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Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Rosemary

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This easy cranberry sauce with orange zest and rosemary comes together in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients. It’s the perfect holiday side dish that’s tart, sweet, and savory, and always disappears before the turkey does.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh cranberries (or frozen, add 2–3 minutes cooking time)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) orange juice (fresh-squeezed preferred)
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) pure maple syrup (or honey or agave)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest (from about 1 medium orange)
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary (about 4 inches), plus extra for garnish
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1 small cinnamon stick (optional)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. Zest and juice the orange. Zest the orange using a microplane or fine grater, avoiding the white pith. Set zest aside. Cut the orange in half and juice until you have 1/2 cup (120 ml).
  2. Rinse the cranberries in a colander under cool water. Discard any soft, shriveled, or bruised berries. Pat dry.
  3. Combine cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, orange zest, and salt in a medium saucepan. Nestle the rosemary sprig in the center.
  4. Place saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a full boil (about 3-4 minutes), then reduce heat to medium-low.
  5. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  6. Remove the rosemary sprig with tongs or a fork. Leave any fallen leaves in the sauce or strain them out.
  7. Pour sauce into a serving bowl or storage container and cool completely to room temperature (about 30-45 minutes).
  8. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and thin orange slices before serving. Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

Notes

Don’t overcook the sauce; 8-10 minutes simmer is ideal. Taste and adjust sweetness as you go. The sauce thickens as it cools. Make ahead for best flavor. Double the recipe easily for a crowd. For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender for 2-3 seconds.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, easy cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, orange rosemary cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving side dish, Christmas side dish, holiday recipe, quick cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/easy-homemade-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-and-rosemary/