Description
This vibrant Cranberry Orange Sauce combines the natural tartness of fresh cranberries with the sweet citrus notes of orange and honey, creating a perfectly balanced condiment. Ideal for holiday meals or as a flavorful accompaniment to poultry, this easy-to-make sauce thickens beautifully on the stove in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Base
- 2/3 cup honey (or add to taste)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed from 1 large orange)
Flavorings
- 1 tsp orange zest (lightly packed, from the same orange*)
- 1 cinnamon stick
Main Ingredient
- 12 oz cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Instructions
- Combine liquids and spices: In a medium saucepan, combine the honey, water, freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, and cinnamon stick. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the honey completely.
- Add cranberries and cook: Stir in the cranberries and increase heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain a low boil and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. During this time, the cranberries will burst, releasing their juices and causing the sauce to thicken.
- Adjust sweetness and cool: About a minute before finishing, taste the sauce and add more honey if you prefer a sweeter flavor. Remove the saucepan from heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and allow the cranberry sauce to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- The sauce thickens further as it cools, so it may seem slightly runny when hot.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries can be used interchangeably without altering the recipe outcome.
- You can adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of honey to suit your taste.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- This sauce can be made ahead of time and tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
