Healthy Cranberry Sauce

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!

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 

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.
2. Stir.
3. Serve!

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

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

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

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 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.

Never miss a recipe!Sign up here and get a FREE quick and easy meal guide!