Cranberry Maple Sauce

A lovely holiday fruit sauce to serve with the traditional bird, with a couple of twists. Instead of straight-up sugar, a cup of pure maple syrup balances the tartness of the fruit. A cup of cranberry juice ensures the essential flavor remains the focus of the dish, and a bit of orange brightens the whole shebang. The Grand Marnier is optional. This is to say nothing of the texture, which to paraphrase the great Roseanne Conner, is "so far beyond canned sauce, that the light from canned sauce would take one billion years to reach the Earth." It is, in a word, awesome. Inspired by a Pioneer Woman recipe, via Kristen Swensson of Cheap, Healthy, Good.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 2  teaspoons  finely grated fresh orange zest
• 3  tablespoons Grand Marnier (optional, or orange juice)
• 1  cup cranberry juice
• 1  cup pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup)
• 1 (16 ounce) bag fresh cranberries

Directions

1. Rinse cranberries under cool running water, pick over and discard any bad berries. Place berries into a medium saucepan.
2. Stir in the orange zest, Grand Marnier (or orange juice), cranberry juice, and pure maple syrup.
3. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high to high heat, keeping a close eye and stirring often.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook for about 10 minutes, until sauce thickens and most of the berries have popped.
5. Pour into a glass dish and let cool. For best results let sit in fridge overnight.