The Best Cranberry Sauce for Your Dairy-Free Meal

Cranberry sauce is one of those naturally dairy-free condiments that we love around the holidays. Okay, I even love it on sandwiches in summer! It’s been a tradition for so long that there are many recipe variations, but this warmly spiced dairy-free cranberry sauce is a favorite. The prep couldn’t be easier – just dump the ingredients in and stir. From there, you let it bubble for 15 minutes or take the slow cooker route!

Why You’ll Love this Naturally Dairy-Free Cranberry Sauce

• Quick & Easy: You can whip it up in 15 minutes on the stovetop, or set it and (almost) forget it in the slow cooker.
• Warm & Comforting: Many recipes are spiked with cinnamon, but this cranberry sauce is also made with allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. You can dial the spices down, but as is, they taste amazing and will fill your home with an amazing scent.
• Time Tested: This was the cranberry sauce made by Wild Oats before they were bought by Whole Foods. Their premade foods were awesome and quite popular.
• Versatile: I mentioned enjoying it beyond Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well that includes using it in breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert! I have several tasty ways to enjoy this spiced cranberry sauce  below.

10 Dairy-Free Ways to Enjoy this Cranberry Sauce Year Round

It isn’t just for the holidays! Here are delicious, everyday ways to enjoy leftover dairy-free spiced cranberry sauce (or a fresh batch) beyond the big holiday meals.

1. Yogurt Parfait: Layer with your favorite dairy-free yogurt or dairy-free Greek-style yogurt, granola, and nuts or seeds.
2. Ice Cream Topper: I think we can all agree dairy-free ice cream is a year round treat. But give it holiday flair with cranberry sauce on top. It pairs well with dairy-free vanilla ice cream or dairy-free chocolate ice cream.
3. Oatmeal: Stir it in to a warm bowl of cooked oats.
4. Breakfast Sauce: Dollop it on your dairy-free pancakes or waffles and skip the maple syrup (or not!).
5. Smoothie Boost: Blend a spoonful into berry, banana, or citrus smoothies. Seriously, you’ll be a quick convert to cranberry smoothies.
6. Meat Glaze: Brush it on pork tenderloin, chicken thighs, or ham during the last 10 min of roasting.
7. Burger or Sandwich Spread: Use it as a condiment on burgers, chicken sandwiches, or turkey sandwiches. No need for cream cheese – it pairs well with mayo!
8. Charcuterie: Fill your board with fancy dairy-free cheeses, fruit, nuts, maybe some deli meat, and this dairy-free spiced cranberry sauce. It will be a highlight!
9. Crumble Layer: Put some under the apples (or swirl it in) when baking our favorite Dairy-Free Apple Crisp Recipe.
10. Muffins: Swirl it into baked goods, like my popular Cranberry Sauced Muffins Recipe.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use Frozen Cranberries?

You can! You will need to cook the sauce a little longer if making it on the stovetop. If you opt for the slow cooker, it should cook up just fine in the time listed.

Can I use a Different Sweetener?

Yes, brown sugar or coconut sugar would be delicious! Honey works well, and I think maple syrup could be tasty, too. I haven’t tested this recipe with any sugar-free sweeteners. They don’t tend to thicken as well.

It’s a Little Too Tart. What Should I Do?

If you prefer cranberry sauce on the sweeter side, you can increase the sugar to 3/4 to 1 cup. If your sauce is already cooked, go ahead and add more sweetener, an let it bubble another few minutes on the stovetop, or 10 minutes or so uncovered in your crockpot.

Is that 1 Whole Teaspoon of Cloves?

This is a truly spiced recipe. If you are timid with cloves, start with just 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon and add more if you’re up for it. Feel free to adjust the spices to your preferences.

Special Diet Notes: Spiced Cranberry Sauce

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.

Paleo Option: Substitute 1/2 cup honey for the sweetener, or to taste. You can add a more once it’s cooked if you want it sweeter.

Contributed

Dairy-Free Spiced Cranberry Sauce

5 from 1 vote

This quick cranberry sauce can be made ahead, or enjoyed warm with your fall or winter feast. Alternatively, you can slow cook it and let your home fill with the scent of warm spices.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 2 cups

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Calories: 92

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• ¾ cup water
• ⅔ to 1 cup sugar or agave nectar to taste
• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1 orange juice and zest
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice or nutmeg optional
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch ground ginger

Method

 

1. Put the water and sweetener in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a boil.
2. Add the cranberries, orange juice, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg and stir to coat.
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the cranberries burst and cook down into a sauce.
4. Stir in the orange zest and remove the pan from the heat.
5. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving, and optionally refrigerate to serve it chilled. This sauce will thicken up as it cools.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 cupCalories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 2mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19g

Notes

Original High Spice Blend: The original version was very heavily spiced. We've toned it down, but you can go with this blend (or a version of it) if preferred - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated or ground nutmeg.

Slow Cooker Option: Place all ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker or in a multi-cooker on the slow cook setting. Cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 7 hours on low, stirring every hour if cooking on high, every couple hours if cooking on low. Uncover and stir well. Cook on high, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes longer or until slightly thickened.

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