Description
Homemade cranberry sauce from Joy of Cooking brings festive holiday magic to winter tables. Tart berries simmer with orange zest and sugar, creating a sweet-tangy condiment that elevates traditional meals with classic American comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 4 cups cranberries (1 pound)
Liquid Components:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 orange zest (finely grated) (optional)
Instructions
- Combine granulated sugar and water in a medium saucepan, heating over medium flame until the sugar completely dissolves and the liquid reaches a rolling boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, allowing the syrup to gently simmer for 5 minutes, creating a clear, smooth base for the candied cranberries.
- Carefully introduce whole fresh cranberries into the simmering syrup, ensuring they are evenly coated and submerged without stirring.
- Continue cooking the cranberries for approximately 5 minutes, watching for a translucent appearance that indicates they are absorbing the sweet syrup.
- Use a small spoon to delicately remove any foam or bubbles that accumulate on the surface of the syrup during cooking.
- For an optional flavor enhancement, sprinkle freshly grated orange zest into the cranberry mixture, adding a subtle citrus brightness.
- Once the cranberries have reached a glossy, translucent state, carefully transfer the mixture to a clean serving dish or storage container.
- Refrigerate the candied cranberries for at least 1 hour (or overnight) to allow the syrup to set and the flavors to fully develop.
Notes
- Customize the sweetness by tasting and adding more sugar if needed.
- Gently fold cranberries to preserve their natural shape and prevent breaking.
- Remove foam with a spoon for a sleek, polished sauce appearance.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg