Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries and apples with cinnamon, vanilla extract, and orange juice
Less than a week until Thanksgiving! This time next Thursday I'll be cocooning on the couch, watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with my first plate of leftovers. I have a few recipes for you all before the big day, starting with the very first dish I took over from my mom: Cranberry Sauce. It's sweet and tangy, made with orange zest and aromatic fall spices. A comforting reminder that the holidays have arrived.
Of the cooking and prep we do before Thanksgiving, cranberry sauce is the only dish that is finished the day before. Each year, a slice of that Wednesday evening is reserved for that one little side dish. My dad starts making his stuffing and I spend part of my evening tending to a pot of cranberry sauce, filling the house with sweet spices, and beginning the day ahead on a sweet note.
Cranberries and apples with orange zest, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange juice
I've tweaked my mom's version over the years, adding more spices and orange. Clove and orange zest particularly draw on the sweet, fragrant mulling spices that warm up the kitchen so cozily. A couple of years ago, when our leftovers were long gone, my mom and I decided to make another batch of cranberry sauce to last through December. We enjoyed the sauce over ice cream, slices of toast, and alongside some of our Christmas leftovers. More often, as a midmorning treat over some yogurt and granola. Just a spoonful cheers up my morning meal.
The other day, I came home from a quick trip to the grocery store after picking up last-minute ingredients for my cranberry sauce. The sun started to set, and ragged clouds shrouded the sky, looking just stormy enough to tease me with the idea of rain. It wasn't forecasted until the following day. As I settled in, having just finished unpacking the groceries, the rain came. So, I spent the evening enjoying the rare gloom and making a batch of cranberry sauce. Hopefully, this means we have some cooler weather to look forward to next week!
I hope you enjoy my recipe for Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce! A true Thanksgiving staple, flavored with the warm spices of autumn and fragrant orange, perfect for the entire holiday season.
Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
24 oz fresh cranberries (2 (12 ounce) bags)
2 apples, peeled and diced
2 cups orange juice
1 cup of brown sugar*
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
a pinch of ground nutmeg
zest of 1 orange
*This is a rough estimate, as the sweetness of the apples, cranberries, and orange juice can vary. Start out with a little less sugar and add more if needed.
method
In a large pot, combine the cranberries, apples, juice, sugar, zest, vanilla extract and spices. Simmer uncovered over low heat for about 45 minutes, stirring every few minutes and testing for sweetness and spice, adjusting if needed. Once the cranberries “burst” and the apples are soft, cook for another 10-15 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.
Let cool and enjoy!
Note: Cranberry sauce can be made in advance. Prepare the night before and store in a closed container, so it’s ready to eat the day of!