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Orange Amaretto Cranberry Sauce

Orange amaretto cranberry sauce with glossy, spoonable texture—simmered until the berries burst and thickened, then finished with amaretto and orange zest. Chill it for clean, sliceable spoonability and top with toasted almonds right before serving.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 190
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cranberries
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
Sweetener and liquids
  • 0.75 cup sugar
  • 0.75 cup orange juice
  • 0.25 cup water
  • 0.25 cup amaretto
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1 salt Pinch
Topping
  • 2 tbsp sliced almonds toasted

Method
 

Make the cranberry base
  1. Bring sugar, orange juice, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the liquid is actively bubbling (about 2-3 minutes).
  2. Add fresh cranberries and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the sauce thickens to a glossy, lightly jammy texture.
Finish and chill
  1. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in amaretto and orange zest until evenly combined, with a fragrant orange-citrus aroma.
  2. Cool the sauce to room temperature, then chill until cold and set enough to spoon (at least 2 hours).
Serve
  1. Spoon into a serving dish and top with toasted sliced almonds just before serving for added crunch and visible garnish.

Notes

Pro tip: Simmer just until the berries burst and the sauce thickens—off-heat finishing with amaretto and orange zest keeps the flavor bright. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; freeze up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge and stir before serving). For a lower-sugar option, replace sugar with a 1:1 sugar substitute designed for cooking, and expect a slightly softer set.