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Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon

Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon is a quick stovetop simmer that turns fresh cranberries into a thick, jammy sauce as the berries burst. Simmer with orange juice, cinnamon sticks, and a touch of orange zest, then chill for clean, sliceable spoonfuls.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 179
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cranberries
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
Sweetener and liquids
  • 0.75 cup sugar
  • 0.75 cup orange juice
  • 0.25 cup water
Cinnamon and orange flavor
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
Seasoning
  • 0.125 tsp salt

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Make the spiced cranberry base
  1. Combine sugar, orange juice, water, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. The mixture should be bubbling across the surface before you move on.
  2. Add fresh cranberries and return to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until the berries burst and the sauce looks thickened.
Finish and chill
  1. Remove from heat and stir in orange zest until evenly distributed. The sauce will smell bright and fragrant as the zest blooms.
  2. Leave the cinnamon sticks in as it cools for extra spice, then remove them once the sauce is no longer hot. Keep the sticks in long enough to deepen flavor, then pull them out before chilling.
  3. Chill the cranberry sauce before serving so it thickens and sets. Cover and refrigerate until cold, then spoon into a serving bowl.

Notes

Pro tip: Simmer only until the cranberries visibly burst and the sauce turns glossy and thick—overcooking can make it too firm. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 5 days; freezing is not recommended because fresh cranberries can lose texture after thawing. For a lighter option, reduce sugar by 2-4 tbsp and taste, since orange juice acidity helps balance the flavor.