A lot of people dislike cranberry sauce and for a good reason. I get that it’s bitter and it can have a weird texture, but I also think a lot of people haven’t had a good, homemade cranberry sauce. When I say cranberry sauce is the main event, it is definitely NOT the kind from a can.
I grew up eating homemade cranberry sauce at most Thanksgiving dinners, so maybe I’m biased but it’s definitely something you need to try.
A good cranberry sauce starts with real, whole cranberries. Fresh or frozen work just the same.
You also need orange juice for it to taste the best that it possibly can. Water works, but why not add more flavor?
Throw orange juice and sugar in a saucepan and get it all dissolved together. Add those whole cranberries and simmer on low for best results. A good cranberry sauce is cooked slowly to let the cranberries fully soften and break down on their own.
Along the way, you can adjust the taste and texture as needed.
Too thick? More juice. Need more flavor? Add more cinnamon and orange zest. Honestly, add anything that you think will blend well with the flavors. I think this dish is more versatile than people realize.
When people think cranberry sauce, I’m willing to bet a vast majority think of the kind that comes in a congealed cylinder from a can. Yet there is so much more to a true cranberry sauce that everyone needs to experience. Here’s a great recipe I found on TikTok that you should try.
Once it’s complete, you still have a slightly firm texture from the cranberries that have softened down. You also have the jelly consistency that holds it all together from the juice and sugar. Not to mention all of the yummy flavors like orange and cinnamon too.
At the typical Thanksgiving meal, most of the dishes are savory (until dessert). You fill your plate with turkey, gravy, potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, probably a roll of some sort and so much more. So why not add a sweeter and lighter flavor to the plate to break up the heaviness of all the other foods?
The cranberry sauce is such a nice contrast with all of the saltier foods. It’s also so easy to make. It will take about 15-20 minutes and will add something fun to your holiday food selection.
Cranberry sauce is also pretty healthy I’d say. Sure, it has a bit of sugar, but it has berries and orange in it. One serving of a traditional recipe is about 95 calories. You can also use sugar alternatives such as stevia if that’s more up your alley, which brings it down to about 30 calories.
The color of cranberry sauce is also pretty. Most foods on Thanksgiving are beige or neutral colors. Not this. Cranberry sauce will add a pop of color to your plate that will make it look so much more complete.
If you haven’t liked cranberry sauce in the past, try making it homemade this year and see how good it is for yourself!