Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Lauren's hand holding a spoonful of cranberry sauce over a bright red bowl of cranberry sauce with a seafoam green napkin nearby.

5 from 2 votes

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest is a classic Thanksgiving cranberry sauce with just a hint of orange, which pairs perfectly with the tartness of the cranberries.

Prep Time2

Cook Time18

Total Time20

Course: Sauce, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 25kcal

Author: Lauren Skardal

Ingredients

12 oz fresh cranberries
zest 1 orange
1 tablespoon orange juice
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 cup water

Instructions

In a medium saucepan combine the fresh cranberries, the zest of 1 orange, 1 tablespoon of orange juice (from the zested orange), the granulated sugar, and 1 cup of water.
Bring to a boil on high heat, then immediately turn the heat to low. Simmer on low heat, while stirring occasionally to prevent any cranberries on the bottom of the pan from overcooking.
After about 10 minutes use the back of a slotted spoon to mash some (but not all) of the cranberries against the side of the saucepan.
Simmer for another 8-10 minutes on low while stirring. The consistency of the sauce changes considerably over the course of 20 minutes. At the 18 to 20 minute mark it will look like the color and consistency of a classic cranberry sauce, but slightly thinner. It will thicken more as it cools.

Notes

Serving Size: I've made this for a gathering of 25 people for Friendsgiving, and we had about half left over. If you want to ensure you have plenty you could always double the recipe, but this recipe should be more than enough for a large gathering.

Stirring the Sauce: Stirring the cranberry sauce occasionally while on a low helps to prevent any cranberries at the bottom from getting overcooked.

Timing: The amount of time that it will take to reduce to the right consistency will depend on your exact temperature setting and the thickness of your saucepan. It could be as little as 15 minutes or as long as 20 minutes, but more likely between 18 and 20 minutes.

Nutrition