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Chocolate Covered Cranberry Sauce

Chocolate covered cranberry sauce with a quick simmer that turns fresh cranberries into a thick, glossy jam, then melts in chopped dark chocolate. Chill until firm enough to spoon, with a simple garnish of chocolate shavings.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cranberry base
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 0.75 cup sugar
  • 0.75 cup water
  • 0.25 cup orange juice
  • 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.0625 salt
Chocolate layer
  • 3 oz dark chocolate (60-70%), chopped
  • 1 dark chocolate shavings for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Simmer the cranberry sauce
  1. Bring sugar, water, and orange juice to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until fully combined, then keep at a steady boil—look for active bubbling across the surface.
  2. Add fresh cranberries and simmer 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. The berries should burst and the sauce should thicken as it reduces.
Stir in chocolate and chill
  1. Remove from heat and stir in chopped dark chocolate, vanilla extract, and salt until melted and glossy. The mixture should look smooth and shiny with no visible chocolate bits.
  2. Cool to room temperature, then chill until set. The sauce should thicken further so it holds a spoonable shape.
Serve
  1. Top the chilled cranberry sauce with dark chocolate shavings right before serving. Add a few extra shavings on top so you can see them clearly.
  2. Serve alongside turkey or spoon over cheesecake or ice cream. Use the sauce warm-spoon style if you want it softer.

Notes

Pro tip: For the glossiest texture, stir the chopped dark chocolate in while the cranberry sauce is still hot but off the burner, so it melts without splitting. Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days; freeze up to 2 months for best quality. If you need a dairy-free option, this recipe is naturally dairy-free—just keep garnishes and serving toppings dairy-free.