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The Most Basic Cranberry Sauce

Name: The Most Basic Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 5
Cook time: 15

(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)

5 min prep

8 servings

Carrot Icon for Number of Ingredients Size

4 ingredients

This is about the most basic cranberry sauce you can make without opening a can! You can jazz it up a little by adding the orange zest if you like, but it doesn’t need...

1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries
3/4 cup granulated brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 ” strip orange zest (optional – see Ann’s Tips)

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Nutrition Facts

Calories

71 cals

Fat

0 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Polyunsaturated Fat

0 g

Monounsaturated Fat

0 g

Carbohydrates

19 g

Sugar

15 g

Fiber

2 g

Protein

0 g

Sodium

5 mg

Directions

In a small saucepan over a medium high flame, add the cranberries, sugar, water and orange peel if using and stir to mix. As soon as the water boils, about 1 minute, cook stirring until the sugar dissolves and some of the cranberries nearest the heat start to pop, about 5 minutes. Stir to mix. Lower the flame to medium low and cover. Simmer for 5 minutes stirring once halfway through.
Turn the heat off. Do not remove the lid. Let the sauce sit covered for 10 minutes to finish cooking in its own steam. Leave to cool. Serve at room temperature.

Chef Tips

Using a peeler, take an orange and cut a very thin strip of zest about 1/2″ wide and 1″ long. Make sure not to include any bitter white pith.

Registered Dietitian Approved

Our recipes, articles, videos, and more content are reviewed by our Registered Dietitian Kate Ueland, MS, RD, CSO, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition, to ensure that each is backed with scientific evidence and follows the guidelines set by the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., published by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, a professional interest group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society.