Homemade Cranberry Sauce🥗 Side

Name: Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 12 oz fresh cranberries; 1 cup sugar; 1 cup water; 1 tsp orange zest; 1 tbsp orange juice; Pinch of cinnamon; Pinch of salt

Simple homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest. Miles better than the canned version.

By Priya Patel, Recipe Curator

Prep: 5 minCook: 15 minServes: 8

cranberry sauce thanksgiving fruity make-ahead

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A great sauce or condiment can transform a simple meal into something memorable, and this homemade cranberry sauce does exactly that. It is the kind of recipe you make once and then keep in your back pocket forever — versatile enough to pair with dozens of different dishes and easy enough to whip up on short notice.

Take your time with each step and trust the process. The flavors build on each other as you cook, and rushing through will cost you the depth that makes this dish special. A little patience in the kitchen always pays off.

This pairs well with almost any protein, from a simple roasted chicken to grilled steak or baked salmon. Make extra — it reheats well and having a ready-made side dish in the fridge makes weeknight cooking significantly easier.

Ingredients

12 oz fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp orange zest
1 tbsp orange juice
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Combine water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Add cranberries, orange zest, and cinnamon.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Cook 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most berries have burst.
Stir in orange juice and salt.
Remove from heat — sauce will thicken as it cools.
Serve warm or chilled. Keeps refrigerated up to 2 weeks.