Homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium! Thankfully, buying cranberry sauce at the store is not the only option. I have the perfect Simple Cranberry Sauce recipe to make for the upcoming holidays.
You only need cranberries, sugar, and an orange with some optional add-ins.
Cranberry relish is a great dish to make ahead of time and make it off your to-do list. And I recommend making it at least the day before so the flavors have time to marry.
Cranberry Sauce
Tart but balanced with hints of orange and a hint of sugar.
Ingredients
- 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
- 1 large orange Use 2 if they are small
- 1/2 cup sugar
- fresh grated ginger optional
- 1/2 stick cinnamon optional
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
Instructions
- Add cranberries to a bowl of water, Swirl around to rinse and remove the cranberries from the top of the water, do not pour them into a colander as this will just pour the dirt right back onto the cranberries.
- Zest the orange and set the zest aside.
- Squeeze the orange into a measuring cup.
- Add water to the measuring cup to bring it up to 3/4 cup.
- Add the water, sugar, cranberries, and liquid to a heavy-bottom saucepan If adding the ginger or cinnamon, add it now.
- Cook over medium heat, and when the cranberries start to pop, use a potato masher to stir and smash the cranberries.
- Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring and smashing often.
- Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest.
- Once cooled, stir in the pecans or walnuts if using.
- Let cool and refrigerate.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!