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White bowl of glossy cranberry-orange sauce topped with curls of orange zest, with fresh cranberries, a halved orange and cinnamon sticks beside it

Cranberry-Orange Sauce

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A bright, jewel-red cranberry sauce simmered with fresh orange juice and zest and a hint of cinnamon. It takes 20 minutes and a handful of ingredients, and tastes far better than anything from a can.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries rinsed and picked over
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice freshly squeezed, from about 2 oranges
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick optional
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest finely grated, from 1 orange

Method
 

  1. Zest one of the oranges before you juice it, and set the zest aside.
  2. Combine the sugar, orange juice and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Add the cranberries, cinnamon stick and salt. Return to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the berries have burst and the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat. Take out the cinnamon stick and stir in the orange zest.
  5. Let the sauce cool to room temperature; it thickens as it cools. Transfer to a bowl or jar, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Make ahead: this is the ideal do-ahead Thanksgiving dish. It keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and freezes well for up to 2 months.
Less sweet: reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup for a tarter sauce. Maple version: replace the sugar with 2/3 cup maple syrup and reduce the water to 1/4 cup.
Using frozen cranberries: add them straight from the freezer; the sauce may need 2 or 3 extra minutes.
Leftovers: spoon it over oatmeal or toast, or spread it on a sandwich with slices of leftover lentil loaf.

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