Making Tasty Christmas Cranberry Sauce is a simple process when you follow these steps:

1. Rinse Cranberries: Start by rinsing the fresh cranberries under cold water. Remove any damaged or shriveled berries.
2. Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine water, granulated sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
3. Add Cranberries: Once boiling, add the rinsed cranberries to the saucepan. Stir well to combine.
4. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 15–20 minutes. Stir occasionally. The cranberries will begin to burst, thickening the sauce.
5. Add Cinnamon: If you like, add the cinnamon stick to the mixture for extra warmth and flavor.
6. Season: After the sauce has reached your desired thickness, remove it from the heat and season with a pinch of salt. This will balance the sweetness.
7. Cool: Allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely before transferring it to a serving dish. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
8. Chill: For best flavor, refrigerate the sauce for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.

These straightforward steps will guide you in creating this delightful and vibrant cranberry sauce with ease.