Not your average cranberry sauce! A beautifully Roasted Apple & Cranberry Sauce is a perfect topping to any holiday meal from breakfast, dinner, to dessert! Gluten-free, vegan, paleo, allergy-free, and naturally sweet, it's everything you love about the season in a new healthy way!
It worked! I was so determined to make a good cranberry sauce this year and now I finally won! My first attempt at homemade cranberry sauce was 6 years ago and it was a disaster. Okay, not a total disaster, but I remember it being so sour and barely palatable. It turned me off to cranberries once again. After that occurrence, I just kind of gave up and never tried again...until now. Here we are, 6 years later, with a lovely sauce that I am proud and pleased to finally share!
Better yet, I can even say this is easy enough and foolproof enough to make right in a small apartment in a college dorm! As long as you have an oven...When these gorgeous fresh cranberries and seasonal apples were roasting in the oven...a glorious smell seeped all throughout the apartment, that's for sure! Literally, the best things about Fall and Winter are the foods and smells they produce! (Okay, and the Christmas cheer...which is coming full force very soon!)
I was worried I would wake up my roommate at 11am on a Sunday. But of course, she'd be waking up to some glorious smells! In the cast iron, I threw together a bag of fresh cranberries, apples, some orange juice, and warming winter spices. Roast away until all that goodness seeps out and mingles with the cast iron magic and then I threw it in the blender to make it smooth and silky! I like my sauces smoother rather than chunky, so the blender it was!
And this dreamy pink/red sauce is the perfect topping to everything from oatmeal to mashed potatoes to....well, I have some tricks up my sleeve with what to do with all this sauce! I'll be sharing a recipe on Wednesday that uses it and I have more recipes I want to play around with! (I froze a few batches for my kitchen experiments!) This sauce is also refined sugar-free, meaning it's naturally sweet. The roasting helps bring out the sweetness in the sour cranberries and the lovely sweetness of the apples! Pairing the two is a game-changer for a good gluten-free, vegan, paleo, HEALTHY cranberry sauce! No need for cups and cups of white sugar like canned cranberry jelly (unless it's homemade!)!
Roasted Apple & Cranberry Sauce
Roasted Apple & Cranberry Sauce
Not your average cranberry sauce! A beautifully Roasted Apple & Cranberry Sauce is a perfect topping to any holiday meal from breakfast, dinner, to dessert! Gluten-free, vegan, paleo, allergy-free, and naturally sweet, it's everything you love about the season in a new healthy way!
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 5 Cups 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Fresh Cranberries
- 3 Cups Chopped Apples (any sweet apple will work. I used Fuji, skin on)
- Juice of 1 Large Orange
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- ΒΌ Tsp Allspice
- ΒΌ Tsp Ginger
- ΒΌ to β Cup Granular Erythritol
- Β½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425Β° F.
- In a large seasoned cast iron skillet, toss and combine all the ingredients except the granular erythritol and vanilla extract.
- Roast for 30 minutes, remove, and while the fruit is still hot, add it to a large food processor.
- Add the granular erythritol and vanilla extract to the roasted fruit in the processor and blend until smooth or to the consistency of your liking.
I think the thing I love most about this sauce is the mesmerizing color! Which...I only realized was pretty stain-inducing once I looked down as saw I was wearing my brand new Ivory Ella shirt (info to come on that soon!) Luckily, the nonstaining gods were with me while I was roasting, blending, shooting, and cleaning up this recipe! That was a win. Two major wins: perfect cranberry sauce and no stains! What a glorious Thanksgiving (and/or holiday)Β miracle!
So tell me:
+ Do you make homemade cranberry sauce? Have a great family recipe you always make?
+ Cranberry sauce, jelly, relish, chutney? Needs to be saucy for me!
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Mel
Oh wow, your cranberry and apple sauce is right up my street. Beautiful photos too, as always!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
Your cranberry sauce is such a pretty color! I've never tried a recipe like this. The apple is such a great idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The apple is the best!
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom
I love cranberry sauce and combining it with apple sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's the perfect balance!
emma amoscato
Ooh what a great idea - I love the mix of apple and cranberry.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Melissa Ruddy
Sounds good. I like that the sweetness of the apples will balance out the tart cranberry
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally!
