Best Simple Fancy Cranberry Sauce Recipes

PERFECT CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 strip orange or lemon zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and cool to room temperature before serving.

BASIC CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, lemon zest, and water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook until cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool to room temperature.

FANCY CANNED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Open the cans of jellied cranberries and slice the cylinders into 1/2-inch-thick rounds.
• Scatter the rounds on a large platter, and top with citrus slices and a little thinly sliced red onion. Squeeze lemon juice over everything, and sprinkle with flaky salt, black pepper and mint, if using.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• In nonreactive 4-quart saucepan, mix cranberries, sugar, orange peel, water and lemon juice. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until juices start to flow and sugar is dissolved.
• Increase heat to medium; simmer 6 to 8 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop. Stir in liqueur. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until completely cooled.

CLASSIC CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and simmer, stirring occasionally, until berries just pop, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in zest, then cool. Do Ahead: Cranberry sauce may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in the November 1999 issue of 'Gourmet' and first appeared on Epicurious in August 2004. Head this way for more of our best Thanksgiving sides →

SIMPLE "FANCY" CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil.
• Add remaining ingredients, return to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until berries burst.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Remove ginger root, refrigerate until cold (preferably over night to allow ample time to gel).
• Even after cooling, this is a bit runny for some people's taste. You can solve this by either reducing the amount of liquid added, or by boiling some of it off.