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Perfect Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Sauce (Easy Side Dish)

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This hands-off slow cooker cranberry orange sauce delivers perfectly balanced sweet-tart flavor with whole, tender berries in a rich syrup. It’s a make-ahead dream that frees up your stove and your time for the important stuff.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
  • 1 whole star anise (optional, but highly recommended)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prep your produce: Rinse fresh cranberries in a colander, picking out any stems or soft berries. If using frozen, skip rinsing. Zest the orange before juicing it, then cut the orange in half and squeeze out the juice.
  2. Combine in the slow cooker: Add the rinsed cranberries, granulated sugar, fresh orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon stick, star anise (if using), and a pinch of salt to the slow cooker insert.
  3. Give it a quick stir: Gently stir everything together with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to help the sugar start dissolving.
  4. Set it and forget it: Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours. Do not lift the lid to peek.
  5. Check for doneness: After cooking, the cranberries should have burst and the liquid thickened into a ruby-red syrup. The sauce will still be thin and warm; it will thicken as it cools.
  6. Cool and remove spices: Let the sauce cool in the slow cooker for 15-20 minutes. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and star anise. Stir gently.
  7. Chill and serve: Transfer to an airtight container. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold. It will continue to set as it cools in the fridge. Best after 2 hours of chilling, even better the next day.

Notes

Don’t overcook; stick to 4 hours on low for best texture. For a brighter orange flavor, reserve a quarter of the zest and stir in before serving. If sauce is too runny after cooling, simmer on stovetop or use a cornstarch slurry. Can be made up to 10 days ahead; flavors deepen over time.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, slow cooker, orange, Thanksgiving, holiday, side dish, easy, make-ahead

Find it online: https://cookyep.com/perfect-slow-cooker-cranberry-orange-sauce-easy-side-dish/