Deborah Davis
So yummy! This Gluten-free, vegan, paleo, allergy-free, and naturally sweet Roasted Apple & Cranberry Sauce will be a great addition to my holiday menu!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you enjoy!
kimmythevegan
Wow! Not only is this sauce gorgeous - it sounds completely delicious. I love how you revamped this old favourite. The orange would really balance it the cranberries nicely. Oh and the apples - nice!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yup! It's a great combo!
Marla
HI Rebecca,
Wow this sounds delicious and gives a new tasty twist to traditional cranberry sauce.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Much better than the classic!
Heidi
Adding the apple is a great idea! Sounds like a tasty sauce!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sweetens it up perfectly!
Shandy
I have never tried to make my own cranberry sauce, something that I think this recipe will remedy. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I urge you to make some for the holiday this week!
Nikki
I love fresh cranberry sauce, but I am trying to reduce my sugar intake and every recipe that I see has loads of sugar. This will be perfect and I can't imagine how great it smells while roasting!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Not added sugar here!
Jacky @ Joyful Savings
Ok, this cranberry sauce looks seriously delicious, and I'm sure it tastes the same! A must try this Thanksgiving!
Joyful Savings recently posted: Cash Back Like a BOSS - A list you donβt want to miss!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! I'd love to see how it comes out for you!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
Fantastic, Rebecca! Hmmm, I'm not sure why it's never occurred to me to mix cranberries and apples but I can just imagine the flavour is scrumptious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It helps to naturally sweeten up the tart berries!
Patty Gordon
You mentioned eating this with mashed potatoes. I never would have thought of that, but this sounds like a great idea! Thanks so much for posting this special cranberry sauce recipe. I've only tried a "on the package" recipe and a chutney recipe that I found online, but I might have to try this for Thanksgiving.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm not a gravy person, so cranberry sauce is a much better option for topping any T-Day side!
Aya @ A Healthy Story
This looks delicious! I love making my own cranberry sauce!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Now I do too!
Jess @hellotofit
Orange and cranberry are such an amazing combo!! You totally hit the nail on the head here π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Cranberry sauce always needs that hint of citrus!
Annmarie
Love the combo of the apple and the cranberry!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Bethany
Yum! This looks like the perfect cranberry sauce!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's the only one I like π
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
Such a wonderful combination of fruit flavors. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Farrah
Love the addition of cranberry into this sauce! Fuji is my favorite! π I wish I could celebrate Thanksgiving, hahaha. I'm hoping the hospital will at least feed me without making me pay for it since I'm working all through next week! π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I really will have to make you something next week xoxo
Lauren Gaskill
Love the kind of vanilla you used here. So exotic and bold!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's just real vanilla?!
nadia
Looks yummy! I'm waiting for fresh cranberries to appear in my local supermarket so I can make some cranberry sauce!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope they find their way to you soon!
Carly @ FitLiving Eats
YUM! I love the combo of apples and cranberry. My mom makes a killer cranberry sauce but I know it has a lot of sugar. Love this version!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, no need for scary sugar!
Natalie
Love the addition of apples, such a smart idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
madalyn
wow this looks delicious! I might try this out for Thanksgiving!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Let me know if you do!
Linda @ Veganosity
There's nothing better than homemade cranberry sauce. I love it with apples or oranges. This looks amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! All about the homemade!
Courtney
It's not Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce! This sounds amazing, and it's such a pretty color!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I think it may be my new essential!
Celeste
This sauce is gorgeous! I could eat it by the spoonful!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is so "spoonable"!
Audrey
Oh my, the roasting must make this amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It really brings out the sweet flavors!
Choclette
There's something about the word roasted that just makes everything sound so delicious. Love the idea of this sauce.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes! Roasted just intensifies food flavors!
Uma
Lovely color and addition of apple sounds good in this sauce.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Michelle
Sounds like a fun new addition to the Turkey Day feast!
Thanks for the recipe!
Michelle
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you make some!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
This looks gorgeous! I can only imagine how wonderful your kitchen smelled. Love the stunning color in this.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It did smell delicious!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Those pictures are so bright an vibrant, just what I need to see on a cold and dark day here in Scotland.
