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Best Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

make-ahead cranberry sauce with orange zest - featured image
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A sophisticated, make-ahead cranberry sauce featuring bright orange zest and balanced sweetness. This simple side dish thickens naturally without cornstarch and tastes best after sitting in the fridge for 24-48 hours.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12-ounce bag (340g) fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups (350ml) water
  • 2 medium fresh oranges (zest and juice)
  • 1 cup (240ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: 1 cinnamon stick or a few cloves

Instructions

  1. Wash the oranges thoroughly. Use a microplane to zest both oranges, ensuring only the colored peel is used. Set zest aside.
  2. Cut the oranges in half and juice them to yield about 1 cup of juice. Add water if short.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, orange juice, and orange zest. Stir over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved (3-5 minutes).
  4. Add cranberries to the syrup and stir to combine.
  5. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes until berries start to pop.
  6. Gently mash some berries against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon to release pectin. Continue simmering for another 5-10 minutes.
  7. Check consistency: the sauce should coat the back of a cold spoon. It will thicken further as it cools.
  8. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
  9. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

This sauce tastes best after sitting in the fridge for 24 to 48 hours. If the sauce is too thick after refrigeration, thin it with warm water or orange juice. If too runny, simmer briefly to reduce. Frozen cranberries can be used without thawing. Adjust sugar based on tartness of berries.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, orange zest, make-ahead, Thanksgiving side dish, holiday recipes, gluten-free, vegan, easy side dish

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/best-make-ahead-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-zest/