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Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Rosemary

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This cranberry sauce is a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and aromatic flavors, featuring fresh orange zest and rosemary. It comes together in under 20 minutes and is a crowd-pleasing side dish for any holiday table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (one standard bag)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Zest of 1 large orange (about 1 tablespoon)
  • Juice of 1 large orange (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1 large sprig fresh rosemary (about 4–5 inches long)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Zest and juice the orange first. Wash the orange thoroughly, zest the entire orange avoiding the white pith, then cut in half and juice into a small bowl. Set aside.
  2. Macerate the zest with the sugar. In a medium saucepan, combine the orange zest and granulated sugar. Rub together with your fingers for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the water and orange juice. Pour water and freshly squeezed orange juice into the saucepan with the sugar mixture. Stir until sugar is mostly dissolved.
  4. Add the cranberries and rosemary. Add the cranberries and lay the fresh rosemary sprig on top. Stir gently.
  5. Bring to a boil, then simmer. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Check for doneness. After about 10 minutes, most cranberries should have burst. Press any stubborn ones against the side of the pan. Sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
  7. Remove the rosemary sprig. Fish out the rosemary sprig with tongs or a fork. Taste and adjust if desired.
  8. Cool and serve. Pour sauce into a serving bowl or storage container. Let cool to room temperature. Sauce will thicken as it cools.

Notes

Let the orange zest macerate with the sugar to release essential oils. Add rosemary near the end to keep its flavor fresh. The sauce improves after a day in the refrigerator. For a less sweet version, reduce sugar to 1/2 cup and add a tablespoon of maple syrup at the end.

Nutrition

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

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