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Cozy Brown Sugar Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

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This cozy brown sugar cranberry sauce with orange zest is a quick and easy holiday side dish that combines the deep, caramel-like warmth of dark brown sugar with bright citrus notes. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas and pairs beautifully with roasted meats.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 large orange (zest and juice, about 1–2 tablespoons zest and 1/4 cup juice)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional but highly recommended)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Zest and juice the orange first. Wash the orange thoroughly under warm water. Using a microplane, grate the outer orange peel (just the orange part, not the white pith) to get about 1 to 2 tablespoons of zest. Then cut the orange in half and squeeze out about 1/4 cup of juice. Set both aside.
  2. Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Add the 1 cup packed dark brown sugar and 1 cup water to the pan. Stir them together over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Add the cranberries, orange juice, cinnamon stick, and salt. Pour in the 12 ounces of cranberries (fresh or frozen), the 1/4 cup orange juice, the cinnamon stick, and a pinch of salt. Give everything a good stir.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Turn the heat up to medium-high until bubbles break the surface, then immediately reduce the heat to low so the sauce simmers gently. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
  5. Stir occasionally and watch for the cranberries to break down. Every 2 to 3 minutes, give the sauce a gentle stir. Around the 8-minute mark, start pressing some of the berries against the side of the pan with your spoon to help them break down. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon by the time it’s done.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Take the pan off the burner. Fish out the cinnamon stick (or leave it in for decoration). Stir in the orange zest and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Taste and adjust if needed.
  7. Let it cool completely. Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl or glass jar. It will thicken significantly as it cools. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving, or refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours if you want it fully set.
  8. Serve at room temperature or slightly warm. If refrigerated, let it sit out for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t walk away during the simmering stage; cranberries can go from perfectly jammy to scorched quickly. For a deeper flavor, toast the cinnamon stick in the dry saucepan for about 30 seconds before adding the sugar and water. This sauce tastes even better after a day or two in the fridge.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, brown sugar, orange zest, Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday side dish, easy cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/cozy-brown-sugar-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-zest/