Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
Optional Ingredients
- 1 pear, cored and chopped
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Boil Orange Juice and Sugar: In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the orange juice to a boil. Add the brown sugar and stir until fully dissolved, creating a sweet citrus base for the sauce.
- Add Cranberries and Pear: Stir in the cranberries and chopped pear (if using). Cook until the cranberries begin to burst, then reduce heat to a simmer. Add orange zest if desired and allow the mixture to cook gently for 10 minutes, letting the flavors meld and the sauce thicken.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer it to the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour, allowing it to thicken further and develop enhanced flavor before serving.
Notes
- If the sauce is too tart, add more sweetener such as sugar or additional apple/orange juice to balance the flavors.
- If the sauce is too sweet, introduce acidity like lemon juice to cut excess sweetness.
- Adjust pear piece size based on your preferred texture, noting smaller pieces cook faster.
- For thinner sauce, add more liquid; for thicker, use a cornstarch slurry or simmer longer. Note sauce naturally thickens as it cools.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
