Speedy Stovetop Cranberry Sauce

speedy stovetop whole berry cranberry sauce in a bowl

Speedy Stovetop Cranberry Sauce

This speedy stovetop cranberry sauce is ready in 15 minutes! Your holiday meal prep just got a whole lot easier. And tastier!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Stovetop Cranberry Sauce

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 65kcal

Author Jenn Laughlin

Ingredients

12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries approx. 4 cups
1 naval orange zested + juiced
¼ cup water
¾ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup honey
ground cinnamon to taste

Instructions

Wash berries. Discard any smashed or bruised berries.
Use a microplane zester to remove desired amount of orange zest to flavor the sauce (I usually aim for ½-1 tsp) and set aside for later. Then juice the orange.
No zester? No problem! You can use a paring knife to cut two thin strips of orange zest from the peel - just avoid getting any of the white pith as that portion tastes bitter. Add that to the sauce while it simmers for lots of extra flavor!
Heat a medium-small saucepan to high heat and add orange juice, ¼ cup water, and ¾ cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar.
Next add the cranberries, orange zest, and ¼ tsp salt. Bring to a boil then reduce to a low simmer and cook, uncovered, until the cranberries burst and the sauce has thickened. Approx. 10-12 minutes.
Once sauce is nice and thick and the berries have burst, stir in the honey and season with cinnamon, to taste. You can also add more orange zest and a little more sweetness if you'd like -- let your taste buds be your guide! Enjoy!
For an extra smooth sauce, feel free to puree in a blender, food processor, or with an immersion blender. I personally love a blended sauce!

Notes

Recipe yields approx. 2 cups of sauce with projected serving size of 2 TBSP per serving. Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!

Nutrition