Orange Cranberry Sauce

Orange cranberry sauce sweetened with maple syrup and fresh squeezed orange! Ready in under 20 minutes for your healthy holiday celebration.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year?

You might be surprised, but I’ve never hosted.

Nope, not even a Friends-giving.

Dan and I are still in a comfortable pattern of alternating between his parents and mine for holiday festivities.

But when I do, you can bet this  2-Way Low Sugar Orange Cranberry Sauce will be on the menu.

It’s lightly sweetened with maple syrup and fresh squeezed orange, with an optional chia twist, that comes together in under 20 minutes for you and yours.

What You Need to Make Orange Cranberry Sauce 

Here’s what you need:

• fresh cranberries
• maple syrup
• filtered water
• orange
• chia seeds

That’s it! 

How to Make Orange Cranberry Sauce

Rinse the cranberries well and remove any that are squishy or discolored.

In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, maple syrup, and filtered water.

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have popped and the mixture has thickened.

This should take about 10 minutes!

Remove the pan from heat and stir in juice from 1 fresh squeezed orange and orange zest.

For classic Low Sugar Orange Cranberry Sauce, leave everything as is.

To make Low Sugar Orange Cranberry Chia Sauce, stir in chia seeds and allow the mixture to sit and thicken for 5-10 mins. 

You Can Adjust the Sweetness

Taste test, if the mixture is too tart for your liking, add an additional drizzle of maple syrup and/or fresh squeezed orange.

I’ve always been a bit fickle about cranberry salad/sauce.

It’s either too sweet or too tart; too jelly-like or too crunchy.

I have a list of things I want to do before I turn 30, and now I can totally cross off “create the perfect cranberry sauce”…

It’s jammy and thick and achieves that perfect balance of tart and sweet.

I wanted to actually taste the wonderful tartness of the cranberries, so I lightly sweetened the cranberry sauce with pure maple syrup and fresh squeezed orange.

I kept the maple syrup syrup intentional low because I prefer my sauce on the tart side, with room to add if needed.

If you’re looking for a little more sweetness at the end, don’t worry, you can easily add a little more maple syrup or fresh squeezed orange into the mix to get YOUR perfect blend.

This recipe is forgiving!

2 Ways to Enjoy Orange Cranberry Sauce

Because it’s so good, I even created a spin-off versions with chia seeds for some extra pizazz!

If you’ve had chia fruit jams before, think along those lines.

To make a thicker version with chia seeds, stir in a few tablespoons of chia seeds at the end.

The sauce will take on a thicker, more pudding-like consistency.

It’s equally delicious, and you can wow your guests with a take on cranberry sauce they’ve never seen before!

Allow to mixture to fully cool, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.

How to Serve Orange Cranberry Sauce

Enjoy this Orange Cranberry Sauce as a beautiful and delicious part of your healthy holiday spread.

I almost felt like I cheated when I wrapped up this recipe in under 30 minutes!

Stir in chia seeds for some extra protein and intrigue, or enjoy the equally tasty classic version as is.

I recommend making one of each, because the sauce stores well in the fridge, and trust me, you’ll want to have on on hand…

If your family doesn’t gobble it all up over the holiday, you can enjoy leftovers for weeks!

I love to enjoy mine in yogurt bowls, smoothie bowls, oatmeal, spread on toast, or spooned on a warm dessert.

More Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Hazelnut Butter Sauce

• Dijon Tahini Green Beans

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Figs & Pecans

• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes With Almond Butter Gravy

• Harissa Roasted Cauliflower With Cranberries & Hazelnuts

• Roasted Squash & Arugula Salad

• Butternut Squash Noodle Cranberry Salad

• Tri-Colored Roasted Cauliflower Salad

• Vegan & Grain-Free Sweet Potato Casserole

• Stovetop Cauliflower Rice Stuffing

• Low-Sugar Orange Cranberry Sauce

• Delicata Chickpea Bake With Almond Butter “Gravy”

• Pumpkin Cornbread Mini Muffins

• 2-Way Low Sugar Cranberry Sauce

• Candied Yams with Cacao Nibs & Pecans

More Vegan Dips 

• Low Sugar Pumpkin Apple Butter

• Sweet & Spicy Tomato Jam

I Want to Hear From You

If you make this Orange Cranberry Sauce recipe, let me know!

Be sure to leave me a comment, rating, and review so I can use your feedback to create more yums.

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.

Check out my Pinterest page to pin more recipes like this one to make later.

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XO Lauren

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