Quick Orange Cranberry Sauce

Happy week before Thanksgiving!  If you’re looking for a quick side dish for your holiday, this orange cranberry sauce is super easy and delicious.  It’s a nice balance of tart and sweet with just a hint of earthiness from cinnamon and cardamom.  These warming flavors make this the perfect recipe for blustery fall and winter days.    

Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good canned cranberry sauce.  You know the one… You have to shimmy it out of the can and then slice it with a knife.  That cranberry sauce reminds me of my childhood, and I still love it to this day.  But sometimes it’s nice to elevate your cranberry sauce game and go with a wonderfully tart homemade version. 

This sauce is also so versatile.  It compliments Thanksgiving dinner so well but can also be used as a dessert topping, a spread for toast, or even a filling for tartlets.  I love topping a slice of toasted baguette with brie or mascarpone cheese and a dollop of this cranberry sauce.  So, so good!

To start, I mix a bunch of fresh cranberries with freshly grated ginger, orange zest and juice, cardamom pods, half a cinnamon stick, vanilla, and dark brown sugar. I add just enough water to get a nice consistency and bring to a boil.  Once the mixture starts to boil, I lower the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes or so.

Next, I mash a handful of cranberries with the back of a wooden spoon to help break them up and thicken the sauce a bit. Let the sauce cool and there you have it!  A super simple and delicious Thanksgiving side dish.    

Eat well and enjoy!

Print Recipe

Easy

Quick Orange Cranberry Sauce

Author: Sweet Rind and Salt Cooking Method: Stovetop Courses: Christmas, Holidays, Sides, Thanksgiving Recipe Keys: Gluten Free Nut Free Quick Meals Vegan Vegetarian

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 20 mins

Servings: 6

Best Season: Fall

Description

This super easy, homemade orange cranberry sauce is the perfect balance of tart, sweet, and earthy. 

Ingredients

Servings

• 4 cup fresh cranberries
• ¹⁄₂ to 1 cup water
• 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
• 1 tsp fresh orange zest
• Juice from 1 small to medium orange
• 3 cardamom pods
• ¹⁄₂ cinnamon stick
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup dark brown sugar (tightly packed)

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients together in a medium saucepan over high heat.  Bring to a boil.  Once the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat to low/medium and simmer until thickened, about 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Mash some of the cranberries with the back of a wooden spoon to help thicken the mixture more, until you have your desired consistency.

3. Remove from the heat and let cool completely before serving.

Keywords: cranberry sauce, cranberries, thanksgiving side dish, orange cranberry sauce, orange, cranberry, thanksgiving, holiday recipe, holiday sides, thanksgiving recipes, holidays, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, orange zest