Cranberry Sauce From Dried Cranberries

Cranberry sauce is the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness that helps cut through all the richness of the main dishes served during the holidays. There is nothing better than a sweet-savory combo, and this Cranberry Sauce From Dried Cranberries brings that to the table.

Also serve Gluten-Free Vegan Cornbread, Vegan Collard Greens, And Vegan Mac and Cheese as the perfect Thanksgiving sides

One of the most overlooked and underappreciated parts of the holiday dinner table has to be cranberry sauce. Most of us likely grew up watching this sweet sauce be the basis of many jokes in our morning cartoons.

The main character of the show would be super excited for Thanksgiving dinner…only to see their parents open a can of “cranberry sauce.” Strange, red gelatin that would sluggishly leave the can and flop onto the plate. Not exactly the most appetizing image, right? But this is not the true nature of cranberry sauce, and I will no longer allow it to be a simple punch line.

It is almost like a pallet cleanser, helping you feel refreshed with each bite. I am not going to lie, canned cranberry sauce is not the best, but homemade cranberry sauce is on a whole other level and is super simple to make!

Cranberry Sauce From Dried Cranberries

It only takes a few minutes to whip up this Thanksgiving side, and you can make it ahead of time. By putting it in an airtight container, it can stay in your fridge for up to two weeks, saving stress on Thanksgiving Day.

This recipe is made even easier with the use of dried cranberries instead of fresh ones. The dried variety is much more accessible, usually sold under the name “Craisins,” so you don’t have to worry about all the cleaning and prep process that come with fresh cranberries.

By making it at home, you can also cut out most of the sugar content. In my recipe, I replace sugar with apple juice and maple syrup to add the sweetness naturally. With healthier sugars in the cranberry sauce, you can have this tart addition to your meal without all the guilt! If you like the sauce with more of a kick, you can adjust the amount of cinnamon in there as well. It is a flexible recipe, so change it as you see fit.

With this recipe, you likely won’t have any leftover cranberry sauce, but just in case you do, here are some excellent ways you can enjoy it later.

• Add it to your yogurt. With plain coconut yogurt, add some cranberry sauce and granola to make a healthy breakfast. Cranberries are filled with antioxidants, so it is a great way to start your morning.
• Use it as a glaze. The tartness of the cranberry sauce does not only go well with turkey but many other proteins as well. You could also have them with meatballs – IKEA style!
• Make a smoothie. After a heavy Thanksgiving dinner, you likely will be full for a while. A good way to get your nutrients of the day without eating too much is with a yummy smoothie. Blend about a teaspoon of cranberry sauce with bananas, plain coconut yogurt, and a hint of cinnamon. You will be left with a deep reddish-pink smoothie that will make you feel much better after that heavy meal.
• Perfect for Pancakes. Add your leftover cranberry sauce on top of some fresh pancakes to add some extra tartness. To get a perfect consistency, simmer the desired amount of cranberry sauce on low heat for a few minutes. Add a bit of extra cinnamon on top to give it that extra kick.

TIPS AND NOTES:

• Depending on how sweet you want the cranberry sauce, you can either buy sweetened dried cranberries or unsweetened. Unsweetened will give the cranberry sauce a tarter taste.
• With the addition of apple juice and maple syrup, you do not need to add sugar. If you would like it sweeter, add some more maple syrup to reach your desired sweetness.
• If you do not like maple syrup, you can use agave syrup as well to have a healthy sweetness in your cranberry sauce.
• If this is your first time making cranberry sauce from scratch, do a dry run of the recipe before Thanksgiving. You will feel much less stressed on the day of, knowing that you don’t have to figure out another
• To get a smoother cranberry sauce, you can put it in the blender for a few seconds to get it a consistency that you like.

HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY SAUCE FROM DRIED CRANBERRIES

Ingredients:

Cranberry Sauce

1 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup apple juice

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Zest of 1 orange

2 tablespoon maple syrup

Cornstarch Slurry

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/3 cup of water

Steps:

1. Add the dried cranberries, apple juice, cinnamon, and salt to a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce it to a simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Combine ⅓ cup of water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a separate cup or bowl to make the cornstarch slurry. 
4. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the cranberry sauce while stirring briskly.
5. Stir in 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. orange zest and a teaspoon of lemon juice. 
6. Cook this for about 1-2 more minutes, then remove it from the heat. 
7. Allow it to cool then transfer it to a sealed container to store in the refrigerator. You can serve it warm if making the day of.

This simple cranberry sauce recipe is one that will change the whole family’s mind! Take a couple of minutes the day before Thanksgiving and prepare this delicious, yet healthy, cranberry sauce.

Let me know in the comments how you enjoyed it, and add in a picture of how it turned out. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Happy Holidays!

Other Holiday Recipes To Prepare

1. Vegan Baked Candied Yams
2. Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
3. Gluten-Free French Fried Onions
4. Instant Pot Candied Yams
5. Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts Sweet Potatoes

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