Description
Tasty Christmas Cranberry Sauce: Bright, tangy, and perfectly sweet, this holiday Cranberry Sauce is a must-have side that brings festive flavor to every plate. Made with fresh cranberries, orange zest, warm spices, and a hint of citrus, it’s vibrant, delicious, and far better than canned. Simple to make and guaranteed to impress your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water (or orange juice for more flavor)
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add cranberries, sugar, and water (or orange juice) to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and soften.
- Stir in orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Continue simmering for 5–10 minutes until thickened.
- Let cool—sauce will thicken more as it sets.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- For a thicker sauce, simmer a few minutes longer.
- Use maple syrup instead of sugar for a vegan option with a different sweetness.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature (or gently warmed).
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week; freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 1/2 cup)
- Calories: 232 kcal
- Sugar: 66 g
- Sodium: 3 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Tasty Christmas Cranberry Sauce, Christmas cranberry sauce, cranberry sauce recipe, holiday side, festive sauce, fresh cranberries, orange zest, holiday cooking, easy cranberry sauce