Name: Apple Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 oz cranberries (, fresh or frozen (3 cups)); 1 large apple (, peeled & diced (1 cup)); 3/4 cup orange juice (, fresh or bottled ); 1/4 cup water; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup agave (or pure maple syrup); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; pinch of salt

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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.

vegan cranberry sauce in a white dish with mint on the side.

All those years of seeing that can-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.

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

Closeup view of vegan cranberry sauce in a white dish.

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 harvest feast.

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.

apple cranberry sauce in a white dish with cranberries and cinnamon sticks.

More Holiday classics to enjoy

Recipe

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5 from 9 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

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Servings: 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 and add 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, and keep 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.