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Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce

Fresh cranberry orange sauce with tender, burst cranberries and bright orange segments. Simmered until most berries split, then zested and chilled for a glossy, spoonable texture.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 152
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cranberry orange sauce
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries Use fresh cranberries, not frozen, for best texture.
  • 0.75 cup sugar Regular granulated sugar.
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice Juice squeezed from fresh oranges if possible.
  • 1 tbsp orange zest Zest the orange before segmenting.
  • 1 orange, peeled and segmented Peel and segment the orange; reserve segments for folding in.
  • 0.25 tsp salt Just enough to balance sweetness (pinch).

Equipment

  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Cook the cranberry base
  1. Bring sugar and fresh orange juice to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Keep it at a rolling boil so the liquid bubbles steadily, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  2. Add fresh cranberries and salt, then return to a gentle boil. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the berries burst and the sauce looks thicker and more ruby.
Flavor, fold, and chill
  1. Remove from heat and stir in orange zest. The moment you add it, the sauce should smell bright and look more fragrant, no additional cooking needed.
  2. Cool slightly for 5 minutes, until warm rather than hot, then gently fold in the orange, peeled and segmented. Stop when just combined so the segments keep their shape.
  3. Chill until serving, covered, until cold and spoonable. A firmer texture forms after chilling, about 1 to 3 hours.

Notes

Pro tip: simmer only until most (not all) cranberries burst so you get a mix of tender pockets and tiny berry skins. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; freeze yes—freeze in portions up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the fridge. For a lower-sugar option, use a 1:1 granulated sugar substitute in the same amount (check package conversion) for a similar set and flavor.