• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact

Alena Menko logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Vegetarian » Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

    Published on Nov 20, 2019 by Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD | Last modified on Dec 15, 2020

    Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

    123 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

    This crowd-pleasing cranberry apple orange sauce will make you go back for seconds and thirds! The recipe is packed with the flavors of green apple, orange juice and zest, lemon juice and zest, and cinnamon, and is refined sugar-free!

    bowl of cranberry apple orange sauce with orange zest on top

    I have been making this cranberry apple orange sauce for years and it is always a hit at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and essentially any winter potluck or dinner.

    I use maple syrup to give the sauce a richer, sweeter, somewhat caramelized taste. Plus it is free from refined sugars. But feel free to substitute honey, white sugar, or brown sugar!

    The addition of lemon zest and orange zest add a citrus flavor that complements the tartness of the cranberries and sweetness of the maple syrup.

    I usually make seconds so that I have enough for leftovers, and I never ever regret that decision! I love spooning this cranberry sauce into my yogurt, oatmeal, or even use it to top salmon!

    bowls of cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, lemon zest, green apple, cinnamon, walnuts

    Ingredients in Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

    • Cranberries
    • Maple syrup
    • Granny smith apple
    • Orange (juice+ zest)
    • Lemon (juice + zest)
    • Cinnamon
    • Walnuts

    How to Make Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

    1. Thoroughly rinse fresh cranberries. Discard any berries that are mushy or don't appear fresh. Rinse and scrub apple, orange, and lemon with a produce brush. Peel, core, and chop the apple. Zest and juice the lemon and orange. Roughly chop the walnuts.
    2. In a medium pot, add the cranberries, maple syrup, and 1 cup of water. Cook on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the cranberries burst.
    3. Add the apple, orange juice and zest, lemon juice and zest, and cinnamon to the pot. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
    4. Remove from the heat. Stir in the walnuts.
    5. Let the sauce cool and thicken for 5-10 minutes before serving.
    bowl of cranberry apple orange sauce with orange zest on top

    Is cranberry sauce served warm or cold?

    Cranberry sauce is traditionally served cold, but you can certainly heat it up if that's what you prefer.

    How long does cranberry sauce last?

    You can store cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Make sure to refrigerate the sauce within 2 hours of cooking it. You can find more information on food safety this holiday season here.

    Can you freeze homemade cranberry sauce?

    Yes, you can! To freeze cranberry sauce, first let it cool completely. Then put it in an airtight freezer bag, making sure to remove any air from the bag. Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw the cranberry sauce in the fridge for about 1 day before using/eating it.

    Is cranberry sauce gluten-free?

    This version of cranberry sauce is certainly gluten-free!

    Is cranberry sauce vegan?

    This cranberry sauce is vegan, too!

    What to do with leftover cranberry sauce:

    • Mix it into overnight oats for a sweet & tart breakfast.
    • For more ideas, head to this post on leftover cranberry sauce!
    bowl of cranberry apple orange cinnamon sauce with orange zest on top

    Looking for other dishes to make this holiday season? These are the most popular ones on the blog:

    • Lemon Ricotta Butternut Squash Toast
    • Maple Roasted Carrots with Lemon-Maple Tahini Sauce
    • Butternut Squash and Farro Bowl
    • Kale and Mushroom Quinoa Bake
    • Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Salad
    bowl of cranberry apple orange sauce with orange zest on top

    Cranberry Apple Orange Sauce

    This crowd-pleasing cranberry apple orange sauce will make you go back for seconds and thirds! The recipe is packed with the flavors of green apple, orange juice and zest, lemon juice and zest, and cinnamon, and is refined sugar-free!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: apples, cinnamon, cranberry sauce, cranberry sauce, cranberries, lemons, oranges
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz fresh cranberries rinsed
    • ⅔ cup maple syrup
    • 1 medium granny smith apple peeled, cored, and chopped
    • 1 medium orange (juice and zest)
    • 1 medium lemon (juice and zest)
    • ¼ tsp cinnamon
    • ½ cup walnuts chopped

    Instructions

    • Cook cranberries, 1 cup water, and maple syrup in a medium pot on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
    • Add apple, orange juice and zest, lemon juice and zest, and cinnamon and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
    • Remove from the heat. Stir in walnuts. Let cool and thicken for 5-10 minutes before serving.

