Who needs the canned cranberry sauce when you can easily make a fresh one? Yes, it’s so easy and much more flavorful. In fact, it’s not only a side dish. Spread it on your toast or muffin with butter for breakfast and it’s wonderful. It’s packed with holiday flavors like cinnamon, cloves and orange zest.
All it takes is mixing all the ingredients in a sauce pot and let it simmer away. The sauce is ready in only 15 minutes. The best part is, my house smells like Christmas while it’s cooking. You can even make it ahead one day before serving. 
Easy 15-Minute Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries about 3 cups
- 1 Gala apple peeled, cored and diced
- ½ navel orange zest
- ½ navel orange juice
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Wash cranberries and remove any soft ones. Zest the orange half and squeeze the juice. Set aside. Peel, core and dice the apple to about 1/2 inch size.
- Place all ingredients in a sauce pot. Bring to boil on medium/high heat. When it starts to boil, lower heat and let it simmer for 15 mins. Stir occasionally and cook until apples are tender and cranberries are bursting.
Notes
This sauce can be made in advance one day before serving. Store in covered container and refrigerate. Before serving time, let it sit out to get to room temperature.