This tangy, tart, sweet, and warm cranberry apple compote is such an easy recipe. It's great on its own, or you can take your morning oatmeal to another level.
Published Nov. 8, 2014 and updated Dec. 2, 2019.
Hi there! We’re Linda and Alex, the mother daughter duo and creators of Veganosity. Thanks for visiting us, we’re so happy you’re here. If you’re looking for Southern inspired vegan comfort food recipes, you’ve come to the right place.
We love vegan comfort food and we’re really good at making it. Take a tour through our site and you’ll find all of the recipes that scream, stretchy pants required!
The good news, they’re all plant-based recipes, so you don’t need to feel guilty eating them. Now sit back, relax, and eat happy. 🙂
Also, in case you didn't know, we're published cookbook authors. We've written two vegan cookbooks that will help you make amazing vegan BBQ (you don't even need a grill) and everyday meals, from breakfast to dessert.
Click on the titles to check them out. GREAT VEGAN BBQ WITHOUT A GRILL
and THE ULTIMATE VEGAN COOKBOOK
.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRANBERRY COMPOTE, SAUCE, AND RELISH?
This is a question that comes up quite often, so we want to explain it here so you can be the person who knows the answer.
Compote and sauce are basically the same thing. The cranberries are cooked in a bit of liquid and become thick and wonderfully delicious as they cool.
Relish is a raw dish. If you find a recipe for cranberry relish that's cooked, it's not relish. You can call it a compote or a sauce.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's get cooking.
HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH APPLES
This is delightfully easy to make and it won't take you longer than 20 minutes from start to finish.
STEP ONE
Add the cranberries, apple, sugar, butter, spices, and 1 cup of water to a large sauce pan and bring to a boil.
The cranberries will begin popping after about 3 minutes.
I love watching and listening to cranberries burst. Each little pop and sizzle brings me one step closer to tasting their tart and tangy flavor.
STEP TWO
Once the cranberries and apples begin to boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, or until the apples have softened and the cranberries have burst open.
Notice how lovely your kitchen is beginning to smell?
HOW TO SERVE CRANBERRY APPLE COMPOTE
There are so many ways to serve this easy cranberry apple sauce. Here are a few ideas:
Put a dollop in your morning oatmeal.
Smear on a sandwich, it's great with leftover lentil loaf.
Serve it like a chutney on vegan cheese and crackers.
Eat it as a side dish with your favorite meal.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CRANBERRIES
Cranberries are made up of mostly water. They're a great source of the following:
- Fiber
- Healthy carbohydrates
- Vitamin C
- Manganese
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K1
- Copper
They're also great for urinary tract health, heart health, and the prevention of certain types of cancer.
MORE CRANBERRY RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
VEGAN CRANBERRY BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
VEGAN CRANBERRY ORANGE PANCAKES
PIN ME!
Cranberry Apple Compote
Equipment
- stove
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 large apple peeled, cored, and cubed
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar see note
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter optional
Instructions
- Put the 3 cups cranberries, cubed apple, ¾ cup water, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, and 1 tablespoon vegan butter in a large sauce pan and bring the water to a boil.
- When the water is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and stir to combine the ingredients. The cranberries will start to pop and burst. Cook for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, or until the apples soften. The cranberries will thicken the sauce and it will continue to thicken as it sets.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
PIN ME!
Markie says
I made this exactly as written to go over pound cake. Everyone thought it was too strong with cloves. May try again & use half or less. Otherwise very good application.
Linda Meyer says
Hi Markie, thanks so much for your comment. Definitely try it again. Cloves are strong, and while we love them, we know that others may not like as much. Happy Holidays!
Erica T says
What kind of apples should I use?
Linda Meyer says
Hi Erica, Honeycrisp or Fuji work well. 🙂
Eva says
Hi, for how long you can store the cranberry sauce after is done? And can you use it as a spread for toast or crackers?
Thanks so much.
Linda Meyer says
Hi Eva, you can store this in the refrigerator for up to a week. Yes! Definitely use it as a spread. We also love it in oatmeal in the morning.