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Quick Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce with Rosemary

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This quick and easy cranberry sauce combines tart cranberries with bright orange and earthy rosemary for a memorable side dish that comes together in under 20 minutes. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice (about 1 large orange)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary (about 4–5 inches long)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon or Grand Marnier (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the cranberries and pick out any soft or shriveled ones. Zest the orange before juicing it, then juice the orange to get ½ cup of juice. Set the rosemary sprig aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, water, and rosemary sprig. Stir briefly.
  3. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil, about 3-4 minutes. Watch to prevent boiling over.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Check for doneness: the sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and leave a clean line when you drag your finger through it.
  6. Remove the rosemary sprig with tongs or a fork. Leave any fallen rosemary leaves in the sauce if desired.
  7. Pour the sauce into a heat-safe bowl and let it cool to room temperature. For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender or potato masher to break up remaining whole cranberries.
  8. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

The sauce will look thin when hot but thickens significantly as it cools. For best flavor, make a day ahead. Don’t overcook the rosemary to avoid bitterness. Adjust sugar to taste between ½ cup and 1 cup.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, cranberry orange sauce, rosemary cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, quick cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/quick-homemade-cranberry-orange-sauce-with-rosemary/