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Perfect Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Ginger: Easy 15-Minute Recipe

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This Perfect Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Ginger is bright, warm, and full of flavor—and it comes together in just 15 minutes. Whether you’re serving it at a holiday feast or a simple weeknight dinner, it’s guaranteed to impress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups; no need to thaw if frozen)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest (from the same orange)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 star anise (optional)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients (5 minutes): Rinse the cranberries and pick out any soft or shriveled ones. Zest the orange before juicing it. Grate the ginger using a microplane. Measure out the sugar, water, and spices.
  2. Combine the liquids and sugar (2 minutes): In a medium saucepan, add the orange juice, water, and sugar. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the cranberries and aromatics (1 minute): Add the cranberries, orange zest, grated ginger, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, star anise (if using), and a pinch of salt. Stir together.
  4. Bring to a boil, then simmer (8-10 minutes): Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst and sauce thickens, about 8-10 minutes.
  5. Remove the whole spices (1 minute): Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. For a smooth sauce, pour through a fine-mesh strainer.
  6. Cool and serve (5+ minutes): Let the sauce cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Transfer to a serving bowl or jar. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Notes

Don’t overcook the cranberries—once they’ve burst and the sauce has thickened slightly, take it off the heat. Use fresh ginger, not ground, for the best flavor. Zest the orange before juicing. Let the sauce rest overnight for deeper flavor. Toast the spices first for an even deeper flavor. This recipe doubles easily for a crowd.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, spiced cranberry sauce, orange cranberry sauce, ginger cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, easy cranberry sauce, 15-minute recipe, Thanksgiving side dish, Christmas side dish

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/perfect-spiced-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-and-ginger-easy-15-minute-recipe/