Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon

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This perfectly sweet and tart cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon is deceptively easy to make! It’s the perfect side dish for a rich and hearty Thanksgiving dinner!

a small copper pot filled with cranberry sauce and a beige tea towel.

Cranberry sauce is an essential Thanksgiving side dish! And while I love, appreciate, and serve the canned stuff I also love, appreciate, and serve a jammy homemade version! The secret ingredient in this recipe is a jar of orange marmalade!

If you’ve never made your own cranberry sauce before you have to try this recipe! It’s only five simple ingredients simmered until the berries are soft and the sugars and juices are syrupy. The end result is a perfectly balanced sweet and tart cranberry sauce that compliments all your favorite sides!

Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon: fresh cranberries, orange marmalade, orange juice, cinnamon and sugar.

a bowl of fresh cranberries, two small oranges, a pinch of cinnamon, a jar of orange marmalade

Recipes Step by Step:

Step 1. Simmer the Cranberries

Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepot. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes stirring often to avoid scorching. Simmer the sauce until cranberries burst and the juices are syrupy. Turn off the heat, stir in the orange juice.

two small sauce pots filled with cranberry sauce cooking

Step 2. Cool and Serve

Remove the pot from heat. Let cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to a bowl to chill in the refrigerator.

FAQs

Is homemade cranberry sauce served hot or cold?

Cranberry sauce can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Will cranberry sauce thicken as it cools?

Yes, cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. Cranberries are naturally rich in pectin.

Can cranberry sauce be made ahead of time?

Absolutely! Cranberry sauce will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week!

a copper sauce pot filled with cranberry sauce on a blue background

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