Food: Under Pressure: Orange Cranberry Sauce [Instant Pot Pressure Cooker]

Orange Cranberry Sauce

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Don’t think you like cranberry sauce? You MUST try this!

Only EVER had canned cranberry sauce? You definitely MUST try this!

Never thought of orange and cranberry going together? Stop holding out on yourself, you absolutely MUST try this!

Confession… I used to HATE cranberry sauce.

2nd confession… when I say I used to HATE cranberry sauce, it’s kind of fabricated because the truth is I had always REFUSED to try cranberry sauce.

3rd confession… I swear on my Nonna Maria that I am eating some of the Orange Cranberry sauce I JUST made for my holiday dinner… over vanilla ice cream… and it’s so freaking good I don’t feel the least bit bad about it #pregnantproblems

Truth… as a child, growing up, we ALWAYS had the canned stuff. I apologize if you like canned cranberry sauce, because I don’t mean to offend you I swear but the stuff disgusts me. Something about it being so gelatinous that you can cut it into circles… and the marks on the circles that result from it being in that can. I just can’t…

Let’s get on to the good stuff…

*I apologize for some of the lack of quality of the pictures… #droppedmyphoneinthetoiletproblems

Orange Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

1 12 ounce package fresh cranberries

1 T. Orange Zest

1/2 cup orange juice, I use freshly squeezed
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar*

1/2 cup water

1/4 t salt

1/4 t cinnamon

2 T. orange liqueur, can omit**
4-5 dashes aromatic orange bitters, can omit**

*depends on your preference of sweetness -
I use 1/2 cup & think it's perfectly tart and sweet.
**Can omit the alcoholic ingredients in preferred - they really help deepen that orange flavor though, and are really yummy in this recipe. Don’t worry, they completely cook out all alcohol!

Essential Tools

Pressure Cooker - I have the 6 qt Instant Pot 7-in-1

Zester - I have the Dragonn Premium Zester - it ROCKS!

Citrus Juicer - I have this OXO juicer*

*I would rather have a better quality one like this Top Rated juicer

Directions

Gather all ingredients

Rinse cranberries, and discard any that are badly bruised or that have gone mushy-bad. Pour into Instant Pot insert. Add all other ingredients, then stir.

Close Instant Pot lid, and turn vent knob to “Sealing”

Press “Manual” high pressure and use “+/-“ buttons to set cook time to 15 minutes.

When cook time is complete, Instant Pot will beep. Quickly release pressure (QPR) by turning Vent knob to “Venting”.

ENJOY the amazing aromas that will come from your pot. Seriously, it smells AMAZING!

When you open the lid, you may first think it doesn’t look right, or that you didn’t cook it long enough. Have no fear, just stir, squish, stir, squish, stir…

If you want it super smooth (which I do not), you could use an Immersion blender or regular blender to achieve this. I happen to LOVE the texture just as is!

If it seems a little too thin to you, once again, no worries. Allow the sauce to cool - it will thicken as it cools. Store in a tupperware container in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

This Orange Cranberry Sauce is a-whole-nother-level of AMAZING

I serve my Orange Cranberry Sauce at room temperature or cooled, but not cold - up to you how you serve yours!.

This can be made up to 2 or 3 weeks in advance! Or, store after enjoying for 2-3 weeks… that is if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers.

Orange Cranberry Sauce is so not limited to your turkey dinner. Try it on sandwiches, or pork chops, or fried chicken. If you’re like me, as I admitted earlier, you might want to try this over vanilla ice cream… I’ve also had it on peanut butter toast, on english muffins over cream cheese, pancakes, waffles, toast, crepes, oatmeal, yogurt… Yeah…

In case you don’t believe me, here’s a little proof: