Description
Homemade Cranberry Sauce brings festive cheer to holiday tables with its perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors. Crimson berries simmer into a luscious compote that elevates classic meals and delights dinner guests with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
Sweetener Alternatives:
- 3/4 cup (240 grams) honey
- 3/4 cup (240 grams) maple syrup
Liquid:
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) water (preferably filtered)
Instructions
- In a spacious saucepan, blend sweetening agent and liquid over medium heat, stirring until fully integrated.
- Continue heating until mixture reaches a gentle bubbling stage, ensuring sweetener completely dissolves.
- Introduce vibrant crimson berries into the simmering liquid, reducing temperature to maintain a soft boiling rhythm.
- Allow berries to naturally rupture and release their pectin, creating a luxurious, glossy consistency while stirring intermittently during 10-12 minutes of cooking.
- Taste and modulate sweetness level, adjusting with additional sweetener if desired.
- Remove culinary creation from heat source, permitting natural cooling to ambient temperature.
- Transfer sauce to serving vessel, allowing flavors to meld and texture to stabilize before presenting at the table.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature as a complementary accompaniment to savory dishes.
Notes
- Swap sugar with maple syrup or honey for a natural, unrefined sweetener that adds depth and complexity to the cranberry sauce.
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries interchangeably, ensuring equal delicious results without compromising texture or flavor.
- Prevent scorching by stirring occasionally and maintaining a gentle simmer, which helps cranberries burst evenly and create a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, allowing flavors to meld and intensify over time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 137
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg