Place cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and zest in a heavy saucepan.
Cook and stir over medium low heat until cranberries pop and sauce starts to thicken, about 8-10 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Let cool and serve.
Notes
Cranberry sauce thickens as it cools, so keep this in mind when cooking! The times stated in the recipe card is for our preferences, but definitely cook to your liking. Stop cooking when the sauce is slightly thinner than you want it to be because it will thicken to the consistency you like. Just be careful not to burn it!
Taste the sauce! Everyone has their preferences. We like ours a touch tart and lots of orange to give the cranberries a bit more punch and freshness, but if you like it sweeter, feel free to adjust!
This sauce can easily be made in advance and freezes well.
Make sure to save your leftovers! It works as a wonderful addition to breakfast or sweet desserts.
Overcooked the jam? No problem! You can add a few Tablespoons of orange juice or water to loosen it.