Holiday Cranberry Sauce Recipes

PERFECT CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 strip orange or lemon zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and cool to room temperature before serving.

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Place fresh cranberries and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Wrap cloves, allspice berries and cinnamon sticks in a spice bag. Place in the water with cranberries.
• Cook until cranberries begin to burst, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in sugar and reduce heat to low. Continue cooking 5 minutes, or until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Discard spice bag. Chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY-POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, ground cloves, and cinnamon sticks together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and cool.
• Stir the pomegranate seeds into the cranberry mixture, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Remove the cinnamon sticks before serving.

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy 3 qt. saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil.
• 2. While the sugar and water heat, zest the oranges over the pot, so the zest goes right into the pot.
• 3. Cut the oranges in half, crosswise, and squeeze the juice from the orange halves into the pot. Drop the orange halves into the pot.
• 4. Stir in the cranberries.
• 5. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce reaches desired thickness. Remove the orange halves from the sauce after a few minutes, then allow the mixture to finish cooking.
• 6. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Chill until ready to serve.
• 7. NOTES: Cook longer or shorter time, depending on how thick you like your cranberry sauce, taking into account that it will thicken as it cools. This recipe multiplies easily, just use a bigger pot and plan a longer cooking time. Stores well, tightly covered. I use the cooled orange halves for a project with my grandchildren: we smear the cut side with nut butter then sprinkle on sunflower seeds. We place the finished bird feeders in the fountain in the yard, which has been drained for winter :)

SPICED CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until the berries pop and mixture is thickened, about 30 minutes. Cool. Transfer to a serving bowl; cover and refrigerate until chilled.