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Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon

Cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon made by simmering fresh cranberries until they burst, then chilling for a thick, spoonable texture. Spiced with cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, orange zest, and a touch of salt for balanced flavor.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cranberry sauce
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries Fresh berries preferred for best burst and texture.
  • 0.75 cup sugar Use granulated sugar for a classic set.
  • 0.75 cup orange juice Fresh-squeezed or bottled both work.
  • 0.25 cup water Helps dissolve sugar and start the simmer.
  • 2 cinnamon sticks Keep in for extra spice as it cools.
  • 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon Adds warm, even spice throughout.
  • 1 tbsp orange zest Stir in off heat so the flavor stays bright.
  • 0.125 tsp salt Just a pinch to sharpen the fruit flavor.

Equipment

  • 1 Cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the spiced syrup
  1. Combine sugar, orange juice, water, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Simmer until cranberries burst
  1. Add the fresh cranberries to the boiling mixture. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most berries burst and the sauce thickens slightly, with bubbles that pop across the surface.
Finish with orange zest
  1. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the orange zest and keep the cinnamon sticks in the sauce as it cools for extra spice, then remove them after cooling.
Chill and serve
  1. Transfer the cranberry sauce to a bowl and let it cool to room temperature. Chill before serving so it thickens as it sets.

Notes

Pro tip: For a thicker sauce, simmer closer to 12 minutes and stir more often near the end so the cranberries break up well. Refrigerate in a covered container up to 5 days; freeze up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). For a lighter option, reduce sugar slightly to 2/3 cup and expect a softer set—still good chilled.