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Perfect Make-Ahead Cranberry Orange Sauce Recipe with Grand Marnier and Rosemary for Holidays

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A quick and easy cranberry orange sauce with a festive twist of Grand Marnier and rosemary, perfect for holiday dinners and make-ahead preparation.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340 g) fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • Juice of 1 medium orange
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) Grand Marnier
  • 1 small sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
  • Optional: pinch of ground cinnamon or clove

Instructions

  1. Rinse 12 oz (340 g) of fresh cranberries under cold water and pick out any soft or bruised ones (about 5 minutes).
  2. Using a microplane, zest one large orange carefully, avoiding the white pith. Juice the orange, removing any seeds. Set zest and juice aside (5 minutes).
  3. In a medium saucepan, add 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 1/2 cup (120 ml) water, fresh cranberries, orange zest, and orange juice. Stir gently to mix.
  4. Place saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cranberries will start to pop and soften after about 5-7 minutes.
  5. Once cranberries begin to burst, add 1 small sprig of finely chopped rosemary and 2 tbsp (30 ml) Grand Marnier. Stir to combine (2 minutes).
  6. Lower heat to medium-low and let sauce simmer gently for another 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens to a slightly jammy texture with some whole cranberries remaining.
  7. Remove the rosemary sprig. Taste and adjust sweetness or zest as desired by adding more sugar or orange zest.
  8. Transfer sauce to a clean jar or container. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to let flavors deepen.

Notes

If sauce is too thick after chilling, stir in a tablespoon of water or orange juice to loosen. If too thin, simmer a few more minutes. Remove rosemary before serving. For a smoother sauce, gently mash some cranberries during simmering. Can be made alcohol-free by substituting Grand Marnier with extra orange juice or concentrate.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://forkmila.com/perfect-make-ahead-cranberry-orange-sauce-recipe-with-grand-marnier-and-rosemary-for-holidays/