Beef Free Classic Cranberry Sauce
Tart, jewel-bright, and fragrant with orange zest, this cranberry sauce is the kind of condiment that makes everything on the table taste better. The combination of fresh citrus juice and zest lifts the natural tartness of the cranberries into something genuinely vibrant, while a whisper of cinnamon adds warmth without overpowering the fruit. Everything comes together in a single saucepan, which means minimal cleanup and maximum reward. The sauce thickens beautifully as it cools, so don't panic if it looks a little loose right off the stove — patience is the secret step. It works just as well spooned over roasted poultry or pork as it does alongside a cheese board or stirred into yogurt the next morning. Entirely plant-based by nature, this recipe skips any animal-derived additions and relies purely on fruit, sugar, and citrus to do the heavy lifting. Make a batch ahead of time and keep it chilled — it only gets better as the flavors settle.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the sugar, water, and orange juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
- 2
Add the cranberries and orange zest, then increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10–12 minutes. Watch the heat — the sauce can bubble up quickly once the berries break down.
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