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Cranberry Orange Sauce
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Cranberry Orange Sauce

Cranberry Orange Sauce is easy to make at home, and it'll be the star of your holiday table.  While you can make it fresh the day you need it, canning cranberry sauce ahead of time is an easy way to reduce stress around the holidays.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings, Makes 2 half pint jars (can be doubled)
Author: Ashley Adamant

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cranberries if frozen, about a 12 oz bag
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 orange including the juice and zest (you'll need about ¼ cup juice and 3 tsp fresh zest)
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  • Prepare your canning jars: Wash them in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Keep them hot until ready to use. 
  • In a large saucepan, combine the cranberries with water and cook over medium-high heat until they're soft and popping, or for about 10 minutes. 
  • Add the sugar, cinnamon stick, orange juice, and orange zest and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the mixture sets, usually about 3-5 minutes on medium-high heat. You can test for set using a plate that's been chilled in the freezer or with an instant-read thermometer.  The target temperature here is 220 F.  (Or if you're an experienced jam maker, you can go by eye.  The bubbles change to a smooth, glossy appearance when the mixture is ready to set.)
  • Remove the pan from the heat and discard the cinnamon stick. Skim off any foam, if necessary.
  • Carefully ladle the hot cranberry sauce into the prepared hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Remove any air bubbles.
  • Wipe the rims of the jars with a dampened clean paper towel to ensure a nice, clean seal. 
  • Place the lids on top of the jars and screw on the bands finger-tight.
  • Process the jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes. 
  • Carefully remove the jars from the canner using tongs or a jar lifter. Place them on a heat proof surface and let them cool, undisturbed, for at least 24 hours.
  • Check the seals by pressing on the center of the lids.
  • Store the sealed jars in a cool, dark place for up to a year. 

Notes

This recipe makes a small batch, but it can be doubled or tripled to make either 4 or 6 half pints.  Do not use more than 3x on this recipe, or it won't heat evenly and may not set.

Altitude Adjustments for Cranberry Sauce

Water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes, so jars need to be processed a bit longer as you go up in elevation.  Here are the altitude adjustments for canning cranberry sauce (all times are for both pints and half pints):
  • For Under 1,000 Feet in Elevation - 15 minutes
  • For 1,001 to 6,000 Feet in Elevation - 20 minutes
  • Above 6,001 Feet in Elevation - 25 minutes