I usually make my own cranberry sauce too Rebecca, but I've never made it with roasted apples or with the vanilla extract. Sounds devine!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thanks, Neil!
Roast away this year!!!! You will love it even more!
Sarah
Apples and cranberries together. I'm in love!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So good!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
Love your bright and colorful pictures! I've never been a big fan of cranberry sauce but I'm thinking that added apple may be what turns me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It helped me find the love!
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
You had me at Madagascar vanilla π Seriously looks tasty!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Gotta add that hint of vanilla!
Lindsey Willson
I love that apples are in this, what a great idea! Beautiful photos!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks, Lindsey!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Wait, there's roasted apples in that pink goodness, too? You really outdid yourself on this healthy sauce Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! Yea!! All the good wintery sweetness!
Sharon @ What The Fork
I LOVE that you roasted the fruit - I bet it tastes amazing β€οΈ
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Roasting definitely adds depth!
Mandy
I loooooooove cranberry sauce!!!! Goodness, this color is stunning and I love that you added apples to it. When I was a kid, my grandmother always served the junk out of a can and I thought it was the most disgusting thing ever...that was until I experienced the glory of homemade! My mom makes a really yummy cranberry sauce every year, but now I want to try this!
P.S. - I listened to some Christmas music today while working on Etsy stuff and thought of you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! I think we all experienced the stuff from a can! AH! My brother still LOVES it π
Homemade is the way to go though!
Ah yay!!!!! I hope you sang along! I have ALL the cheezy Hallmark movies on now too! I can't stop! The addiction is in full force!
Platter Talk
Great recipe- orange and apples added. Fall perfect for all kinds of meals! Thanks.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally is!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
Cranberry sauce is so good that it should be eaten all year. I love the addition of apples in this version!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think I'll be making it a yearly thing now!
Kelly @ TastingPage
My family does that horrific canned cranberry sauce, but I'm so making this one this year. Much better ingredients!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! Go homemade or...go home!
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
Ooh love the addition of apples and oranges! Going to have to give this a try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, Heather!
Demeter | Beaming Baker
What a gorgeous sauce! Totally perfect for Thanksgiving! Love the combo of apples and cranberries. π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Aish Das-Padihari
Love that hue of red on the sauce. Looks so festive.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? It was so lovely!
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands
Love cranberries and these look amazing! I bet the roasted apples add amazing flavor!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yup! Extra deep sweetness!
Megan | Allergy Free Alaska
Oh my goodness, I love cranberry sauce! Apples and orange are such a great addition. Thanks for the great recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Thanks Megan!
Kristina @ Ms.Modify
Yum! This sounds delicious! I like to put orange in my cranberry sauce too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It needs that little bit of citrus!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
I love homemade cranberry sauce! It's one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's growing on me!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I love Fuji apples - great addition to cranberry sauce. And the vanilla extract sounds nice too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
My #1 favorite apple!
Nicole Dawson
I love your addition of apples. I could just eat that with a spoon.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, that is acceptable!
Anna
What a great recipe Rebecca! I'm going to be making my first attempt at my own cranberry sauce this year, and I'm really looking forward to it! Love the use of roasted apple to sweeten it up, and that color!!! Truly mesmerizing indeed! Well done and thanks for sharing girl!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally mix in some more fruits than just cranberry! Guaranteed to come out tasty!
Cricket Plunkett
Cranberry sauce is my favorite part of Thanksgiving.i never would have thought to add apples. looks incredible!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! Well there you go!! I hope to finally enjoy some this year!
Amanda
Looks delicious! I like mine on the slightly chunky side, so I guess I'd have to go for a chutney. I love the idea of roasting it in a cast iron pan!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
As long as it's homemade, the texture comes second π
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
This is 10000x better than that jello-like canned cranberry sauce lol! The color is spot on and the addition of apples takes this to a whole new level π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes!!! I can't get over the color myself π
Megan - The Emotional Baker
I only started making Cranberry sauce with fresh berries last year. Boy, have I been missing out!! I love this version with apples and orange!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know!!! I missed out on the real good classic and finally know how to make it well!