The holidays are not the same without healthier, homemade cranberry sauce!
Healthy Cherry Cranberry Sauce
Healthy Cherry Cranberry Sauce
Skip the canned cranberry sauce and make this amazing Healthy Cherry Cranberry Sauce for the holidays instead. It's easy to make, naturally sweetened, chock-full of cranberries, cherries and apples, with a hint of orange and cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh organic cranberries {frozen is fine}
- 1 cup frozen organic sweet cherries
- 1 medium-size organic apple {I use Fuji}, peeled and finely diced
- Zest of organic orange
- 1 organic orange {I use Valencia}, halved and juiced
- 2 organic cinnamon sticks {I always buy these in bulk to save money}
- ½ cup honey {make sure to use a lighter honey like clover - not wildflower honey}
Instructions
- Wash the cranberries, apple and orange. Peel and finely dice the apple. Zest the orange with microplane zester/standing grater zester. Cut orange in half to juice.
- Place the cranberries, frozen cherries, diced apple, orange zest, cinnamon sticks and honey in saucepan. Squeeze/juice the orange halves over the fruit, any pulp that falls into the saucepan is fine.
- Cover the saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, remove the lid and reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for about 30-35 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. [Note: Sauce will thicken more when cooled/refrigerated.]
- If you prefer a chunkier cranberry sauce, remove the cinnamon sticks and leave as is. If you prefer a smoother sauce, remove the cinnamon sticks and add contents to a food processor - pulse to combine until smooth {or use an immersion blender}.
- Transfer the cranberry sauce to a glass storage dish, cover and refrigerate for later {you can serve immediately if you prefer a warm/hot cranberry sauce}. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
Note: If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add another ¼ - ½ cup honey. I use Valencia oranges because they tend to be sweeter than Navel oranges this time of year, they also tend to be juicier – Navel oranges tend to be more tart and have less juice. I prefer using a sweeter apple, Fuji is usually the least expensive at my local co-op, but any sweet apple would work fine.
Vegan-Option: Coconut palm sugar or organic maple syrup grade B could be substituted instead of honey.
Storage: Make this sauce the day before your holiday meal. It keeps well, up to 3 days, in the refrigerator and tastes even better the next day.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 164Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 37gProtein: 1g
This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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I like the addition of the cherries to your cranberry sauce – what a delicious seasonal treat! I’ve pinned this recipe 🙂
Thank you April! I LOVE the cherries, they add such a wonderful flavor.
This looks amazing! I love the combination of flavors. I am sharing this in my highlights on the Hearth and Soul Hop tonight.
Thanks Alea! I don’t know why I just saw this so late, sorry. Hope all is well.
Sounds like a wonderful combination for cranberry sauce — I’m sure I’d love it!
Thank you 🙂
Okay, this looks amazing! I am spending thanksgiving with my mom this year, and I will definitely add this to our list. Pinning!
Thanks so much! It’s so delicious. I look forward to it every year. I hope you get to make some. Enjoy your time with your mom.
I make a very similar one! Looks amazing and easy!
It’s so good, right?
This looks just great. Wonderful flavor combinations. Our family would love this. I can heal the cries of pleasure if I make this for Thanksgiving!!
🙂 Thanks Megan! I love the flavor combos too. There’s something about the cherries that takes it to a different level.
What a surprise adding cherries – great idea and sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! The cherries really add a delicious flavor. I love this version so much.
This sounds divine! I went ahead and added it to my Fresh Cranberries Recipe Collection. Hope that was okay! Let me know if not.
Thanks so much! Totally fine, I appreciate it.
Cranberry + Cherry… you know, I never put those two flavors together (mentally or physically)!
It’s so delicious! They really do complement each other.
This looks amazing!
Thank you! 🙂
Hi, Emily ~ This sounds yummy, and I’ll bet it smells great, too. Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday Link Party. Hope to see you again on Sunday night!
Thanks so much Tiffany! It does smell delicious 🙂
This makes my mouth water! Plus that texture! SO yummy, sure to be POPULAR at any holiday table!! 🙂
xo thank you so much Megan! 🙂 It’s so nice to have good ole classic favorites for the holidays.
Wow! Cranberry, cherry, orange, apple… heavenly flavor combo! I’m not typically a cranberry sauce fan, but I just *might* LOVE this recipe!
🙂 it’s pretty yummy! The cherries add a really nice flavor.
The flavour combination you have going in this sauce is amazing! This is going to complement well with many meat entrees.
Thanks so much! It’s so yummy with meat dishes. 🙂
Omg why have I never thought to add cherry before? Genius! Plus that gorgeous color 🙂
You totally have to! 🙂 It’s so good!
This sauce looks and sounds amazing! Love that you added cherries!
Thanks Linda! 🙂 It’s so yummy.
We have so many cherries in the freezer from picking this summer! I”m definitely using them for the cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving! Thanks for the great recipe idea!
I love that you have all of those beauties left from your cherry picking! Enjoy them! I hope you get to use some in some cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. 🙂
The color of this sauce is so vibrant and beautiful! What a great recipe for the holidays.
Thanks Jean! I love the color too. 🙂
Yes! It’s time for cranberry sauce season 🙂 Loving this with the cherries!
It’s that time of the year, so quickly approaching.
I’ve never had cherries with cranberry before but I will try it next time for a change!
I tend to make the same one —and it’s renowned — but hey– it’s good to try new ideas!
Pretty too!
Thanks Carol! I think you’d love this. 🙂
What a gorgeous and healthy recipe, Emily!!! I am going to buy extra cranberries this year so I can make this after the holidays. Yum!
Thanks so much Carrie! 🙂
Yum! I’n usually not a fan of cranberry sauce, but you have won me over with this recipe.
Thanks Cristina! 🙂 It’s a nice twist on the traditional one.
This looks a million times better than any canned cranberry sauce. I love the addition of cherries and apples- yum! This would be so perfect for Thanksgiving!
LOL thank you! 🙂 It’s so yummy with the extra fruit.
I’m so excited to try this one for Thanksgiving because my mom is a huge fan of cherries, and she’s going to flip for this!
Love that! I hope she enjoys it Kari 🙂
I’m normally not a huge cranberry sauce fan but DANG this one I am definitely trying!
It’s a fun option with the cherries in there, I love the flavor it adds. 🙂
This is beautiful and looks delicious! I make one I love but the berries sound fun!
Thank you Melissa! Enjoy yours for the holidays 🙂
This sauce looks so gorgeous and delicious ! I’m going to make this for my holiday party !
Thanks so much! I hope everyone enjoys it. 🙂
I love the color of this sauce. I want to make it for my holiday table. Thanks!
Thanks! Hope you get to make some. 🙂
Perfect! Just in time for the holidays. I love that you added cherries. YUM!
Thanks! It’s such a fun holiday side. 🙂
This looks so good! I don’t love traditional cranberry sauce, but bet I’d love this one because I’m a huge cherry fan!!
Thanks so much Becky! It’s so yummy 🙂
Oh man, I made this cranberry sauce this afternoon and it is amazing! I’m a huge fan of cranberry sauce, I skip the gravy at thanksgiving and just have cranberry sauce with my turkey. This is going to be my new go-to recipe. With the cherries, orange, apple and cinnamon sticks it tastes like the holiday season. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I’m so thrilled to hear you enjoyed it! 🙂 I love that cranberry sauce is your preference over gravy. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.