Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce is a bright and flavorful holiday condiment.Fresh cranberries are simmered with orange juice and fragrant orange zest.Cinnamon, cloves, and ginger provide a delicious warming spice blend.Sugar balances the natural tartness of the cranberries.The sauce thickens naturally as the cranberries soften and release pectin.Serve it with turkey, pork, chicken, ham, sandwiches, or festive leftovers.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (340 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- ½ cup water
- 2 whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or orange liqueur, optional
Instructions
Prepare the Cranberries
- If using fresh cranberries, rinse them thoroughly and remove any soft or damaged berries.Frozen cranberries can be used directly without thawing.
Prepare the Orange
- Wash the orange well.Finely grate the zest, taking care not to grate too deeply into the bitter white pith.Juice the orange and measure ½ cup.
Combine the Ingredients
- Place the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a Simmer
- Place the saucepan over medium heat.Stir gently until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer.
Cook the Cranberries
- Reduce the heat to medium-low.Simmer for approximately 10–15 minutes.The cranberries will begin to soften and burst.
Add Vanilla
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.Stir in the vanilla extract.If using maple syrup or honey, add it at this stage and adjust the sweetness to taste.
Remove Whole Spices
- Carefully remove the cinnamon stick and whole cloves.
Cool
- Transfer the cranberry sauce to a serving bowl.Allow it to cool at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes.
Refrigerate
- Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.The sauce will become noticeably thicker as it cools.
Serve
- Serve chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed alongside your favorite holiday dishes.
Notes
- Cranberries: Fresh and frozen cranberries both work well.
- Orange: Freshly squeezed orange juice provides the best flavor.
- Zest: Avoid the white pith because it can make the sauce bitter.
- Sweetness: Adjust the sugar according to the tartness of your cranberries.
- Spices: Whole spices create a cleaner flavor and are easy to remove.
- Thickness: The sauce thickens considerably as it cools.
- Texture: Keep some berries whole for a more rustic sauce.
- Make-ahead: Cranberry sauce is excellent when prepared a day or two before serving.