Orange Cranberry Sauce
This bright and cozy Cranberry Orange Sauce is made with fresh cranberries, real orange juice, zesty citrus, and warm ginger for the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Simmered until thick and glossy, it’s the ultimate make-ahead holiday side dish—fresh, flavorful, and so much better than canned. Finished with a splash of vanilla and optional sage for depth, this cranberry sauce pairs beautifully with turkey, ham, sandwiches, and all your favorite festive dishes.
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Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh cranberries rinsed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- Juice of 2 oranges about ½ cup
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup water
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 fresh sage leaves optional
Instructions
- Add cranberries, granulated sugar, brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, salt, ginger, and sage (if using) to a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook for about 10 minutes until the cranberries begin to burst.
- Uncover and gently mash the cranberries with the back of a spoon.
- Continue cooking uncovered until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Let cool before serving—the sauce will thicken further as it cools.