This Homemade Cranberry Sauce is an easy one pot recipe that can be on the table in about 15 minutes. Fresh tart cranberries, sweet apples, & orange zest bring bold simple flavors to this delicious easy cranberry sauce. Refined sugar free, GF, & Vegan.
When it comes to the holiday meal, it just isn't complete without a big bowl of cranberry sauce.
And this is the best cranberry sauce to serve since it's fresh, simple to prepare and requires only a few ingredients.
It compliments this Cornbread Stuffing and these Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes perfectly!
Why make homemade cranberry sauce?
- Flavor- when using fresh quality ingredients it's always going to taste better than anything you can buy pre made.
- Easy- making homemade cranberry sauce is really quick and so simple to make. It's almost as easy as opening up a can.
- Sugar- this is made without refined sugar and you can actually control the amount you add.
Here is what you'll need
Ingredient notes
- Apples- I recommend organic fuji apples for this cranberry sauce. You can substitute with your favorite apples, but if they're not organic I would make sure to peel the apples first.
- Orange zest- I have made it before without the zest so if you find you don't have an orange you can totally make it without that. I recommend you use organic oranges for the zest.
- Maple syrup- Make sure you are using pure maple syrup for this and you can definitely control the amount you add to this cranberry sauce.
How to make it
Start by rinsing and sorting the fresh cranberries. Discard any cranberries that are mushy or appear to have gone bad.
Peel and dice your apple into small pieces. You can leave the peel on if you prefer, which I do if using organic apples . I do recommend removing the skin if they're not organic apples though.
Place all them in a large soup pan.
Add the remaining ingredients, stir and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture starts to thicken.
Transfer to a serving dish to cool.
Storage notes
This can be stored in glass mason jars or any container with a tight fitting lid for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Just make sure to cool the sauce before storing in the fridge.
For longer storage you can freeze cranberry sauce in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to three months.
Other holiday sides
📖 Recipe
Homemade Cranberry Sauce (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 2- 12 ounce bags fresh cranberries
- 2 Fuji apples diced & peeled can leave on peel if using organic apples
- Zest of medium orange
- 4 tbsp. maple syrup*
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups water
Instructions
- Rinse and sort out any bad or mushy cranberries and place rest in large pot.
- Peel & chop apples into bite sized pieces and place in pot with cranberries.
- Add remaining ingredients, stir, and bring to boil.
- Simmer over medium high heat about 15 minutes till cranberries have started breaking up & you have a nice thick consistency.
- Remove from heat & spoon into serving bowl or allow to cool before placing in mason jars and storing in fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Updated- originally posted November 2017
Yvonne
I made this last year, and I liked it for an alternative to white-sugar laden sauce, but my husband wasn't keen, as it is more sour. This year I made it again, but once it was fairly cool I added diced celery and chopped walnuts, as a family (sugary) recipe I'd always made included those. It was a game-changer! My husband and I are both enjoying it! Admittedly he's more into savory than sweet, so that tweak seemed to jazz it into reminiscent of a chutney or something, I guess. We are putting the leftovers on our green salads instead of a dressing. I'm so excited that I can now consider this a full healthy replacement!
Thank you!
Stephanie
You're welcome and thanks for the lovely feedback!
Darby
I made this last year and it was AMAZING!
Can’t wait to have it again 😀
Stephanie
Thanks Darby!❤️🥰
Lindsey
Absolutely delicious! I juiced the orange and subbed some of the water for the fresh-squeezed juice, and it came out great! Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
Stephanie
Thanks Lindsey and you're welcome!❤️
Virginia
I plan on doing exactly that!
Starla
So the orange zest is NOT just for garnish, correct?
Stephanie
That's correct. The garnish is optional! Hope you Enjoy.
Sandra B
Can this cranberry recipe be poured into hot Mason jars and processed in a canner for longer storage time?
Stephanie
I've never actually tried canning it so I can't say for sure. I usually make it ahead and put it in a mason jar in the fridge. It will last in the fridge about 2 weeks. Hope this helps.
Mary
I've never been a fan of cranberry sauce from the can. Homemade is the way to go! Especially when it's this simple!
britt Anne
ooh this looks so good! That healthy bit leaves a little extra room for pie in my book, haha!
Beeta
What a gorgeous bowl of cranberry sauce! I love love love cranberry sauce and I'm so digging that you made this refined sugar free. This is 10x better than anything you could find in a store! 🙂
cheddarben
Thanksgiving is here and I always reserve a little spot on my plate for some cranberry sauce. This looks tasty!
Dannii
Every year I say I am going to make my own Cranberry sauce and I never do. This is the year I will.