Kick your Thanksgiving game up a notch with this delicious Orange-Spiced Cranberry Sauce {with Grand Marnier}! Ridiculously easy to make, and ready in 30 minutes, stove to table.
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The title of this post could easily be “Cranberry Sauce: The Easiest Thing You’ll Ever Make This Side of a Cheese Quesadilla.” I started making homemade cranberry sauce a couple of years ago on a whim, and after the first batch, I thought to myself, “Why didn’t anyone ever tell me how freaking easy this is to make? Why have I been buying that stuff in cans all these years?
Orange-Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Grand Marnier • Best Ever!! (And the easiest thing you'll ever make this side of a cheese quesadilla!)
There are almost as many variations to cranberry sauce as there are tables to serve it on. As I was preparing this post, I met up with some former teaching cohorts for early morning beverages. I mentioned that I was writing a post about cranberry sauce, and asked if anyone had any special tricks or tips to share.
The ideas started flying. “Raspberries!” says Ruth. “I add raspberries,” “Pomegranates…” “And spices – I love all the spices.” (I think that was Janice, but it might have been Ruth again.) Kathy, who had never made cranberry sauce before seemed hooked by the idea, and promised to stop by here to check out the recipe. (Hi, Kathy!)
I’ve spent the last few years perfecting my recipe, each time cutting back a little more on the sugar and adding a little more of this and that – Mr B and I both like our sauce with a little bit of bite. (Speaking of bite – the Grand Marnier is optional, but it adds another layer of flavor that you just cannot get from orange extract.)
This recipe is practically foolproof. I usually double the batch and freeze the extra for use throughout the year. Makes a great hostess gift too!
Orange-Spiced Cranberry Sauce {with Grand Marnier}
Ingredients
- 8 cups cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 Tbs orange zest about 1 orange
- 10 whole cloves
- 10 whole allspice
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 1 whole star anise
- 1¾ cups sugar
- ¼ cup Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur optional
Instructions
- Place fresh cranberries, orange juice and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Place cloves, allspice berries, and cinnamon sticks in the center of a square of triple-thick cheesecloth. Gather corners together to make spice bag and secure the top with a piece of twine.
- Place spice bag in the pot with the cranberries. Cook until cranberries begin to burst, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in sugar and reduce heat to low. Continue cooking 5 minutes, or until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Add Grand Marnier and cook 2 minutes more. You can omit the Grand Marnier, but if you do, add a teaspoon of orange extract and increase the sugar to 2 cups.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. Discard spice bag. You can serve this cranberry sauce right away; however, I recommend that you chill it in the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
Nutrition
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Are you ready for the holidays? Be sure to check out these recipes, perfect for celebrating:
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This was the first year I tried out homemade cranberry sauce, and I never realized how easy it was to make. The only thing I learned is that I need to add a bit more sugar…. I made them au natural so they had lots of bite to them 😉