Easy Vegan Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Name: Easy Vegan Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1- 12 oz /340 g bag fresh or frozen cranberries; 3/4 cup white sugar; 1 cup water; Zest of a small orange; 1 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; Pinch each of cinnamon and salt

Jump to Recipe

This Easy Vegan Cranberry Sauce is flavored with fresh orange zest and lemon juice. So bright and vibrant, it’s a quick holiday side dish that will compliment your vegan holiday roast perfectly!

vegan cranberry sauce in a bowl ready to serve

Why yes, most cranberry sauce recipes ARE naturally vegan and gluten free! However, when you want to go all out for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other special occasion, you’ll need to whip up a batch of this Easy Vegan Cranberry Sauce.

Flavored with fresh orange zest, lemon juice, and fresh or frozen cranberries, this delightfully tart and bright holiday garnish is ready in less than 10 minutes. It tastes so much better than store-bought, is perfectly balanced, and so easy to make in one pot. It’s a must for the holidays!

Make sure to include a big batch of fresh cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving! It’s:

Perfectly balanced between tart, sweet, and bright.
Flavored with a pop of citrus.
Quick and easy!
Made in one pot.
Easy to make ahead of time and freezer-friendly.

Looking for more vegan holiday must-haves? Whip up some Vegan Mushroom Gravy and Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms to serve with dinner!

Jump to:

Vegan cranberry sauce ingredients
How to make fresh homemade vegan cranberry sauce
Tips for success
Serving suggestions
Frequently asked questions
Looking for more vegan holiday side dishes?
Easy Vegan Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Vegan cranberry sauce ingredients

Cranberries - Both fresh and frozen cranberries will work.

Sugar - Use white or cane sugar. While some white sugar is not suitable for vegans (it can be processed using animal bone char), Redpath, a popular brand of sugar here in Canada, is vegan-friendly.

Orange zest and lemon juice - The acidity and brightness from fresh citrus will help balance the tart cranberries.

Cinnamon and salt - Just a pinch for warm flavors and balance.

cranberries sugar and water cooking in a pot

How to make fresh homemade vegan cranberry sauce

Making homemade cranberry sauce is so easy and quick. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to store-bought!

Prepare the cranberries: Rinse the cranberries with water. Place them in a saucepan over medium heat and add the water and sugar. Stir to combine.

Cook the cranberries: Bring the cranberry and sugar mixture up to boil and let it simmer until most of the cranberries have burst (it’ll have a jam-like consistency). Take it off the heat.

Add the flavor: Stir in the orange zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt.

Let it cool, then serve: Let the cranberry sauce cool completely. Leave it covered in the fridge and serve with your holiday dinner once it’s chilled. For full ingredients and instructions see printable recipe card below

step by step photos how to make vegan cranberry sauce

Tips for success

Either cook the cranberries until they’ve all burst or leave some whole for texture.
For more flavor, stir in a pinch of nutmeg or allspice, lemon zest, a splash of orange juice, or simmer the sauce with a cinnamon stick and fresh rosemary.
For added texture, stir in raisins, pecans, walnuts, diced apples, or berries to the finished sauce.
The cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. If it’s too thick, heat it up and stir in a splash of water or orange juice.

Serving suggestions

A bowlful of chilled cranberry sauce on the dinner table at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday celebration is a must! A scoop or two on the sliced vegan turkey or ham will add a burst of complimentary tart flavors and pair so well next to the mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and stuffing. Spread some of the leftovers into vegan turkey sandwiches the next day!

When you have more cranberry sauce than you know what to do with, treat it like regular jam. Top it on a yogurt parfait, vegan pudding, on crostini appetizers with vegan cheese, or on fruit salad.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make it without sugar?

I don’t recommend making sugar free cranberry sauce or reducing the amount of sugar in the recipe. Cranberries are so tart on their own and the sweetness from the sugar will help balance the strong flavors. You can try replacing some of the white sugar with maple syrup but the textures and taste may differ.

Should it be served warm or cold?

Cranberry sauce is best when it’s had some time to chill in the fridge. Not only does this give the flavours time to all come together but it helps the sauce set and thicken.

Can cranberry sauce be made ahead of time?

Yes! Once it’s ready and cooled, store the cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week ahead of serving.

How do you store cranberry sauce?

Place the cranberry sauce in a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Can you freeze cranberry sauce?

Yes! Once the sauce is cool, transfer it to an airtight container or ziploc bag and freeze for up to 6 months

Looking for more vegan holiday side dishes?

Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based & Vegan Recipes❤️

Subscribe here for free weekly recipes delivered right to your inbox! No need to scour the internet. Your one stop shop for recipes is here😊 No spam I promise!