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Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce (Paleo, Whole30)

Nov 14, 2020 · 14 Comments

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date and orange cranberry sauce in a white bowl with a spoon
date and orange cranberry sauce in a white bowl with a spoon

Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce is the healthy Thanksgiving side dish your holiday needs. No, deserves. You just need fresh or frozen cranberries, dates and an orange (ok, and salt) for a slightly sweet, tart and gorgeously ruby-hued relish.

It’s so easy to make and there’s lots of ways to customize it to your liking.

Plus, this cranberry sauce without sugar happens to be refined sugar-free, vegan, Paleo and Whole30 but no one will know!

healthy cranberry sauce in a white bowl next to a floral napkin

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I’ll automatically receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)

Why this recipe works

Cranberry sauce is great for multiple reasons:

  • it’s the only source of acid or tartness on your Thanksgiving plate, helping to cut through all the (delicious) carbs and meat
  • it’s the easiest Thanksgiving dish to make
  • you can make it ahead of time
  • cranberries are really good for you
  • it’s so good you’ll be glad to have leftovers! (see the Leftovers section below)

And this Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce is even better because it cuts out all the refined white sugar in regular recipes while still tasting like the real thing.

So it just happens to be a Whole30 and Paleo cranberry sauce but shhhhhh…no one has to know.

 

What you need for Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 orange
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • fine sea salt

Equipment:

  • a medium saucepan
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons (these are my favorite since they fit into spice jars)
  • a microplane grater
  • a wooden spoon or spatula
  • your preferred method of mashing the sauce:
    • potato masher
    • blender
    • stick blender
    • food processor
vegan cranberry sauce in a white bowl next to a napkin and a cutting board with an orange and zester

How to make this Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce

Step 1: Zest the orange with the microplane and set the zest aside.

Step 2: Add the cranberries, dates and salt to a medium saucepan.

Add the juice of the orange. I don’t have any specific juicing tool or equipment so this is how I do it:

  • Cut the orange in half
  • hold one half over the saucepan and stab it in the center with a fork
  • squeeze the orange while twisting the fork, aiming the cut side of the orange toward the saucepan as much as possible since the juice tends to squirt out
  • rotate the orange over and over again while twisting the fork until there’s not much left coming out
  • repeat with the other half

Some of the pulp and even the seeds might fall in but I don’t mind. Once everything is blended you don’t really notice.

If the pulp or seeds bother you, just place a mesh strainer over the saucepan before squeezing the orange to catch the solids while letting the juice through.

Step 3: Set the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries and dates are soft, about 8-10 minutes (might take 10-12 minutes if using frozen cranberries). Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan as you stir. As the cranberries soften, mash them against the bottom or sides of the pot.

Step 4: Turn off the heat and add the orange zest.

Step 5: You can choose how you want to mash the cranberries:

  • use a potato masher for a rustic, chunky sauce
  • use a blender, stick blender or food processor and blend the sauce until your desired consistency; I find a food processor works best, especially if you want the sauce really smooth

Serve warm, room temperature or cold.

Paleo cranberry sauce on a spoon over a bowl of the sauce

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make substitutions or variations?

Use fresh cranberries or frozen, unthawed cranberries.

You can add one peeled, chopped apple.

For a spiced cranberry sauce, add cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon), ground cloves (1/4 teaspoon) and/or ground allspice (1/4 teaspoon) with the salt.

You can add freshly grated ginger (1 teaspoon) or ground ginger (1/2 teaspoon) with the salt.

Can I make this Paleo cranberry sauce ahead of time?

You can make cranberry sauce up to 5 days in advance. Store in the refrigerator. Serve cold or bring to room temperature. If you’ve made it ahead of time and want to serve it warm, heat it in a saucepan over low eat, stirring occasionally. If it’s too thick, stir in some water a bit at a time.

Can I freeze this Paleo cranberry sauce?

You can freeze the sauce in an airtight container or baggie for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Serve cold or bring to room temperature. If you’ve made it ahead of time and want to serve it warm, heat it in a saucepan over low eat, stirring occasionally. If it’s too thick, stir in some water a bit at a time.

What to do with leftover cranberry sauce

Cranberry sauce is great with all kinds of food, not just for Thanksgiving.

In fact, I have 3 great ways to use up leftover cranberry sauce.

Or use it to make these Paleo Cranberry Bars.

You can also serve leftovers as-is with chicken, pork, beef, venison or lamb.

You can also spread it with butter or ghee on this Paleo pumpkin bread or your favorite bread or muffins.

