Bursting with flavor this sweet yet tangy cranberry orange sauce certainly hits the spot and is a delicious twist on a classic cranberry sauce. It is the perfect dish to compliment your roast turkey this Thanksgiving, or with poultry dishes throughout the year. Super tasty and so easy to make, you will be surprised. Making your homemade cranberry sauce is far easier than you think, and tastes much better than any store-bought jar or the canned stuff.
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Why You'll Love This Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe!
If you are looking for an Easy Homemade Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe then you have come to the right place. My sauce packs a flavor punch and is the perfect accompaniment to your turkey.
This has got to be one of the easiest side dishes you will make for your Thanksgiving holiday table. Sweet and delicious with a flavor punch from the fresh orange juice and orange zest, you will never buy cranberry sauce again. This is the best cranberry sauce recipe and you have to give it a try.
- Super easy to make - You can have this ready in no time at all and it keeps well. Check out the make ahead and storage sections later in this post.
- Handful of simple ingredients - You only need a total of six ingredients to make this homemade sauce.
- Full of flavor - I think fresh homemade cranberry sauce is full of flavor and the orange makes a difference. It is such an easy recipe.
- Crowd-pleaser - If you want a perfect side dish for the holiday season to add to your Thanksgiving holiday meal, then this is it.
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Equipment Needed
- Sharp Knife
- Large pot
Key Ingredients
Fresh cranberries - I love using fresh whole cranberries in this recipe. They have a burst of flavor that lends itself well to making this delicious fresh cranberry sauce. You can't beat the tartness of the cranberries.
Orange - To give that tangy flavor you will use not just the juice of orange but also the orange zest.
Water - This will help to make that sauce and get the right consistency.
Sugar - You will use white and brown sugar in this recipe. It will help balance the sweetness with the tangy flavors. Instead of sugar you can also use a little pure maple syrup or honey.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Using a zester, zest all of the orange peel. It is always easier to zest the orange first! Make sure you just remove the orange peel which holds the most flavor.
Using a sharp knife, cut the orange and squeeze all of the juice. You should have around a ½ cup of juice. If your orange isn't as juicy you can always add a bit more water to compensate.
Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add both types of sugar and water to the pot and stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
Add in the orange zest, orange juice and the tart cranberries. Simmer for 10 minutes, The cranberries will begin to pop and burst.
Remove the cranberries from the heat and set aside to cool. Cool completely before serving.
Make Ahead
This is the perfect sauce to make ahead leaving you less stress on the day when making your Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure you check out how to store the cranberry sauce. Because it is best served chilled I usually make my cranberry sauce 2 or 3 days in advance.
Storage
This sauce when stored correctly will last up to a week. Any made-ahead or leftover cranberry sauce needs left to cool to room temperature and then transferred to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze the leftover sauce. Once cooled transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container and then place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can I Use Frozen Cranberries For This Recipe?
Sure you can. I prefer to use fresh cranberries but frozen cranberries will work just as well. Did you know you can also freeze a bag of fresh cranberries? It’s ideal to keep a batch of them in the freezer so you can make this sauce whenever you feel like it and when cranberries are out of season and hard to find.
Serving Recommendations
Of course, cranberry sauce is most traditionally served with Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas dinner. There are so many ways to enjoy any leftover cranberry-orange sauce. But you can also enjoy the sauce on leftover turkey sandwiches, or even a delicious sweet and tangy topping for a cheesecake but a different twist on a classic dessert. Try adding leftover cranberry sauce on these tasty Turkey Sliders!
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Did you try this recipe? Please let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, and a 5- star rating. I would love to hear from you! Subscribe Here to get new recipes sent straight to your inbox!
Easy Homemade Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- large pot
- knife
- zester
Ingredients
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- zest of one orange
- juice of an orange (about ½ cup)
- ½ cup water
- 1 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Using a zester, zest all of the peel from one orange.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the orange and squeeze all of the juice. You should have around a ½ cup.
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add both types of sugar and water to the pot and stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
- Add in the orange zest, orange juice and cranberries. Simmer for 10 minutes, The cranberries will begin to pop and burst.
- Remove the cranberries from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Cool completely before serving.
Kim B.
The perfect blend of sweet and tart! The brown sugar really brings an added depth. Will be on our Thanksgiving table every year from now on!
JennyO
This recipe gave me the “good to go” signal to use the organic cranberries I’d hoarded in my freezer- it turned out great!
I did add a few spices: Dash nutmeg and allspice, cinnamon (ground because I didn’t have cinnamon sticks), a dash of salt, lemon zest to add to the citrus taste and a splash Cointreau the end.
Fantastic recipe, very easy to make and customize as you wish.