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Best Make-Ahead Cranberry Orange Sauce with Pecans

make-ahead cranberry orange sauce - featured image
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A vibrant, tart-sweet cranberry sauce made with fresh berries, orange zest, and toasted pecans. This make-ahead side dish sets into a perfect gel and pairs beautifully with holiday meats.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Zest of 2 medium oranges
  • 1.5 cups granulated white sugar
  • 1 small fresh sprig rosemary
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

  1. Wash cranberries and remove stems. Zest oranges directly into a medium saucepan, then squeeze juice into the pan.
  2. Add rosemary sprig and salt to the saucepan.
  3. Add sugar to the pot and stir gently to wet the sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved (3-4 minutes).
  4. Add cranberries and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop and sauce thickens.
  5. Remove from heat and remove the rosemary sprig. Let cool in the pot for 15 minutes.
  6. While sauce cools, toast pecans in a dry skillet or oven until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool completely, then chop into chunks.
  7. Fold toasted pecans into the warm cranberry sauce.
  8. Transfer to a serving dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until fully set.

Notes

The sauce relies on natural pectin to set, so do not rush the simmering process. Toasting the pecans separately ensures they remain crunchy. The sauce tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a day or two. If the sauce is too thick after chilling, stir in a teaspoon of warm water or orange juice to loosen it.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, make-ahead, holiday side dish, orange cranberry, pecans, Thanksgiving, Christmas, vegan, gluten-free

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/best-make-ahead-cranberry-orange-sauce-easy-holiday-side/