Go Back
–+ servings
vegan cranberry sauce in a white dish with mint on the side.
Print

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.
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 105kcal
Author Melissa Huggins

Equipment

  • Medium Saucepan

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
US Customary - Metric

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

  1. Cranberries - if you're using frozen, you don't have to thaw them first. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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.
  4. 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)
  5. If you'd like extra zing, add a teaspoon of fresh orange zest to the popping cranberries.
  6. 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