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    Home » Recipes » Dips & Sauces

    Vegan Cranberry Sauce with Orange

    Published: Nov 14, 2019 · Modified: Dec 15, 2023 by Amy Sandidge · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    If you are looking for a delicious homemade cranberry sauce to go with your holiday meal or even breakfast oatmeal? Let me share with you my favorite Vegan Cranberry Sauce with Orange. It is so simple to make, you are going to love this!

    What Makes This Sauce So Good?

    If you are like me, maybe you grew up on canned cranberry sauce. I promise this is a much better version, and so delicious.

    Cranberry and orange are some of my favorite combinations for the late fall/early winter. It is a light and refreshing flavor combo.

    It is made with only 3 ingredients, and all 3 ingredients are really easy to find. No stress here!

    It is really simple to make. If you are making this for your Thanksgiving table or Christmas dinner, it is nice to not only make this sauce quickly but also be able to make it ahead of time!

    If you have leftovers, I have a ton of ideas to use to help you use the sauce up. I will link them in the section below.

    Cranberry orange sauce in a white serving dish.

    Ingredients

    • Fresh Cranberries- this is a given, right? I used bagged Ocean Spray cranberries, but if you can find them locally, do it. This sauce can also be done with frozen cranberries, just know it will take a little longer to cook down.
    • Sweetener- I used white sugar, but if you are wanting to go refined sugar-free, go with honey (I know it's not vegan, just throwing the option out there) or maple syrup. A lot of people also like sucanat, you can use that if you prefer.
    • Fresh Oranges- you will use both the zest and the fresh squeezed orange juice.
    Ingredients for cranberry sauce.

    How To Make The Sauce

    Add all ingredients to your saucepan and cook it down. Yes, it is really that simple.

    You will want to stir occasionally, but that is the gist of it.

    So, add everything to your saucepan, turn the heat to medium, and stir. You will want to mix well, to begin with. Then after that, stir occasionally.

    The cranberries will start to burst after several minutes, releasing their juices. At this point, continue to cook until it has thickened and is ready to serve.

    I like to taste it at the end and if it needs more sweetener, I add it in then.

    Orange zest, cranberries, and sugar in a saucepan cooking for cranberry orange sauce.
    Woman mixing cranberries, oranges, and sugar in a saucepan.
    Fresh cranberries, orange zest in a saucepan.
    Cooked cranberry orange sauce in a saucepan.

    How Do You Thicken Cranberry Sauce?

    The good news is, it thickens on its own. Cranberries are naturally high in pectin and as they cook, the pectin releases and thickens the sauce.

    If you want your sauce even thicker, this sauce is thick, just look at the photos. But, if you want something even thicker, you can always add in a little tapioca and cook it in.

    Cranberry orange sauce in a white serving dish.

    Notes On Making Vegan Cranberry Sauce

    • There are a few things to note about making this sauce.
    • First, as noted above the cranberries will naturally thicken as they cook. If it isn't thick in the beginning, don't panic, it takes a little time, and it will thicken as it cools as well.
    • Next, the cranberries will sweeten as they cook down too. The natural sugars will be released and start to caramelize. If it is still really tart at the beginning, give it some time. I don't add extra sweetener until the end of the cooking time.
    • Do not skip on adding the orange zest. The oil in the zest is where the bulk of the flavor comes from. You do not want to miss out on this.

    Recipes To Use Up Leftover Cranberry Sauce

    In the case that you have some of this yummy sauce leftover, let me share a few ideas of how you can use it up in other creative dishes!

    • Cranberry Oatmeal
    • Cranberry Orange Brioche Star Bread
    • Another bread- Cranberry Swirl Bread
    Cranberry orange sauce in a white serving dish.

    Vegan Cranberry Orange Sauce

    Amy Sandidge
    Tired of the canned version? How about making it own your own? I promise, it will be so much easier and tastier than you could imagine!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 cups fresh cranberries
    • 1 cup sugar or honey If you prefer the recipe a little more sweet, add in an extra ½-1 cup sugar. I like mine a little more tart, so I have less listed.
    • 1 cup orange juice
    • 2 tablespoon orange zest

    Instructions
     

    • Bring cranberries, sugar, water, and orange juice to a boil over medium heat, making sure to stir occasionally. Cook until berries have popped and the sauce has thickened. Mine took about 10 minutes. Your's might take less or more time, depeding on what medium heat looks like on your cooktop and how thick your pan is.
      After it is cooked, stir in the zest. Serve immediately or place in fridge for up 10-14 days. I have gone longer, but flavor was compromised.
      Now, sit back and enjoy. You deserve it.

    Video

    Keyword cranberry orange, cranberry orange sauce, cranberry recipes
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    Hi, I'm Amy! I am a culinary school graduate creating a comprehensive collection of recipes, with a focus on incorporating whole grains. My goal is to craft dishes that resonate with the whole family. 

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