Almost as easy as opening a can, this simple cranberry sauce recipe will impress your friends and family this holiday season. A few minutes on the stove top result in a fresh, tart sauce perfect for topping your holiday table.
Add all of the ingredients to a large saucepan. Stir to mix and set over medium-high heat on the stove top.
Once the liquid comes to a light simmer, cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 1-3 minutes, increasing the frequency of stirring as it becomes more jammy to avoid any of the sugar from sticking to the bottom of the pan. The sauce will bubble and thicken and the fresh cranberries will begin to pop. Use a silicone spatula or straight edged wooden spoon to stir and press the fresh cranberries to encourage popping.
Once most of the cranberries have popped and the consistency becomes smoother, take the pan off the heat. Noting the sauce will continue to cook and thicken as it sits.
Let the cranberry sauce cool in the saucepan for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
If serving immediately: transfer to a serving heat-proof dish and garnish with orange zest.
If making ahead of time: transfer to a storage container and let cool completely before covering and placing in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, either serve cold or warmed on the stovetop until your desired temperature.