Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Spices
This vibrant homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Spices brings tart-sweet balance and festive warmth to holiday meals. With fresh orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, it’s a deeply flavorful upgrade from the canned version — ready in just 15 minutes and perfect for make-ahead prep.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Citrus zester (optional)
- Fine mesh strainer or blender (if smoothing)
- Airtight storage container
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges)
- Zest of 1 orange
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick (or ½ tsp ground cinnamon)
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp Grand Marnier or bourbon, ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Combine cranberries, sugars, orange juice, water, zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a saucepan. Stir well.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes. Stir occasionally as cranberries burst.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or texture as desired. Simmer longer for thicker sauce, or add juice/water to thin.
- Remove from heat. Discard cinnamon stick. Let sauce cool fully — it thickens as it sits. Serve chilled or at room temp.
Notes
Use fresh cranberries for best texture. Add a splash of liquor for depth. This sauce thickens as it cools and tastes even better after a day or two. Freeze or refrigerate for easy holiday prep.
Nutrition
Calories: 130kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.2gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 2gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.3mg
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