Description
Bright, tangy, and effortlessly easy, this classic cranberry sauce comes together in one saucepan in under 20 minutes. Sweetened just right, lifted with fresh orange zest and juice, and warmed with cinnamon and star anise, it’s the perfect sweet-and-tart side for holiday dinners—and an amazing topping for breakfast bowls, pancakes, and sandwiches.
Ingredients
12 oz cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
Zest of 1 orange
Splash of orange juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon stick, star anise, and salt in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
3. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10–15 minutes, until cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Discard the cinnamon stick and star anise.
6. Cool slightly to serve, or refrigerate to thicken fully.
Notes
Make-ahead: This sauce tastes even better after chilling. Make it up to 5–7 days in advance.
Texture tip: For a smoother sauce, mash gently with a spoon while simmering.
No star anise? Leave it out or add a pinch of ground cinnamon for cozy flavor.
Storage: Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 7 days. Freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg