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Easy Classic Cranberry Sauce Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.1 from 31 reviews
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 10 to 12 servings
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Description

A simple and classic cranberry sauce recipe, perfect for holiday meals and special occasions. Made with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, water, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt, this sauce offers a sweet-tart flavor and a syrupy texture that complements roasted turkey and other festive dishes.


Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 16 oz / 500g bag frozen cranberries (or fresh)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/8 tsp lemon zest
  • Pinch of salt


Instructions

  1. Prepare cranberries: Tip the cranberries into a saucepan set over medium low heat. Remove a heaped 1/2 cup of cranberries and set aside for later use.
  2. Dissolve sugar: Add the white sugar, water, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt to the saucepan with the remaining cranberries. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves.
  3. Cook cranberries: Increase the heat to medium high and cook the mixture for about 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst and the liquid has thickened into a syrupy consistency.
  4. Add reserved cranberries: Reduce the heat to low and gently stir in the reserved cranberries. Taste and adjust sweetness with more sugar if desired, and add an extra pinch of salt as needed.
  5. Cool and store: Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Serve at room temperature or warmed alongside roasted turkey or other festive mains.

Notes

  • You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe.
  • The sauce thickens as it cools, so a slightly thinner consistency while hot is normal.
  • Adjust sugar to taste depending on your preferred sweetness level.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
  • Great accompaniment to roast turkey, slow cooker turkey breast, or roasted chicken.