What Should I Make For... logo

Home » Blog » Condiment Recipes » Orange Cranberry Sauce

Orange Cranberry Sauce

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more information.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Tart and sweet with a hint of citrus, this orange cranberry sauce is Thanksgiving ready! Whole cranberries are simmered with orange, sugar, and orange liqueur for a simple, but zingy, holiday side.

Orange Cranberry Sauce

Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without a pretty little bowl of cranberry sauce. To me the perfect forkful is turkey, mashed potato, gravy, and a drop of cranberry sauce. And it’s a very necessary leftover for turkey sandwiches, especially my favorite, Thanksgiving on a Roll.

But for such a simple and pretty dish, cranberry sauce elicits very strong opinions, at least in my house. Turns out cranberry sauce is as divisive as say, anchovies on pizza. You either love it (🙋) or you don’t. I can’t seem to turn my boys on to the joys of cranberry sauce. Every year I put a smidge on their plates hoping that this is the year that their tastes mature. But alas, we ain’t there yet.

Orange Cranberry Sauce

But for those of you that like me, require cranberry sauce for the holidays, then you’re in luck. Because today I have the only recipe you’ll ever need.

I use whole cranberries, orange juice and zest, sugar, and a good splash of orange liqueur.

It cooks up in minutes and keeps for days in the frig. It’s not overly fussy and tastes like cranberry sauce should, like cranberries, only better. The pop of orange brightens up the tartness and it has just the right amount of sweet.

So cranberry sauce lovers unite! Maybe one day the naysayers will come around, but until then, more for us!

Tips for success

  • Pick over the cranberries before you cook them and discard any that are bruised or soggy. Also check to make sure no hard bits or rocks are mixed in the bag.
  • For the best flavor and texture, turn off the heat before all of the cranberries are popped to leave some softened,  but intact.
  • I use Cointreau, but other orange flavored liqueurs will work as well like triple sec or Grand Marnier.

Orange Cranberry Sauce

3.5 from 12 votes
Overhead shot of Orange Cranberry Sauce in a pretty white bowl with fall leaves and fresh cranberries scattered around.
Print
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Tart and sweet with a hint of citrus, this orange cranberry sauce is Thanksgiving ready! Whole cranberries are simmered with orange, sugar, and orange liqueur for a simple, but zingy, holiday side.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry sauce, orange cranberry sauce
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 113 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For...
Ingredients
  • 12 oz fresh whole cranberries, picked over
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur (such as Cointreau)
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
  2. Simmer until most of the cranberries have popped, 5 10 mins.
  3. Cool to room temperature or chill before serving. The cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.
Recipe Notes
  • Pick over the cranberries before you cook them and discard any that are bruised or soggy. Also check to make sure no hard bits or rocks are mixed in the bag.
  • For the best flavor and texture, turn off the heat before all of the cranberries are popped to leave some softened,  but intact.
  • I use Cointreau, but other orange flavored liqueurs will work as well like triple sec or Grand Marnier.
Nutrition Facts
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 113
% Daily Value*
Sodium 74mg3%
Potassium 67mg2%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 22g24%
Vitamin A 55IU1%
Vitamin C 13.8mg17%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Orange Cranberry Sauce

SaveSave

12

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

★ Made this recipe? Make sure to give it a rating below!

Subscribe now to receive my exclusive guide of How to Stock a Pantry delivered straight to your inbox!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    5 stars
    Well we are cut from the same cloth, because I LOVE anchovies on pizza and I definitely require cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving!! This sauce looks just perfect, Cathy!! Love the hint of both real orange and orange flavored liqueur!! This is seriously speaking my language! Pinned! Cheers! 🙂

    Reply

    • Cathy says

      You’re my anchovy soulmate! Wish you were closer so we could split a pie covered with them! And a little booze makes everything better, including cranberry sauce!

  7. Tara says

    Your Uncle Jimmy used to tell me, “When you are x years old, you’ll like mushrooms.” “By the time you are 40, you’ll love cranberry sauce.” I never believed him on the cranberry sauce, because I just assumed he meant that stuff in a can. A few years before I turned 40, a friend brought homemade cranberry sauce to the thankgiving dinner I was hosting, and it was a revelation. I am making dinner in our new house next week, and this will be on the table. Now I just have to go find a pretty glass dish like that to put it in. 🙂

    Reply

    • Cathy says

      Uncle jimmy was a wise man. I tell my non cranberry sauce eating boys something similar. I think you’ll be happy with this one Tara. My mom always served it in a white milk glass bowl so I’ve learned to follow suit. Happy thanksgiving!

3.50 from 12 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Copywrite © 2020 • What Should I Make For... Privacy Policy • Terms of Service