Traditional Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Use a peeler to remove the zest from the orange in wide strips, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl.
• In a saucepan, add sugar, water, cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon stick, and orange juice; stir to combine. Over medium heat, bring to a simmer; then turn the heat to low. Continue cooking at a low simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have split and the sauce thickens, 15-25 minutes.
• Remove the cinnamon stick and orange zest and discard (optional). Transfer the cranberry sauce to a serving bowl. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Note: If making ahead of time, let the cranberry sauce cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days, then serve cold.)

Steps:

• Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 strip orange or lemon zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and cool to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and simmer, stirring occasionally, until berries just pop, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in zest, then cool. Do Ahead: Cranberry sauce may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in the November 1999 issue of 'Gourmet' and first appeared on Epicurious in August 2004. Head this way for more of our best Thanksgiving sides →