MSG Free Fresh Orange Cranberry Sauce
Bright, tangy, and just sweet enough, this cranberry sauce is the kind of condiment that steals the show at any holiday table. The ingredient list is refreshingly short — fresh or frozen cranberries, real orange juice, orange zest, sugar, and an optional pinch of cinnamon — so you know exactly what's going into the pot. That simplicity is a big deal when you're avoiding the flavor enhancers and additives that sneak into so many jarred or packaged versions at the grocery store. As the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, the citrus from the zest and juice blooms into something genuinely fragrant and complex, no shortcuts needed. A touch of cinnamon rounds out the tartness beautifully without overpowering the natural fruit flavor. It comes together in about 15 minutes on the stovetop and only gets better as it cools, making it an easy make-ahead win for busy cooking days.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 1 bag (12 oz) fresh or frozen cranberries
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
- 1 tbsp orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- 2
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10–12 minutes, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
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