How to Make Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce in Just a Few Easy Steps

The cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving staple for a reason—it’s delicious! But if you’ve never made it before, the process can seem a little daunting. never fear, we’re here to help. In this post, we’ll show you how to make Thanksgiving cranberry sauce in just a few easy steps.

So get out your pots and pans, and let’s get started!

What Is Cranberry Sauce?

You might be wondering what cranberry sauce is, and that’s a valid question. Cranberry sauce is a sauce made from cranberries, sugar, water, and sometimes other ingredients like orange juice or cinnamon. It’s typically served as a side dish during Thanksgiving dinner.

And while you can certainly buy cranberry sauce at the store, it’s actually really easy to make at home. Plus, homemade cranberry sauce tastes a lot better than the store-bought kind!

So if you’re interested in learning how to make your own cranberry sauce, read on for some easy instructions.

What Are the Benefits of Cranberry Sauce?

You might be wondering why you should even bother making cranberry sauce from scratch when you can just buy it at the store. And while that’s true, there are a few benefits of making it yourself.

First of all, you can control the sweetness level. Store-bought cranberry sauce is often too sweet for my taste, so I like to make my own so I can adjust the sugar level to my liking.

Another benefit is that you can control the texture. Some people like their cranberry sauce smooth, while others (like me!) prefer it to be a bit chunkier. When you make it yourself, you can decide how you want it to turn out.

Finally, homemade cranberry sauce just tastes better. It’s fresher and more flavorful than anything you could buy at the store. So if you’re looking for the best possible taste, making your own sauce is the way to go.

How to Make Cranberry Sauce

Making cranberry sauce from scratch is actually really easy and only requires a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

– 1 cup of white sugar

– 1 cup of water

– 12 ounces of fresh cranberries

– 1 orange, juiced

– 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

To start, mix the sugar and water together in a saucepan and bring them to a boil. Add the cranberries and orange juice, and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes. Once the cranberries have popped, use a spoon to mash them up a bit.

To thicken the sauce, mix together the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water. Add this to the cranberry mixture and stir until it’s well combined. Let it cook for another minute or so, and then remove it from the heat.

And that’s it! You now have homemade cranberry sauce that’s perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy!

What Are Some Variations of Cranberry Sauce?

Cranberry sauce is a pretty versatile dish – you can make it sweet or savoury, depending on your preference. And there are a ton of different ingredients you can add to give it some extra flavour.

Here are a few ideas:

– If you want it to be more savoury, try adding some chopped onions or shallots.

– For a sweetness boost, add in some maple syrup or honey.

– If you want a bit of a zing, add in some citrus juice or zest.

– And for an extra fall flavour, try adding in some chopped apples or pears.

Really, the sky’s the limit when it comes to cranberry sauce. So go ahead and experiment until you find a version that you love!

How to Store Cranberry Sauce

Once you’ve made your cranberry sauce, you might be wondering how to store it. The good news is that it’s actually really easy—you can keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to six months.

When it comes to freezing, I like to portion it out into individual servings so that I can just grab one when I’m feeling Thanksgiving-y in the middle of summer. That way, I don’t have to defrost the whole batch at once.

If you’re planning on storing your cranberry sauce in the fridge, just make sure to put it in an airtight container. And if you have any leftovers after Thanksgiving, don’t forget that cranberry sauce makes a great addition to all sorts of dishes, from sandwiches to omelettes.

FAQs About Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is one of those dishes that can be super simple or really complicated, depending on how you make it. And while there are a million and one ways to make cranberry sauce, we’re going to focus on the basics.

So, let’s start with the most common question I get asked about cranberry sauce:

what’s the difference between whole berry and jellied cranberry sauce?

The answer is pretty simple: whole-berry cranberry sauce is made with whole berries, while jellied cranberry sauce is made with juice. Whole berry sauces tend to be chunkier, while jellied sauces are smooth.

Can I substitute frozen cranberries for fresh ones?

Yes, frozen cranberries can be used in most recipes in place of fresh cranberries if you don’t have any on hand or if they are out of season. The tartness and tanginess of frozen cranberries are identical to those of fresh cranberries, so they can be used in recipes that call for the latter. Before using, make sure to drain any extra water from the cranberries and thaw them out completely.

How many days before thanksgiving can you make cranberry sauce

Cranberry sauce is one of those dishes that can be made ahead of time and actually benefits from it. The sauce will develop a deeper flavour as the days go by. I like to make my sauce at least 3 days before Thanksgiving, but up to a week in advance is fine.

What thanksgiving dishes use cranberries

here are many traditional Thanksgiving dishes that use cranberries. One popular dish is cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce is made by cooking cranberries with sugar and water. It can be served as a side dish or used as a topping for turkey or other dishes.

Other popular dishes that use cranberries include cranberry relish, cranberry stuffing, and cranberry pie.

How long cranberry sauce will last?

The answer to that really depends on how it’s stored. If you keep it in the fridge, it will last for up to two weeks. But if you freeze it, it will last for up to six months.

Why is cranberry sauce a thanksgiving tradition

Cranberry sauce has been a Thanksgiving tradition for many years. The sauce is made from cranberries, sugar, and water. It is a tradition because it is a food that is native to the Americas. Cranberries were used by the Native Americans as food and medicine. The sauce was first made by the Pilgrims in the 1600s.

Conclusion

And that’s it! Just a few easy steps and you’ll have delicious, homemade cranberry sauce to enjoy. This Thanksgiving, ditch the canned stuff and wow your guests with this homemade cranberry sauce recipe.

Do you have a favourite Thanksgiving dish? Let us know in the comments below. And don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family – they’ll be happy to have another Thanksgiving dish to add to their repertoire.