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Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Cinnamon

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This homemade cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon is incredibly easy to make, using simple ingredients for a perfect balance of tart and sweet. It’s a crowd-pleasing, make-ahead dish that’s perfect for holiday dinners or any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340g) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon (6g) fresh orange zest
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) water
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare your orange: Wash the orange thoroughly. Zest it using a Microplane to get about 1 tablespoon of zest, avoiding the white pith. Then cut the orange in half and juice it to get 1/2 cup of fresh juice. Set both aside.
  2. Combine the base ingredients: In a medium saucepan, add the fresh orange juice, water, and the whole cinnamon stick. Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble for about 2 minutes to allow the cinnamon to infuse.
  3. Add the sugar: Pour in the granulated sugar and stir until completely dissolved, about 1 minute.
  4. Add the cranberries: Toss in the fresh or frozen cranberries and stir. The berries will start to pop as they heat up.
  5. Simmer and watch: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 10 to 12 minutes, until most cranberries have burst and the sauce thickens.
  6. Test for doneness: Drag a wooden spoon through the sauce. If it leaves a clear trail that doesn’t immediately fill back in, the sauce is ready.
  7. Finish with zest and salt: Remove the pot from heat. Discard the cinnamon stick. Stir in the fresh orange zest and a pinch of salt. Let cool in the pot for about 10 minutes.
  8. Cool and serve: Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl or storage container. It will thicken as it cools. For best texture, let it cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Don’t substitute ground cinnamon for the cinnamon stick; it will make the sauce cloudy and gritty. Make the sauce 2-3 days in advance for best flavor. Let it cool completely before refrigerating to prevent a watery layer.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, orange cranberry sauce, cinnamon cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving side dish, easy cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://cookluma.com/best-homemade-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-and-cinnamon/