    Pin this for later!

    You might like these too

    • Pumpkin Pie Protein Overnight Oats in a bowl with a towel
      Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

      Did someone say pumpkin pie? FOR BREAKFAST?! Yep, this recipe for pumpkin pie protein overnight oats is as delicious as pumpkin pie and as nutritious as overnight oats. Plus it's…

    • Overnight oats with chia topped with fruit and nuts
      How to Make Overnight Oats + 12 Easy Overnight Oats Recipes

      Overnight oats come to the rescue when you need a healthy breakfast that takes 5 minutes (or less) to make! They are high in protein and fiber and will keep…

    • Overnight oats with peanut butter and chia jam in a bowl topped with raspberries and peanuts
      Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats

      Overnight oats are a great meal prep breakfast and can be made the night before. This version of overnight oats combines my childhood love for peanut butter and jelly with…

    « Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash
    Leftover Cranberry Sauce Overnight Oats »
    123 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. caren p magill says

      November 26, 2019 at 7:14 pm

      5 stars
      This looks awesome, Alena! I love the contrasting colors. My husband typically opts for trader joes cranberry sauce, but I think I'm going to give this a whirl instead. It looks amazing and simple enough 🙂

      Reply
    2. Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says

      November 27, 2019 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      This is such a different cranberry sauce! Love love the addition of orange and lemon juices and zests, plus the apple! It must be absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    3. Jacqui Debono says

      November 27, 2019 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      I have added orange to my cranberry sauce before, but never apple! Gorgeous colours in this sauce too, will really make the table!

      Reply
    4. Kelly Anthony says

      November 29, 2019 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      Cranberry apple orange sauce sounds amazing! Such a fun way to spruce up a classic holiday side dish. We will have to give this one a try for Christmas!

      Reply
    5. Sharon says

      November 30, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      Cranberry sauce is a must-have for the holiday dinner table. I love the addition of zesty orange to this traditional recipes.

      Reply
    6. Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says

      December 01, 2019 at 12:15 pm

      5 stars
      I used to love cranberry sauce, But this combo sounds SO good. I will have to try it out over the holidays!!

      Reply
    7. Tammy says

      December 01, 2019 at 6:24 pm

      5 stars
      An absolute must have for the holidays! I make it for Thanksgiving and Christmas...love the apple in this! great idea!

      Reply
    8. Elaine says

      December 01, 2019 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      So healthy, so good! Definitely the sauce recipe to try before the year ends. And that color though... it is unbelievable!

      Reply
    9. Aline says

      December 02, 2019 at 2:15 am

      5 stars
      Always have our cranberry sauce with orange but never thought to add apples to it!! What a great idea!

      Reply
    10. Jacque Hastert says

      December 03, 2019 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      I can't believe how much flavor is packed into this simple sauce! The use of green apples, cinnamon, and so many other flavors really steps this up!

      Reply

    Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there!

    Alena cutting cucumbers on a cutting board

    Welcome to my tiny New York City kitchen!

    I'm Alena Kharlamenko - the registered dietitian, self-taught home cook, recipe developer, and taste taster behind the scenes here at Alena Menko Nutrition. Here you'll find healthy, and delicious recipes that are simple and quick to make.

    Learn more about me →

    Looking for a recipe?

    Categories

    Let's Connect!

    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Facebook

    Recipes You've Been Loving Lately!

    spaghetti squash shrimp scampi in a bowl on white surface

    Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

    zucchini manicotti in a baking dish

    Zucchini Manicotti

    Vegetable Orzo Soup in a bowl

    Vegetable Orzo Soup

    Greek yogurt tuna salad in a bowl

    Tuna Salad with Greek Yogurt (No Mayo)

    Shrimp Taco Lettuce Wraps on a plate

    Shrimp Taco Lettuce Wraps

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Terms of Service

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Alena Menko