Cranberry-Orange Smooth Base

Cranberry-Orange Smooth Base

Made Silky-Smooth With the Hungry Artisan Premium Food Mill

When it comes to Thanksgiving prep, few dishes are as iconic, or as stressful, as cranberry sauce. Too tart, too chunky, too sweet… we've all been there. But what if you could achieve the perfectly smooth, silky, restaurant-style cranberry sauce with zero skins, zero seeds, and zero morning chaos?

Introducing your new holiday lifesaver:
Cranberry-Orange Smooth Base, a make-ahead compote starter created using the fine disc of your Hungry Artisan Premium Food Mill.

Prep it days ahead, store it in the fridge, and then finish it with fresh orange zest and spices right on Thanksgiving morning for a bright, vibrant sauce that tastes like you made it from scratch (because you did).

🍒 Why This Recipe Works

  • Food mill removes skins & seeds naturally for a smooth, luxurious base

  • Make-ahead friendly for stress-free holiday cooking

  • Fresher flavor when the sugar and spices are added the day of

  • Perfect for gifting, potlucks, or freezing

🥄 Cranberry-Orange Smooth Base

Yield: 2–3 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes

🌿 Ingredients:

  • 4 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed

  • 1 ½ cups water

  • 1 strip orange peel (use a vegetable peeler)

  • Optional: 1 small cinnamon stick or 2 whole cloves

(Do NOT add sugar yet! This comes later.)

🔥 Instructions

1. Cook the Cranberries

In a saucepan, combine cranberries, water, orange peel, and optional spices.
Simmer over medium heat for 10–12 minutes, until the berries burst and soften.

2. Run Through the Food Mill

Set up your Hungry Artisan Premium Food Mill with the fine disc.

Pour the hot berry mixture through the mill, turning the handle until only skins remain.
You’ll get a smooth, glossy, seed-free cranberry purée perfect for storing.

3. Cool & Store

Allow the base to cool fully.
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer.

🍽 Finish on Thanksgiving Morning

Warm the base in a pot and add:

  • ¾ to 1 cup sugar (to taste)

  • Fresh orange zest

  • Ground cinnamon or ginger

  • Pinch of salt

Simmer for 5 minutes to create the freshest, brightest cranberry sauce you've ever served.

🛠 Why Use the Hungry Artisan Premium Food Mill?

  • Fine disc = silkiest base possible

  • Removes skins & seeds without blending

  • Keeps flavor pure

  • No grit, no bitterness

👉 Shop the Premium Food Mill (4 Discs)