What To Use Instead Of Orange Juice In Cranberry Sauce - Tasting Table

"At its most basic, cranberry sauce requires nothing more than cranberries, sugar, and water. Sugar counterbalances the tart berries, and the water helps them to cook down into the thick, jam-like sauce that we all know and love. But there is a reason that oranges are so often considered a secret ingredient for better homemade cranberry sauce. Orange juice adds needed moisture, some of its own sweetness, and a bright aroma - particularly if you use fresh oranges for both the juice and the zest."

"For best results, you'll want to use a substitute that fulfills all of those roles - and maybe adds a few more flourishes of its own. Fortunately, there are a lot of other juices and ingredients that provide similar characteristics to orange juice while also giving an interesting new take - and you don't need to find just a like-for-like swap."

Cranberry sauce requires cranberries, sugar, and water. Sugar balances the berries' tartness and water helps cook them into a thick, jam-like sauce. Orange juice contributes moisture, sweetness, and a bright citrus aroma, especially when using fresh juice and zest. Substituting plain water can produce flat results. Apple juice, apple cider, pomegranate juice, and cherry juice are good alternatives that add sweetness and complementary aromas. Best substitutes should provide moisture, sweetness, and aromatic lift, and some alternatives offer new flavor flourishes without requiring a like-for-like swap. Oranges are often considered a secret ingredient for better homemade sauce. Fresh orange zest enhances aroma.

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