Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce is sweet, tangy, and loaded with whole berries. It is delicious with both savory dishes and sweet desserts.
Ingredients
12OuncesFresh Cranberries
1CupWhite Granulated Sugar
¾CupWater
Instructions
Wash the cranberries well and remove any discolored, soft, or shriveled berries. Set aside 1 cup of cranberries for later.
12 Ounces Fresh Cranberries
Put the remaining cranberries, sugar, and water in a 2-quart pan. Cover the pan and bring the cranberries to a boil over medium heat. Then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes until the cranberries burst.
1 Cup White Granulated Sugar, ¾ Cup Water
Remove the pan from the heat and skim any foam from the top of the sauce.
Stir in the reserved cranberries. Cover the pan again and let it cool for 10 minutes. The residual heat of the sauce will soften the added whole berries without bursting them.
When cool, transfer the cranberry sauce to a covered container and store it in the refrigerator.
Notes
My Top TipsChoose cranberries that are deep red in color for the best flavor.Although many recipes do not state to remove the foam, skimming the foam from the sauce makes it more beautiful.Cranberry Sauce VariationsFruit Flavored Variations
Cranberry Orange Sauce - Add a 1-inch x 3-inch strip of orange zest to the sauce as it cooks. Remove the zest before storing and serving.
Cranberry Sauce with Pineapple - Add ½ cup canned crushed pineapple.
Tipsy Variations
Red Wine Cranberry Sauce – Substitute red wine for the water. Choose a red wine that you enjoy drinking and don't use "cooking wine". Good choices are merlot, malbec, and fruity zinfandels.
Cranberry Sauce with Grand Marnier - Substitute 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier for part of the water.
Bourbon Cranberry Sauce - Substitute 2 tablespoons of your favorite bourbon for part of the water.
Cranberry Sauce with Port Wine - Substitute 2 tablespoons of port wine for part of the water.
Spiced Variations
Winter Spiced Cranberry Sauce – Add 1 Cinnamon Stick and a spice sachet of 4 allspice berries, and 2 whole cloves.
Gingered Cranberry Sauce – Add 1 inch of fresh ginger root that is peeled and finely chopped.
Cranberry Sauce with Horseradish - Stir in 2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish, not cream-style horseradish, to the prepared sauce.
Spicy Chipotle Cranberry Sauce - Stir in ½ teaspoon of adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers to the cooked sauce.
Make-Ahead & StorageThis sauce keeps up to 3 weeks in a covered container in the refrigerator. So, cranberry sauce can easily be made several days ahead of when you want to serve it.