• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
About Work With Me Latest Posts

Pinterest

Instagram

Dietitian Debbie Dishes

Dishing Up Healthy, Vegetarian Eats

  • Winter
  • Recipe Index
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Method
      • 10 Ingredients or Less
      • Healthy Bowls
      • Meal Prep
      • No Bake
      • One Pot
      • Quick and Easy
    • Course
      • Beverages
      • Breakfast
      • Dessert
      • Main Dish
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks & Appetizers
      • Condiments and Sauces
    • Season
      • Fall
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Winter
  • Nutrition

Pinterest

Instagram

About Work With Me Latest Posts
Home » Recipe » Holiday Recipes » Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Cranberry Sauce with Frozen Cranberries

Created On: September 25, 2023 | By Debbie | Leave a comment

Jump to Recipe Print Share Pin

This post may include affiliate links. To learn more, see my privacy policy.

No holiday table feels complete without some cranberry sauce; the tart-sweetness helps balance out all the other rich dishes. This cranberry sauce with frozen cranberries is our go-to recipe packed with tons of flavor from simple ingredients like cinnamon and fresh orange. 

cranberry sauce in a low bowl garnished with fresh cranberries and orange slices.

Skip the jello-like canned cranberry sauce this year and make your own cranberry sauce. It’s the perfect side dish and takes just 15 minutes to make this easy recipe. Plus, it is much more flavorful than the canned stuff. This cranberry sauce with frozen cranberries makes an appearance at our Thanksgiving dinner year after year – it’s just the BEST cranberry sauce recipe!

If you are having trouble finding fresh cranberries at the grocery store, don’t forget to check out the freezer. Frozen cranberries are sometimes easier to find and work really well in cranberry sauce.

As a plant-based dietitian, I also love that cranberries are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. 

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Frozen Cranberries
  • FAQs
  • Health Benefits of Cranberries
  • What to Eat with Cranberry Sauce
  • Storage
  • More Vegan Holiday Recipes
  • Cranberry Sauce with Frozen Cranberries

Ingredients You’ll Need

cranberry sauce ingredients in small bowls on a white background.
  • Cranberries: use fresh or frozen whole cranberries for this homemade cranberry sauce recipe. No need to thaw the frozen cranberries, you can just add them to the saucepan straight from the freezer. You’ll need an entire 12-ounce bag of cranberries for this easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe. 
  • Orange: fresh squeezed orange juice and some orange zest add sweetness and delicious citrus flavor to this Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. It also helps balance out the bitterness of the cranberries. Using fresh orange juice is also one of our favorite ways to reduce the amount of sugar needed for this recipe.
  • Maple Syrup: rather than granulated white sugar or brown, you’ll use pure maple syrup to sweeten this sauce. 
  • Orange Liqueur: add even more orange flavor with a little bit of orange liqueur like Grand Marnier in the sauce. You can skip altogether or substitute with another liquor like bourbon, a splash of port, or even red wine. 
  • Cinnamon: we love adding a bit of cinnamon to our simple cranberry sauce recipe as it adds some warming flavor to this tart dish. We used ground cinnamon, but you can throw a cinnamon stick into the pot while cooking and then strain it out before serving.

How to Make Cranberry Sauce with Frozen Cranberries

cranberry sauce in a saucepan with a wooden spoon.
  • Simmer in a saucepan: making homemade cranberry sauce couldn’t be any easier. Just combine cranberries with the rest of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. As it simmers, the cranberries will start to pop and break down. (You can also help break them open with the back of a spoon or a potato masher.) Simmer until thickened to your liking. 
  • Allow to cool: allow the cranberry sauce to cool at least 10-15 minutes before serving. You can also store it in the fridge until ready to use and serve it chilled.

FAQs

Is cranberry sauce gluten free?

Yes! Both homemade and store-bought cranberry sauce is naturally gluten free. 

Is cranberry sauce vegan?

Yes, both homemade and store bought cranberry sauce is normally vegan. Although a store bought can of cranberry sauce often has the texture of a gelatin, it does not contain any animal products. Cranberries have a lot of natural pectin which gives it that jello like texture. 

Should cranberry sauce be served warm or cold?

The best temperature to serve cranberry sauce is room temperature or slightly chilled. Cooked cranberry sauce thickens as it chills. 

Health Benefits of Cranberries

As you spoon cranberries onto your plate at Thanksgiving, have you ever wondered why cranberries are good for you? Like most berries, cranberries have a lot to offer nutrition-wise!

  • Rich in Antioxidants: eating foods rich in antioxidants helps reduce the oxidative damage that occurs to our cells which can increase the risk of chronic disease. Cranberries may help slow the growth of certain cancers like breast, prostate, colon, and lung per this study in Antioxidants. 
  • Supports Heart Health: cranberries are rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. People who eat a diet rich in polyphenols often have a lower risk of heart disease. This April 2020 study from British Journal of Nutrition found that drinking cranberry juice lowered triglyceride levels, a heart disease risk factor. 
  • Supports Gut Health: the fiber in cranberries can help keep you regular while also supporting beneficial gut bacteria per this 2018 study from Advanced Science.

