Print

The Best Brown Sugar Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

brown sugar cranberry sauce with orange zest - featured image
Print Recipe

This Brown Sugar Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest is a quick and easy recipe that uses simple ingredients to create a rich, festive sauce perfect for any gathering. The brown sugar adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness while the orange zest brightens the flavor, making it a crowd-pleaser that pairs beautifully with roasted meats, cheese, or desserts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup (200 grams) packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 medium fresh orange (zest and 2–3 tablespoons juice)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
  • Pinch of flaky sea salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange thoroughly, pat dry, and zest it using a Microplane or fine zester, stopping before the white pith. Set zest aside. Cut the orange in half and juice to get 2-3 tablespoons of juice. Set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture bubbles gently around the edges.
  3. Add the cranberries (fresh or frozen) to the saucepan and stir to coat them in the sugary liquid.
  4. Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook until cranberries start to pop and soften, about 5 minutes. Watch to prevent boiling over.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for another 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most cranberries have burst and the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
  6. Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the fresh orange juice and half of the orange zest. Taste and adjust sweetness or orange flavor as desired.
  7. Let the sauce cool in the saucepan for about 10 minutes; it will continue to thicken as it cools.
  8. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle remaining orange zest on top, and let cool completely to room temperature before serving. Refrigerate if desired.

Notes

For best results, make the sauce a day ahead to allow flavors to meld. If sauce becomes too thick after refrigeration, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or microwave gently for 15-20 seconds. For a spiced version, add a cinnamon stick and two star anise while cooking. For a bourbon-infused version, stir in 2 tablespoons of bourbon after removing from heat. For a lower-sugar option, reduce brown sugar to 1/2 cup and add 1/4 cup monk fruit sweetener.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, brown sugar, orange zest, Thanksgiving, holiday, easy, quick, homemade

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/the-best-brown-sugar-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-zest/