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    Home ▸ Vegan Sauces and Toppings

    Healthy Cranberry Sauce

    Last modified: October 5, 2022. Originally posted: October 5, 2020 By Sophia DeSantis

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    Text overlay on cranberry sauce with a photo of a bowl of it
    A spoon getting a scoop of cranberry sauce from a grey bowl
    Collage of cranberry sauce being made and the final product with text overlay

    This healthy cranberry sauce recipe is made with only 4 whole food ingredients, uses orange juice and maple syrup to sweeten and is so easy!

    A bowl of cranberry sauce sitting on a plate with an orange and cinnamon stick
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    I was never a cranberry sauce fan, mostly because I could never find the right texture and flavor I liked. But this version has the perfect combo of sweet and tang!

    Making traditionally store bought staples from scratch can seem daunting and overwhelming, not to mention the fear of will it taste the same?!

    Well, it might not taste the same, but this sauce tastes BETTER than canned, is easy to make, and is healthier too, win win win!

    Ingredients

    This cranberry sauce recipe contains only whole food ingredients, making it a healthy alternative to store bought.

    • Cranberries
    • Orange juice
    • Maple syrup 
    • Orange zest 
    Bowls with ingredients for cranberry sauce made with orange juice

    How To Make Healthy Cranberry Sauce

    Don't fret, this recipe is incredibly simple and easy to make. You just may never go back to canned!

    1. Boil & simmer.Cranberries in a pot simmering to become sauce
    2. Stir.A spoon stirring cranberry sauce cooking in a pot
    3. Serve!A spoon getting a scoop of cranberry sauce from a grey bowl

    Tips and tricks

    Here's some helpful tips to bring you cranberry sauce success:

    • If using fresh cranberries, wash and rinse first.
    • If you use frozen cranberries, they may come in a 10 ounce bag instead of 12 ounce. This still works well, just use anywhere between 10-12 ounces.
    • For sweeter sauce, use more maple syrup.
    • You can substitute water for the orange juice and omit the zest if you don't want the orange flavor.
    • Add other seasonings like ginger, nutmeg, or rosemary to mix things up.
    • This cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks if stored in a tightly sealed airtight container, making it a perfect make ahead recipe to make your life THAT much easier!
    • This sauce can be served hot or cold. If you have made it ahead of time and need to reheat it, heat over low on the stovetop or microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until the desired temperature is reached.

    Have leftovers? Make these amazing cranberry crumble bars perfect for breakfast, snack or dessert!

    Common Questions

    Is canned cranberry sauce healthy?

    Not necessarily. Canned cranberry sauce is generally sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and contains quite a bit of sugar. This recipe uses only whole food ingredients, packing in more nutrients and less sugar than the store bought kind.

    What does cranberry sauce taste like?

    It depends! The main star of the show is obviously cranberries, but some people prefer more tang (like me), and others prefer to sweeten it up a bit more. I also love adding in a little burst of orange, and there are many other variations as well like ginger or apple cranberry sauce.

    How do you make cranberry sauce less tart?

    By adding more sweetener! I have found that using maple syrup is best, it adds a nice flavor and consistency.

    Can you freeze homemade cranberry sauce?

    Yup! Make sure it's cooled completely, transfer to an airtight freezer safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months! Just remember to pop it in the fridge a day or two before serving so it can defrost safely.

    More Recipes

    While this healthy cranberry sauce is delicious all year long, it's generally served with holiday meals. Here are some other recipes that will make your holiday season (or any day) extra delicious!

    • Gluten-Free Vegan Stuffing
    • Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes
    • 4 Ingredient Vegan Gravy
    • Maple Roasted Carrots
    • Vegan Pumpkin Pie With Pecan Crust
    • Healthy Vegan Apple Crisp
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    A bowl of cranberry sauce sitting on a plate with an orange and cinnamon stick

    Healthy Cranberry Sauce

    Sophia DeSantis
    This healthy cranberry sauce recipe is made with only 4 whole food ingredients, uses orange juice and maple syrup to sweeten and is so easy!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course 30 Minutes or Less, Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 72 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 12 ounces fresh or frozen fresh cranberries see note
    • ½ cup water
    • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
    • ¼ - ½ cup maple syrup , adjust for the level of sweet or tart you prefer
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest , add more if you want extra orange flavor

    Instructions
     

    • Put all ingredients except the zest into a pot and bring to a boil over medium high heat. About 5 minutes.
    • Reduce to medium low and simmer for about 10 minutes until the cranberries have burst and the mixture thickens. If it gets too thick just add some water to thin it out.
    • Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest.
    • Serve as you want!

    Notes

    • The frozen fresh cranberries may come in a 10 ounce bag instead of 12 ounce. This still works well, just use anywhere between 10-12 ounces.
    • I used ¼ cup maple syrup because I much prefer it tangy than sweet. But taste and adjust to your preference.
    • If you don’t want the orange flavor, use all water instead of part orange juice and don’t use the zest.
    • If using fresh cranberries, wash and rinse first.
    • This makes about 1 ½ cups, serving size is ¼ cup.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 72kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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    1. Marilyn Chisholm

      November 30, 2020 at 10:32 pm

      We LOVED the cranberry sauce...best thing ever! We use it on mashed potatoes, as a topping for baked potatoes and as a dressing for salads. This and your cheese sauces have made my life easier and happier !!! Can’t wait for your book to arrive. 👏👏👏 thanks SO much for all you do! ❤️

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        December 01, 2020 at 7:31 pm

        I am so thrilled Marilyn! Thank you for the great review!

        Reply
    2. Karens

      October 06, 2020 at 6:53 pm

      I'm a fan of snack, in my fridge always has something sweeties. This cranberry sauce is great for my collection. It's less sugar and simple origional, it good for controlling weight. I like adding ginger, it alway give feeling warm.

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        October 06, 2020 at 8:46 pm

        Thanks Karen! Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply

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