Vegan cranberry sauce is a perfect holiday or breakfast condiment. It is made in less than half an hour with simple ingredients in just one pot. Easy recipe to add to your Thanksgiving menu or Christmas dinner!
I think most of the cranberry sauces available are vegan and gluten-free, but I’d like to share my recipe with you. Canned cranberry sauce is vegan too. But homemade version has so much more flavor!
I added flavor with orange juice and spices. This cranberry sauce has a good balance of sweetness and tartness.
Delicious, chunky cranberry sauce with ingredients that you know. Your holiday table won’t be complete without this flavorful and colorful sauce!
This is a small batch recipe to use for your family. But you can multiply ingredients and make a larger pot. If you want, you can make your own canned version of cranberry sauce for Christmas gifts!
How to make cranberry sauce sugar free
Although I used sugar in this recipe, you can substitute it to alternative such as erythritol to have sugar-free cranberry sauce.
You can also skip the sugar and mix in some honey or maple syrup at the end of the cooking.
However, this might affect the consistency of the sauce and it won’t be as jammy as in this recipe.
Carefully taste the sauce, when it is cooked. If it is too tart, add in sugar or alternative. If it is too sweet, you can squeeze in lemon juice.
Why choose homemade cranberry sauce
After making this recipe, you won’t buy canned cranberry sauce anymore! If you like this overpriced retro jelly, no questions here.
But fortunately for us, at least in Europe and North America, markets are flooded with fresh cranberries, when they are in season.
And when they aren’t in season, you can make vegan cranberry sauce with frozen cranberries. No adjustments needed.
You will get more vitamins and nutrients with this delicious homemade vegan cranberry sauce with orange juice!
Did you know that canned cranberry sauce contains heavily processed fructose corn syrup? You don’t need it, use sugar or any other alternative that you know.
Also there is no orange in canned sauces, but this simple ingredient can make a difference.
How to make vegan cranberry sauce
Put all ingredients in the pot – fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, water and orange juice.
Add spices – anise, cinnamon and orange zest.
Stir to mix all ingredients and bring to the boil. Cranberries will start to pop.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes for runny consistency or up to 30 minutes for a thick sauce.
Keep in mind that cranberry sauce will thicken, when it cools.
The method is the same, whether you cook it on stove top or in the instant pot.
That’s it! Allow to cool and fill the jars.
You can put it through the sieve or blend to make it smoother. But chunky, chutney-like sauce is good as it is. Try it!
How to store cranberry sauce
You can make ahead this cranberry sauce.
It will keep up to two weeks in the fridge in an airtight container. But if properly canned, you can store cranberry sauce up to 4-6 months.
You can also freeze it and store in the freezer up to 6 months or more. Allow to defrost it overnight in the fridge before you use it.
If your sauce becomes too thick after storing, heat it on low with addition of few tablespoons of orange juice or water until desired consistency.
How to use cranberry sauce
- On Thanksgiving meatloaf or vegan loaf
- Serve with sides like roasted parsnips, broccoli or cauliflower, mashed turnips and potatoes
- Put it on the homemade bread
- Add to you oatmeal or yogurt
- Add to smoothies
- Serve with cheese or tofu
- Perfect to top a piece of chocolate cake
Check our other fruit sauces and jams:
Check also our Effortless Cranberry Orange Bread and Apple cranberry crisp. We have a delicious cranberry dessert in our free E-book.
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Vegan Cranberry Sauce
- Pot
- Spatula or spoon
- Jars to fill
- 3 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ½ cup white sugar or alternative
- ¼ tsp cinnamon ground
- Prepare a middle size pot. Put cranberries first.3 cups fresh cranberries
- Put all other ingredients in the pot. Stir until just combined.1 cup water, 1 cup orange juice, 1 star anise, 1 tsp orange zest, ½ cup white sugar, ¼ tsp cinnamon
- Bring the pot to the boil. Cranberries will start to pop.
- Simmer on low heat for 15-30 minutes until desired consistency.
I’ve always made homemade but this recipe is the best!
Thank you so much Vicki! We glad you liked this recipe 🙂
Such an easy and flavourful cranberry sauce! I personally love it on stuffing!
Certainly a staple for Thanksgiving table!
Super easy and delicious. Love the addition of star anise. Thanks for sharing!
With anise the sauce is sweet, spicy and aromatic 🙂
This cranberry sauce looks extra thick and flavorful! Can’t wait to try it during the upcoming holidays!
It really is! You can cook it until the consistency you prefer 🙂
I love the orange flavor in this cranberry sauce!
Orange juice adds sweetness and citrus zest goes well with cranberries.
My mom used to make cranberry sauce and I used to love it so much! But for some reason I haven’t made it myself. I need to try this recipe because it looks almost like hers! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Homemade sauce is so comforting, and so much better than a store bought. Hope you give it a try!