Cranberry Sauce

5 from 11 votes

Cranberry sauce is so easy to make with just 3 ingredients. It is tangy, sweet and perfect for your holiday meal.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Cool30

Total Time1

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Cost: $3.78, $0.63 per Serving

In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest and water.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat slightly and cook 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the cranberry sauce to cool for 30–45 minutes. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Transfer to a serving dish or airtight container and refrigerate until chilled. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Don't worry if the sauce seems thin. Cranberries are naturally high in pectin, so the sauce thickens considerably as it cools.
For a smoother sauce, mash the cranberries lightly with the back of a spoon before cooling.
Cranberry sauce can be made 3 to 5 days ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.