• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Carrot Underground🥕
  • Vegan Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe 🥕
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vegan Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe 🥕
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Vegan Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe 🥕
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Thanksgiving

    Simple Cranberry Orange Sauce

    Published: November 9, 2020 | 8:45 am, Modified: Aug 17, 2022 by Connie Edwards McGaughy This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Simple Cranberry Orange Sauce 🍊 This easy vegan cranberry sauce recipe will be a welcomed addition to your Thanksgiving or holiday table. A delicious combo of whole cranberries and fresh orange sweetened with maple syrup and a hint of spice. How nice!

    Cranberry sauce is a traditional must-have for any vegan Thanksgiving feast. Those bright beautiful berries provide a wonderful complementary flavor contrast that will enhance all your favorite savory and sweet holiday dishes.

    This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Unlike most traditional cranberry sauce recipes which require refined sugar, I prefer to sweeten my sauce with pure maple syrup. I adore the combination of cranberries with oranges and have boosted the flavor with just a hint of holiday spices - cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

    How to make a simple cranberry orange sauce

    With just 3 main ingredients, a bit of spice and a few minutes - you'll have the best homemade cranberry sauce you've ever tasted!

    🥕Equipment

    • One medium saucepan
    • One medium mixing bowl
    • Measuring cup
    • Mesh strainer or colander
    • Citrus zester
    • Cutting board
    • Small kitchen knife

    🥕Ingredients

    Simple cranberry orange sauce ingredients.
    • 2 cups fresh whole cranberries - washed/rinsed well
    • ½ cup pure maple syrup
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 cup fresh orange segments - pith removed, then cut into pieces
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest
    • A small pinch of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves - or pumpkin pie spice
    Boil water & maple syrup in pan. Add cranberries
    Cook for 10 minutes
    Combine cooked cranberries, oranges & spice
    Refrigerate & serve. Enjoy!
    thanksgiving leftover sandwich

    This simple cranberry orange sauce is the perfect partner with vegan stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, sweet potatoes, soups, veggies, tofu and seitan. I love adding a spoonful on a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich!

    🥕If you love cranberries, then you'll love these berry delish dishes!

    • Simple Maple Cranberry Yams
    • Vegan Orange Cranberry Bread
    • Homemade Cranberry Applesauce
    • Easy Fresh Cranberry Relish
    • Vegan Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake with Cranberries

    very vegan 🌱 berry good!

    bowl of simple cranberry orange sauce

    Simple Cranberry Orange Sauce

    by Connie🥕
    Simple Cranberry Orange Sauce with Maple Syrup 🌱 This easy, vibrant vegan cranberry sauce recipe will be a welcomed addition to your Thanksgiving or holiday table. Made with whole cranberries sweetened with pure maple syrup, combined with juicy fresh oranges and a hint of spice. How nice!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Course Condiment, Dinner, Sauce, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Christmas, dairy free, Fruit, Gluten-free, Holiday, no oil, oil-free, Plant Based, Thanksgiving, Vegan, WFPB, WFPBWO
    Servings 8
    Calories 77 kcal

    Equipment

    • One medium saucepan
    • One medium mixing bowl
    • Measuring cup
    • Mesh Strainer or colander
    • Citrus zester
    • Cutting board
    • Small kitchen knife

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cups cranberries whole fresh - washed/rinsed well
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 cup orange segments segmented and cut into ½" pieces
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest
    • 1 pinch pumpkin spice cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

    Instructions
     

    • Wash and rinse cranberries - drain in strainer or colander
    • Wash and rinse orange(s) and grate peel for zest (1 tsp). Remove peel and separate orange into segments. Remove as much of the white pith from the segments as possible. Cut segments into roughly ½" pieces. Set aside.
    • Combine maple syrup and water in a medium saucepan. Place on stove over high heat and bring to a boil.
    • Add cranberries to boiling water and syrup. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until cranberries are softened and cooked.
    • Transfer hot cranberries and liquid into medium size bowl. Stir in orange pieces and spice. Add more spice as desired. Sprinkle with orange zest.
    • Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Sauce will thicken as it cools. Sprinkle with additional zest before serving.

