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New and Improved: Add a little zest to your festive table this holiday season with this quick and easy cinnamon and ginger infused orange cranberry sauce. It's the perfect side dish for any holiday get together!
How did December go by so fast?! It's basically just a week till Christmas and I still have SO much left to do! Other than all the gift shopping I seem to have left until the last minute, I wanted to do so much more baking and cooking for the season this year! Honestly though, I feel like it isn't the holidays unless they sneak up you. Due to the large amount of shopping and internet searching I have left myself, I have a quick and easy holiday recipe to share with you today that'll be perfect for your Christmas get togethers: Holiday Orange Cranberry Sauce!
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Festive Ingredients
Ever since I shared those Cranberry Daiquiris last year, I've been meaning to do one full post on just the sauce itself. I do seem to use it quite often (LOVE cranberry sauce) every holiday season so it was about time we get down to the basics of this traditional side dish.
First off, I put ALL the orange flavor in it. Fresh orange zest, orange juice, and a little orange extract if you're feeling snazzy. The citrus flavor wonderfully compliments the tartness of the cranberries.
Second, don't forget the cinnamon sticks! This holiday orange cranberry sauce is definitely one of those recipes that really benefits from a cinnamon infusion. Just a hint of extra flavor! If you don't have cinnamon sticks and want to use ground cinnamon instead, be very careful how much you put in to the sauce. I would do just a pinch or two because it's a very subtle flavoring. Too much cinnamon and you'll overpower the rest of the sauce.
Third, and optional, a touch of ginger. I prefer to use about a teaspoon or so of freshly grated ginger or ginger paste. Similar to the cinnamon, you can substitute this with ground ginger but only use half the amount.
Serving Suggestions
To be frank, I put this stuff on pretty much everything. You know how everyone ladles gravy onto their mashed potatoes and turkey? Nope. Orange cranberry sauce. That Slow Cooker Pot Roast I'm going to make Christmas eve? Yup! Drizzled with orange cranberry sauce. It might seem strange, but I find meat and taters taste DELISH when they're served with massive dollop of this deliciousness. I think if you give it a go, you'll be pleasantly surprised!
But what about after the holidays? Not to worry! Try it in/on a Baked Brie appetizer, Panini, or even a holiday leftovers Sandwich.
Frequently Asked Questions For This Recipe
Yup! Totally fine. Just keep in mind that frozen cranberries may need a couple more minutes of cooking time but that'll be your only difference.
While cranberry sauce (IMO) is not a dessert, it needs a decent amount of sugar. Cranberries are among one of THE most tart things on on Earth (again IMO) so lowering the sugar isn't really an option here.
Absolutely! In fact, making the sauce in advance can be a huge time-saver during the busy holiday season. Once cooked, allow the sauce to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to one week or freeze for longer storage.
Have another question? Drop me a line in the comments below!
Holiday Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: Serves 4 to 6 1x
Description
New and Improved: Add a little zest to your festive table this holiday season with this quick and easy cinnamon and ginger infused orange cranberry sauce. It's the perfect side dish for any holiday get together!
Ingredients
- 1 (12 ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon orange extract (optional for deeper orange flavor)
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger or ginger paste* (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and water to a boil over medium high heat. Add orange zest, orange extract if using, and cinnamon sticks.
- Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes, until cranberries have burst, stirring occasionally.*
- Remove from heat. Discard the cinnamon sticks, and cool the sauce completely before serving (it will thicken as it cools).
Notes
If you like the ginger flavor but don't have fresh on hand, ½ teaspoon ground ginger is a good substitute!
For a thicker cranberry sauce, continue to cook, about 20-25 minutes. I prefer mine a little bit more juicy; a sauce instead of a relish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 mins
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