Basic 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce Recipe
This Basic 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce is a simple, classic accompaniment perfect for holiday meals or any dish that benefits from a touch of sweet-tart fruitiness. Using just fresh cranberries, water, and sugar, this sauce is easy to make from scratch and can be blended to your preferred texture, making it a versatile and delicious addition to your table.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 1.5 cups cranberry sauce 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberries: Rinse the fresh cranberries thoroughly under cold water and discard any cranberries that are soft or damaged to ensure the best texture and flavor.
- Cook Mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed cranberries, 1/2 cup water, and 1 cup granulated sugar. Stir the ingredients together, then cover the pan and cook over medium heat. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and continue cooking until the cranberries start to pop, which releases their natural juices and softens their texture.
- Blend Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat. Transfer the hot cranberry mixture into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth for a classic cranberry sauce texture, or pulse gently if you prefer some chunks for added texture.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the blended cranberry sauce to cool down to room temperature before serving. The sauce can be served warm or chilled, depending on your preference.
Notes
- For a chunkier sauce, pulse the cranberries fewer times in the blender or food processor.
- Adjust sugar amount to taste for a sweeter or more tart sauce.
- This sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week in an airtight container.
- Make sure not to overcook the cranberries to preserve some of their texture.
- Optional: Add a splash of orange juice or zest for extra flavor.
Keywords: cranberry sauce, holiday sauce, easy cranberry sauce, 3 ingredient sauce, stovetop cranberry sauce
