Print

Fresh Cranberry Apple Sauce Recipe – Easy Homemade With Cinnamon and Orange Peel

cranberry apple sauce - featured image
Print Recipe

This cozy cranberry apple sauce combines tart cranberries, sweet apples, warm cinnamon, and bright orange peel for a comforting, homemade twist on classic cranberry sauce. Quick to make and perfect for holidays or everyday meals, it’s naturally gluten-free, vegan, and easily customizable.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries (about 3 cups), rinsed and picked over
  • 2 medium apples (about 10 oz), peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (or half white and half brown sugar)
  • 2–3 wide strips orange peel (from 1 orange, avoid pith)
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (from the same orange)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick)
  • 1/2 cup water (or apple cider)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger
  • Optional: Chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

  1. Rinse cranberries and pick out any soft or shriveled ones. Peel, core, and chop apples into 1/2-inch cubes. Peel 2-3 wide strips of orange peel, avoiding the white pith. Squeeze the orange for 1/4 cup juice.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, apples, sugar, orange peel, orange juice, cinnamon, water, and a pinch of salt. Add maple syrup or honey if using.
  3. Place pan over medium-high heat and stir gently. Once bubbling, reduce heat to medium-low. Cranberries will begin to pop.
  4. Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples soften and cranberries burst. Add more water or juice if too thick.
  5. Check consistency: For chunky sauce, leave as is. For smoother sauce, mash with a potato masher or blend briefly with an immersion blender.
  6. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness as desired. Remove orange peel strips and cinnamon stick if used.
  7. Let sauce cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes to thicken further. Transfer to a serving bowl or jars.
  8. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

Notes

Taste as you go to balance sweetness and tartness. For a smoother sauce, blend or mash after cooking. Sauce thickens as it cools. Use maple syrup or coconut sugar for a low-sugar version. Add nuts or ginger for extra flavor. Sauce freezes well and tastes even better after a day in the fridge.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry apple sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving side, vegan cranberry sauce, gluten-free cranberry sauce, fruit sauce, holiday recipe, cinnamon orange cranberry sauce

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/fresh-cranberry-apple-sauce-recipe-easy-homemade-with-cinnamon-and-orange-peel/