Stir it into yogurt with or without granola for a snack or breakfast.

You can spoon it over ice cream, pancakes, waffles or French toast.

If it sets too much and isn’t as pourable as you’d like, stir in some water. Or if you’d prefer it a little sweeter, stir in a bit of maple syrup or honey.

 

Other Thanksgiving recipes you might like:

  1. Sausage, Sweet Potato and Apple Stuffing (Paleo, Whole30)
  2. Brussels Sprouts Casserole (Paleo, Whole30, vegan)
  3. Paleo Candied Sweet Potatoes
  4. Pumpkin Pie (Paleo, nut-free)
  5. Thanksgiving Fruit Salad (Paleo)
healthy cranberry sauce in a white bowl next to a floral napkin

Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce (Paleo, Whole30)

Don Baiocchi
This easy Date and Orange Cranberry Sauce is slightly sweet, slightly tart and the perfect addition to your holiday table. By using dates it's totally refined sugar-free but no one will notice!
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 105 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium orange
  • 12 oz. fresh or frozen (unthawed) cranberries
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Zest the orange and set the zest aside.
  • Add the cranberries, dates and salt to a medium saucepan, plus the juice of the orange (see post for details).
  • Set the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries and dates are soft, about 8-10 minutes (might take 10-12 minutes if using frozen cranberries). Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan as you stir. As the cranberries soften, mash them against the bottom or sides of the pot.
  • Take off the heat and add the orange zest.
  • Use a potato masher, blender, stick blender or food processor to blend the sauce to your desired consistency. If you want it really smooth, the appliances (especially the food processor) work better than the potato masher. Taste and add any salt, if necessary. Serve warm, room temperature or cold.

Notes

Substitutions and variations
  • Use fresh cranberries or frozen, unthawed cranberries
  • You can add one peeled, chopped apple in addition to or instead of the orange
  • For a spiced cranberry sauce, add cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon), ground cloves (1/4 teaspoon) and/or ground allspice (1/4 teaspoon) with the salt
  • You can add freshly grated ginger (1 teaspoon) or ground ginger (1/2 teaspoon) with the salt
 
Make ahead
You can make cranberry sauce up to 5 days in advance. Store in the refrigerator. Serve cold or bring to room temperature.
You can freeze the sauce in an airtight container or baggie for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Serve cold or bring to room temperature.
If you’ve made it ahead of time and want to serve it warm, heat it in a saucepan over low eat, stirring occasionally. If it’s too thick, stir in some water a bit at a time.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 105kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 195mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 5gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword cranberry sauce, cranberry sauce without sugar, healthy cranberry sauce, healthy Thanksgiving, paleo cranberry sauce, whole30 cranberry sauce
Tried this recipe?Mention @paleoglutenfreeguy or tag #paleoglutenfreeguy!

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5 Ingredients or Less, Recipes, Sauces & Condiments, Veggies & Sides, Whole30 cranberries, dates, oranges, Thanksgiving, vegan

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Megan Stevens says

    November 21, 2020 at 7:22 am

    5 stars
    I’m all for 1 cup of dates in this!! HOW delicious!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:17 am

      Yep, they’re so good in this without overpowering the cranberry flavor. 🙂

      Reply
  2. ChihYu says

    November 19, 2020 at 9:25 pm

    5 stars
    The dates make this cranberry sauce extra delicious! So perfect for the Thanksgiving table!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:17 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Kelly says

    November 19, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! So easy to make and so delicious! This will be a hit on the Thanksgiving table!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:18 am

      SO easy! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Stacey Crawford says

    November 19, 2020 at 12:06 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a good & simple recipe! I love that you used dates to sweeten the sauce. Such a good idea!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:18 am

      Why thank you. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kortney says

    November 18, 2020 at 3:51 am

    5 stars
    I LOVE LOVE how easy this sauce is!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:18 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  6. tina says

    November 16, 2020 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    I never knew a good cranberry sauce was so easy to make! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:19 am

      I know, right? So easy.

      Reply
  7. Jean Choi says

    November 16, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    Love cranberry sauce and this version is so yummy sweetened with dates! I’m sure my family will love it on Thanksgiving.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      November 23, 2020 at 11:19 am

      I’m sure, too. 😉

      Reply
5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Well hello there! I’m Don, the creator behind Paleo Gluten Free Guy. I share fun, vibrant recipes for good health and pure enjoyment. All of my recipes are gluten-free and the majority of them are also Paleo, meaning they’re free of grains, dairy, refined sugar and legumes.

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