spice. Making your own cranberry sauce may seem like one step too far during a busy festive season but I assure you that it takes no time at all and will be a standout offering on your holiday table.
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If you could give or take Cranberry Sauce during the festive season then it's quite possible that you have never had a homemade fresh cranberry sauce. My friend, this is quite a different beast and you will be smitten!
The syrupy sweet congealed sauce that is totally flavourless and dolloped obligingly out of a jar is light years away from the ruby red zesty rich cranberry sauce made with fresh juicy cranberries, a touch of citrus and a whisper of spices. This is a whole berry cranberry sauce so the fruit is thick and chunky and really holds its own on your dinner plate.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce is one of the easiest ways to take your festive feast to another level. Since I began making it myself I have become a little obsessed with the stuff and now deem it a non-negotiable accompaniment to most of my meals throughout November and December. Plus, our leftover turkey sandwiches just wouldn't be the same without a generous smear of homemade cranberry sauce, mixing it up with the mayonnaise. Just thinking of it now makes me long for Boxing Day!
The best thing about it is how quick and easy it is to make with just 5 simple ingredients (plus water). Once I show you how to make this simple classic cranberry sauce I assure you there will be no going back.
Why You'll Love This Cranberry Orange Sauce
- It's so easy. Quicker than dragging your boots on, back out in the snow to the only all-night grocery.
- Cranberries and orange are the perfect partnership - bringing out the best in each other. A sweet and tangy compliment of flavour.
- It adds more than just sweetness to your plate as it seems to make everything taste fresher somehow.
- This recipe also keeps really well so you can comfortably make it a week ahead of time.
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Ingredients Needed
Fresh cranberries. You could also swap for frozen cranberries.
Caster sugar. It’s a fine white baking sugar available in the UK. Regular white granulated sugar can be substituted.
Water. The water is heated with the sugar to create a sugar syrup to which you then add the cranberries to cook.
Orange. Make sure it is unwaxed and organic otherwise you need to scrub off the wax.
Spices. We use ground cinnamon and nutmeg for rich warmth throughout the sauce. You could leave out but it does add lovely depth of flavour.
How To Make Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce
For full recipe instructions go to the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Pour the water and sugar into a saucepan and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the cranberries, spices and orange zest and simmer for 5 -10 minutes, stirring well. Once the cranberries are just beginning to break down then remove from the heat.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks.
Tips & Troubleshooting
- Try not to break up those cranberries too much. They are lovely whole and bursting in your mouth when you take a bite.
- This Cranberry Sauce keeps very well refrigerated for up to 4 weeks due to the sugar syrup.
How To Use Leftover Sauce
Just because you are used to seeing cranberry sauce as part of a savoury meal, doesn't mean it isn't delicious used in sweet bakes. I use it to fill this glorious Christmas Chocolate Cake with Cranberries and Orange.
And you can really add a few tablespoons to any easy quiche recipe but I especially enjoy it swirled into the filling of this Stilton Chestnut Quiche.
And then if you still have some leftover then add it to some stewed apples and make these quick and easy Apple & Cranberry Oat Bars.
✨Have you tried this Cranberry Orange Sauce? If you liked it, please leave a 5-star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment as well! I would love to hear about how your recipe turned out and your feedback also helps other readers✨
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Easy Cranberry Orange Sauce
Ingredients
- 150 g caster sugar
- 120 g water
- 300 g fresh cranberries
- 1 orange - zested
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Pour the water and sugar into a large saucepan and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the cranberries, orange zest and spices and simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring well.
- Once the cranberries are just beginning to break down then remove from the heat.
- Chill the sauce until needed, or up to 4 weeks.
Notes
- Try not to break the cranberries up too much when heating. You want about half of them to be lovely and whole and the other half squidgy and saucey.
- The sauce keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
- Please note when you see ‘grams’ listed as opposed to ‘millilitres,’ or any other term of measurement, that is not incorrect. I weigh all of my ingredients, including liquids, for accuracy.
