By Melissa Huggins / 15 Comments
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This Apple Cranberry Sauce is bursting with mouth-watering flavors and has the perfect balance of sweet & tart. Your taste buds won't even know what hit 'em.
All those years of seeing thatcan-shaped jelly stuff on the holiday table, who would've known it was the easiest thing to make homemade. This Apple Cranberry Sauce takes less than 20 minutes and calls for very few ingredients.
So, if you have a last-minute holiday potluck to join and you don't have a lot of time to prepare something, choose this tasty dish to bring to the celebration. It's quick, easy, and delicious!
I'm sure you'll hear some compliments on it too, which almost never happens with this holiday condiment.
Table of Contents
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Cranberries - fresh or frozen will work here.
- Apple - The sweetness from the apple will add natural sweetness and a nice texture. A pear will work nicely too.
- Orange Juice - adds a touch of sweetness and a little zing to every bite. If you want extra zing, you can add a teaspoon of fresh orange zest to the popping cranberries. You can also swap the OJ out with apple cider or water. It will still be fabulous!
- Brown Sugar - you can also use cane sugar.
- Agave - you can also use maple syrup
- Ground Cinnamon - this adds a touch of warmth, but it's optional.
- Salt - jadding just a pinch will bring out the flavors.
- Water
How to make Apple Cranberry Sauce
You just heat up the orange juice and brown sugar, until the sugar has dissolved. Then you pour in the ruby-red cranberries and watch the magic happen. They will start to pop open and smell heavenly.
While this is happening, add the crisp apple pieces and let the sweetness marry with the tartness of the cranberries.With a few dashes of cinnamon & pure maple syrup, this holiday delight will be complete. Transfer into your favorite serving dish and keep chilled until it's chow-down time. Voila!
If you are expecting holiday guests this year, pop this deliciousness on the table. They'll love the sweet, tart, cinnamon-y flavors of this popular table ornament. It will complement all the flavors of your harvestfeast.
Usually, cranberry sauce is the most neglected at the table and merely just eye candy, but not anymore. It will make a statement this year, with its vibrant color and deep, rich flavor.
More Holiday classics to enjoy
- VeganSourdough Bread Stuffing
- Vegan Holiday Roast
- Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
- 25 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
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5 from 8 votes
Apple Cranberry Sauce
This Apple Cranberry Sauce is bursting with mouth-watering flavors and has the perfect balance of sweet & tart. Your taste buds won't even know what hit 'em. This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to make and is worlds healthier & tastier than store-bought varieties.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Melissa Huggins
Ingredients
- 12 oz cranberries , fresh or frozen (3 cups)
- 1 large apple , peeled & diced (1 cup)
- ¾ cup orange juice , fresh or bottled
- ¼ cup water
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup agave or pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Recommended Equipment
Medium Saucepan
Instructions
In a medium/large saucepan over medium heat, add orange juice, water, and brown sugar. Gently simmer and stir for 30-60 seconds to dissolve the sugar.
Add cranberries, apples, agave, cinnamon, salt, and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue to cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until sauce has thickened and most of the cranberries have popped (or all if you don't want whole pieces).
Taste for sweetness andadd more if needed (it's easier to use liquid sweetener at this point).
Remove from heat and let it completely cool. Transfer to a serving bowl, cover, andkeep chilled in the fridge. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cranberries- if you're using frozen, you don't have to thaw them first.
- Apples - It's best to use fresh apples that aren't overly ripened. Otherwise, they tend to lose their shape and become too soft while cooking. I used a honey crisp apple, but I also like pink lady, braeburn, northern spy, and gala apples. They all add a nice sweetness and hold their shape well. If you don't like apples, you can omit them or use a pear instead.
- Sweetener - you can use any variety you have on hand. I like to use a blend of liquid sweetener and granulated, but you can use just one type if preferred. Regular cane sugar works well too. Feel free to add more/less sweetness to suit your taste.
- If you don't have orange juice, you can use apple cider or water (you may need to add more sugar if you use water)
- If you'd like extra zing, add a teaspoon of fresh orange zest to the popping cranberries.
- Yields about 2 cups of sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 18.8mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Follow me @veganhuggs and mention #veganhuggs!
More Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
- Vegan Eggnog
- Mulled Apple Cider
- Easy Vegan Cornbread
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
About Melissa
I’m Melissa Huggins – the creator of Vegan Huggs. I started this blog to share delicious vegan recipes that everyone will love. Yep, that includes carnivores, too! Read more...
Reader Interactions
Comments
Mary
Can this be frozen and then thawed when needed? Thank you.
Melissa Huggins
Hi Mary, yes, you can freeze it in an airtight container for 2-3 months. 🙂
Reply
Saidi
This was the best cranberry sauce I have ever made. Wow! Excellent recipe and sooo eacy! And my husband, who doesn't like cranberry, loved it! Thank you for sharing. We will definitely be making this one again!Reply
Saidi
Typo - meant "easy" 🙂
Reply
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Saidi! Thats amazing news that he loved the sauce too! So happy to hear that you both loved it 🙂
Reply
Paul
Scrumptious! I was so eager to discover your recipe...I realized it would be the correct equilibrium I've been looking! Much obliged to you for sharing! Thanking you Soo muchReply
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Paul! We're happy to hear that you loved the recipe, thanks for trying it out!
Reply
Laura Howard
Oh my! So easy to make, my flat smells amazing, and it tastes divine!
About to start the vegan wellington!!!Reply
Melissa Huggins
Hi Laura, this is such a nice compliment. Thank you for trying them out. Have a happy holiday! 🙂
Reply
Betty
I made this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it! We had a ton of food and this was the most popular dish. It is so good that a friend who was at my house for Thanksgiving requested that I make it for Christmas Eve dinner at her place, and I am also making it for Christmas dinner!Reply
Melissa Huggins
Hi Betty, I'm so glad everyone loved it! Thank you for giving it a try and sharing your feedback 🙂
Reply
Kerry
Hi. What kind of apple did you use?
Reply
Melissa Huggins
I used a macintosh apple, but any variety will work. A granny smith is nice too. 🙂
Reply
Gloria
Delicious!! I was so excited to find your recipe...I knew it would be the right balance I've been searching! Thank you for sharing!Reply
Melissa Huggins
Hi, Gloria! Thank you for making it and sharing your feedback. I'm so happy you liked it! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Reply