What to Eat with Cranberry Sauce

Other than serving this easy cranberry sauce recipe alongside all of your other vegan Thanksgiving dishes like this vegan green bean casserole, there are so many other fun ways to enjoy cranberry sauce. We love adding it to vegan overnight oats, this cranberry baked oatmeal, or this cinnamon oatmeal recipe. It is also a delicious topping for a bowl of yogurt, waffles, or pancakes. 

For a savory option, mix cranberry sauce with BBQ sauce and use as a sauce or marinade for BBQ tempeh or seitan. Leftover cranberry sauce can also be blitzed into a salad dressing with balsamic vinegar – that would be delicious on this apple, kale, walnut salad.

cranberry sauce in a gray serving bowl garnished with fresh orange wedges.

Storage

  • How long does cranberry sauce last in the fridge? Homemade cranberry sauce can be stored in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 10-14 days.
  • How to freeze cranberry sauce: Homemade cranberry sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months. (Technically, you can keep it for up to a year, but it will lose some of its freshness.) Just make sure to store in a freezer friendly container that is airtight.

More Vegan Holiday Recipes

  • vegetarian stuffing in baking dish.

    Vegan Thanksgiving Dressing

  • cranberry gin cocktail in two glasses garnished with fresh cranberries and lemon.

    Cranberry Gin Cocktail

  • Vegan Stuffed Seitan Loaf

    Vegan Stuffed Seitan Roast

  • balsamic herb roasted vegetables on sheet pan

    Balsamic Herb Roasted Vegetables

Did you love this recipe? Make sure to leave a ⭐️ rating and tag #dietitiandebbie on instagram!

cranberry sauce in serving bowl garnished with orange wedges.

Cranberry Sauce with Frozen Cranberries

Created by: Deborah Murphy

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
10 servings
This cranberry sauce with frozen cranberries is our go-to recipe packed with tons of flavor from simple ingredients like cinnamon and fresh orange.
Print
Pin
Share
Rate
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (12 oz) bag frozen cranberries
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 orange, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (from 1 orange)
  • 1 tablespoon orange liqueur
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. As it simmers, the cranberries will start to pop and break down. (You can also help break them open with the back of a spoon.) Simmer until thickened to your liking.
  • Allow your cranberry sauce to cool at least 10-15 minutes before serving. You can also store it in the fridge until ready to use and serve it chilled.

Notes

  • Make Ahead: cranberry sauce tastes better chilled so feel free to make it up to 3-4 days ahead of time if you’d like. 
  • Freezer: cranberry sauce can be frozen! Just add to an airtight container after it has cooled to room temperature and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Make this recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram @dietitiandebbie and tag me #dietitiandebbie

Email Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe

posted in: 10 Ingredients or Less, Condiments and Sauces, Gluten-Free, Holiday Recipes, Vegan, Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes, Winter

Previous
Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce
Next
Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Reader Interactions

5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

Share your thoughts!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *
Rate this recipe!




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Debbie - Author of Dietitian Debbie.

Welcome!

I'm Debbie, a Registered Dietitian and the writer behind this blog where you’ll find healthy, seasonal, vegan & vegetarian recipes! I'm on a mission to inspire you to eat more plants.

More About Me

Free Healthy 7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan!

Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest + our free meal plan!

Search

Fall Recipes

  • roasted butternut squash and red pepper soup in bowl with croutons.
    Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
  • red lentil pumpkin soup
    One Pot Red Lentil Pumpkin Soup
  • vegan apple crisp in bowl.
    Apple Crisp with Maple Syrup
  • Easy Kale Apple Walnut Salad
  • vegan baked pumpkin donuts with maple frosting on white marble
    Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts
  • Four Bean Vegan Chili
    Vegan Slow Cooker Chili

Popular Recipes

  • Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa
    Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa (Vegan, Gluten Free)
  • Warm Faro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
    Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables
  • 8 Healthy Ways to Flavor Your Oats
  • beet juice made in blender.
    Beet Juice Recipe (Blender)
  • pineapple cucumber smoothie in glass with slice of cucumber.
    Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie
  • vegan cream cheese stuffed peppers on a white plate.
    Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers

What's For Dinner?

V
Vegan
GF
Gluten Free
VG
Vegetarian
  • Quick and Easy Recipes. Quick + Easy
  • One Pan Recipes. One Pan
  • Healthy Bowl Recipes. Salads
  • Healthy Bowl Recipes. Healthy Bowls

Browse Topics

  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
  • Main dish
  • Salads
  • Side Dishes
  • Snacks & Appetizers
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Dietitian Debbie Submark

FREE Healthy 7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan!

When you subscribe to the newsletter.

Connect

Follow on Pinterest

Follow on Instagram

Get In Touch

©2025, Dietitian Debbie Dishes. All Rights Reserved. About Privacy Policy Accessibility Policy
Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Free Healthy 7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan!

Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest + our free meal plan!

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.