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Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Fresh cranberries cooked with sugar, pressed smooth and chilled into a firm, sliceable jelly. It sets on its own, from the fruit’s natural pectin.

⏱ 8 hr 20 min (5 min prep, 15 min cooking, 8 hr waiting) 🍽 Serves 12 · about ¼ cup (makes about 3 cups) make aheadkid friendly vegetarianvegangluten freedairy free

Part of our Thanksgiving dinner: menu, timeline and shopping list β†’

πŸ“… Add to my plan

None of the nine major allergens are in the usual versions of these ingredients. Check labels anyway; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 12 servings
  • 24 oz Fresh cranberries, two 12-oz bags, fresh or frozen
  • 2 cup Granulated sugar
  • 2 cup Water
  • 1 pinch Table salt

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

You’ll need: medium saucepan, fine strainer, sturdy spatula, 3- to 4-cup mold, loaf pan or two clean 15-oz cans.

  1. Bring the cranberries, sugar, water and salt to a boil in the saucepan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil gently 10 minutes, until all the berries have burst.
  2. Pour it into the strainer set over a bowl and press and scrape with the spatula until only skins and seeds are left. Scrape the thick purΓ©e off the underside of the strainer into the bowl too.
  3. Pour into the mold, loaf pan or cans (rinse the mold with cold water first so it slides out easily). Cool, cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours, until firm.
  4. To unmold, run a thin knife around the edge, dip the mold in warm water for 10 seconds, and turn it out onto a plate. Slice into rounds.
Make aheadMake it up to a week ahead; it needs at least 8 hours to set.
β†Ί LeftoversRefrigerate, covered, up to a week. Slice onto turkey sandwiches.
πŸ§’ With kidsKids love listening for the berries to pop, and they can turn out the jelly.
Orange swapUse 1 cup orange juice in place of 1 cup of the water.
Whole berry swapFor whole-berry sauce, see our homemade cranberry sauce with orange.

Goes well with

πŸ¦ƒ Classic Roast TurkeyπŸ₯ͺ The Day-After Turkey Sandwich

Good to know

Table salt vs. kosher salt vs. sea salt

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our Thanksgiving dinner; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.