    Notes

    🥕I used fresh Mandarin oranges in this recipe, but you can use any variety of oranges or tangerines. Be sure to remove as much of the white pith as you can - otherwise it can add a bitter flavor to the sauce. You can also use canned orange segments if necessary.
    🥕I suggest using just a pinch (approx ⅛ teaspoon total) of spice. A little bit can go a long way. You can always add more if desired. I like to use a combo of ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. You can also use pumpkin spice.
    🥕Refrigerate sauce until ready to serve. Give it a stir and sprinkle a small amount of orange zest on top. Cranberry sauce is best consumed within 3 days.
    🥕This recipe yields approx 2 cups of cranberry sauce.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 66IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Thanksgiving

    • Vegan cranberry crumble bars and fresh cranberries on a plate.
      Vegan Cranberry Oat Crumble Bars
    • A collage of images of vegan cranberry dishes including cranberry cheese bites, orange cranberry bread,maple cranberry yams and cranberry orange sauce.
      10+ Favorite Vegan Recipes with Cranberries
    • A collage of vegan Thanksgiving dishes including cranberry orange sauce, pumpkin and apple pies, Brussels sprouts, maple cranberry yams, scalloped potatoes, pumpkin bread, and vegan stuffing.
      40 Favorite Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
    • Images of 15 favorite fall-inspired vegan baked goodies like pumpkin pie, zucchini bread, applesauce cake, oatmeal cookies, pumpkin bread and apple crisp.
      15 Favorite Fall Vegan Baking Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy Traisi

      November 25, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious.

      Reply
      • Connie Edwards McGaughy

        November 25, 2020 at 4:52 pm

        There's just something about that combo of cranberries & orange 🍊💚🥕

        Reply
    2. Connie Edwards McGaughy

      November 09, 2020 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      It's so easy to make the most delicious homemade cranberry sauce. Give this recipe a try - you'll never want to buy canned cranberry sauce again!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Image of Connie Edwards McGaughy, creator of The Carrot Underground vegan recipe blog.

    Hi, I'm Connie! I created The Carrot Underground🥕 as your place to find easy & delicious recipes and inspiration for enjoying the goodness of vegan living.

    Learn more about my story →

    Popular

    • A bowl filled with vegan minestrone soup placed next to an enameled cast iron Dutch oven filled with soup.
      Easy 1-Pot Minestrone Soup (vegan & vegetarian)
    • A collage of vegan dishes representing 30 favorite vegan spring recipes including carrot cake cupcakes, spinach mushroom quiche, potato salad, and balsamic roasted carrots.
      30 Favorite Vegan Spring Recipes
    • A collage of vegan dishes with citrus ingredients including lemon blueberry bread, citrus infused vinegars, orange balsamic Brussels sprouts and fresh oranges, lemons, and limes.
      Best Vegan Recipes with Citrus Fruits
    • A collage of vegan breakfast and brunch dishes including tofu scramble, waffles, spinach mushroom quiche, and lemon blueberry bread.
      Favorite Vegan Breakfast & Brunch Recipes

    Trending

    • A bowl of the best vegan Congressional bean soup topped with sliced scallions and croutons.
      Congressional Bean Soup (Vegan)
    • Slices of simple savory herbed tofu on a square plate.
      Simple Savory Herbed Tofu
    • A bowl filled with orange balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts.
      Orange Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts (Vegan)
    • A loaf of sliced easy vegan Irish soda bread with a dab of butter.
      Easy Vegan Irish Soda Bread

    Recipe Roundups

    • A collage of vegan dishes representing 30 favorite vegan spring recipes including carrot cake cupcakes, spinach mushroom quiche, potato salad, and balsamic roasted carrots.
      30 Favorite Vegan Spring Recipes
    • A collage of vegan dishes with citrus ingredients including lemon blueberry bread, citrus infused vinegars, orange balsamic Brussels sprouts and fresh oranges, lemons, and limes.
      Best Vegan Recipes with Citrus Fruits
    • A collage of vegan breakfast and brunch dishes including tofu scramble, waffles, spinach mushroom quiche, and lemon blueberry bread.
      Favorite Vegan Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • A collage of vegan Saint Patrick's Day inspired recipes.
      Vegan St. Patrick's Day Recipes
     

    Subscribe for our latest recipes & FREE Vegan Shopping List!🥕

     
     
    Never miss a recipe!🥕Subscribe to our free newsletter & receive our vegan shopping list as a thank you!

     
         

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Nutrition Disclaimer

    Follow

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • LinkedIn

    As Seen In

    Logos from media sites.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Carrot Underground🥕All Rights Reserved