Description
This vibrant Cranberry Orange Sauce combines fresh cranberries with the bright flavors of orange and warming cinnamon, sweetened naturally with honey. It’s a perfect, homemade accompaniment for holiday meals or any occasion, offering a fresh, tangy-sweet burst of flavor with a smooth, thickened texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2/3 cup honey (or adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed from 1 large orange)
- 1 tsp orange zest (lightly packed, from the same orange)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 12 oz cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Instructions
- Prepare Simmer Base: In a medium saucepan, combine 2/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, 1 teaspoon of orange zest, and 1 cinnamon stick. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the honey is fully dissolved and the mixture comes to a gentle simmer.
- Cook Cranberries: Add the 12 ounces of fresh or frozen cranberries to the simmering mixture and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat slightly to maintain a low boil. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the cranberries to burst and the sauce to thicken.
- Adjust Sweetness and Cool: About one minute before finishing the cooking, taste the sauce and add additional honey if a sweeter sauce is desired, remembering it will thicken further as it cools. Remove the saucepan from heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and set the sauce aside to cool to room temperature before refrigerating until ready to serve.
Notes
- The sauce will thicken considerably as it cools, so consider this when adjusting sweetness and consistency.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used interchangeably; just avoid thawing frozen cranberries before adding to the pot.
- Use fresh orange juice and zest for the brightest citrus flavor.
- Store cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
