Homemade Cranberry Sauce is delicious and easy to make with simple ingredients. Tastes much better than store-bought in my opinion.
Fresh cranberries are very tart. If granulated sugar is not for you, consider sweetening with sugar substitutes, raw honey or orange juice.
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“Best cranberry dish we have ever had…thanks so much.” C. S. (Facebook, November 29, 2019)
How To Read & Follow A Recipe
Reading a recipe is an important life skill. It starts with knowing how to read a recipe’s ingredients, follow the instructions, prep ingredients, and knowing what equipment to use.
The following tips and strategies will help beginners or experienced cooks create a delicious dish as intended in the recipe.
Start with clean hands and organized kitchen. Wash hands thoroughly. Make sure kitchen and countertops are clean before making a recipe.
Create a relaxing environment. Play favorite music while in the kitchen. I love listening to classical or gospel music.
Read the recipe. Don’t just quickly skim it. Thoroughly read from start to finish. Visualize doing each step which will help you avoid missing a step.
If you see ingredient that you and your family don’t use for whatever reason, use a substitutions or omit the ingredient.
My recipes are packed with helpful tips like shortcuts and serving sizes which save time and help with meal planning.
Pay attention to the order in which ingredients are prepped. For example, 1 cup of chopped pecans is not the same as pecans, chopped (measure whole pecans and then chop).
Know the assumptions. For example, when my recipe calls for “sugar,” use granulated sugar. If brown sugar is an ingredient, it will be written as such in the recipe.
Figure out the timing. Check the listed “prep time” and “total time” to be sure you have enough time to complete the recipe.
Look for hints, such as the words “meanwhile” or “at the same time,” which indicate two or more steps can happen simultaneously.
For example, my prep time doesn’t include bringing cold butter up to room temperature. Be sure to include in your timetable.
Watch Recipe Videos. If you’re a visual learner (like me), watch recipe videos. Perfect for when you’re learning a new skill or just want to see how a recipe is made.
Mise en place is a super time saver. This French cooking term translates as “putting in place.” It means prepping/measuring ingredients and chopping food before you start cooking. It’s the perfect way to get organized and avoid missing an ingredient or missing a step in the instructions.
Organize your tools and kitchen equipment. Mise en place isn’t just for ingredients. Before starting, make sure you have parchment paper, aluminum foil, measuring cups, measuring spoons, the right pans, mixing bowls, and other equipment.
Make notes in your recipe. Note any special prep instructions and highlight cooking times. Make note of ingredients omitted, favorite substitutions and creative twists. The notes will be very helpful the next time you make this recipe.
Enjoy!
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings |
cups
|
- 1 cup water Or use orange juice.
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 12-ounce package fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and drained About 3 cups.
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
Ingredients
|
|
- Combine water (or orange juice) and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Add cranberries and ground cinnamon (if using). Return to boil. Cover with lid because cranberries will pop UP while boiling.
- Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until the cranberries start popping.
- Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Mash once or twice with a large spoon.
- Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. It will thicken as it cools.
- Cover and cool completely at room temperature. Or, cover and refrigerate until serving time.
- Sauce will get more tart as it cools. Taste before serving. Add more sweetener if necessary.
- Sprinkle top with freshly grated orange zest before serving.
VARIATION: Replace 1 cup of water with 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice. After the sauce cools, add a 14-ounce can of crushed pineapples (drained) and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Homemade Cranberry Sauce becomes more tart as it cools.Taste before serving. Add more sweetener if necessary.