It’s just not a Thanksgiving dinner without cranberry sauce. Sure, everyone loves the satisfying shlorp of the canned stuff as it slides from the can, but to prefer the gelatinous cylinder is just lazy nostalgia. This freshly made cranberry sauce with Sprite is a unique twist on the classic side dish. The Sprite adds a sweet and citrusy flavor to the sauce.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup Sprite
• Zest of one orange
• Juice of one orange
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

• Rinse the cranberries and pick out any stems or overripe berries. Be sure to discard any cranberries with soft spots. You will know the cranberries are ripe if they bounce.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, and Sprite. Stir well to combine.
• Add the orange zest, orange juice, and the optional cinnamon stick and nutmeg for extra flavor. If you choose to use the cinnamon stick, remember to remove it before serving.
• Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Once the mixture starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Stir occasionally. The longer you let the burst berries simmer, the thicker your cranberry sauce will be. Remember that the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools, so you will want to remove it from the heat before it thickens too much.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or tanginess to your liking. You can add more sugar if it’s too tart or more Sprite if it’s too sweet.
• Remove the cinnamon stick if you used one and let the cranberry sauce cool to room temperature.
• Transfer the sauce to a serving dish, cover it, and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours or until it’s completely chilled.
• Serve the cranberry sauce alongside your favorite Thanksgiving dishes.

Enjoy your homemade cranberry sauce with a twist of Sprite! After making this recipe, you’ll say goodbye to canned sauce forever. The flavor of the sauce will outweigh the sound of the can, for sure.