This Maple Chipotle Cranberry Sauce is a little smoky, tart, and sweet! It’s a fun twist on regular cranberry sauce and just as easy to make!
Do you consider cranberry sauce to be an important part of your holiday meal? I’ve always been one of those people who likes to get a little bit of everything in one bite, and the cranberry sauce is the perfect element to even out all the other richness. This Maple Chipotle Cranberry Sauce has a great smoky taste, making it perfect for your vegan/vegetarian holiday table.
I shared my favorite Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce a few years ago, but I wanted to try something a little different this year. I’ve tried a raspberry chipotle sauce I really enjoyed, so I thought it would be fun to make a chipotle cranberry sauce, and it does not disappoint!
Why Your Body Will Love This Cranberry Sauce
- Proanthocyanidins – Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins that prevent bacteria from sticking to our urinary tract walls. This reduces the risk of urinary tract infections. Proanthocyanidins also limit the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
- Immune Health – Cranberries and chipotle peppers are great sources of vitamin C, which is great for the immune system and fights free radicals.
- Capsaicin – Chipotle peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which gives peppers their spicy taste. It’s known to boost our circulation and can help prevent heart attacks and strokes by reducing cholesterol and triglycerides. Capsaicin can even improve our mood by releasing endorphins in the brain!
Maple Chipotle Cranberry Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Cranberries – I used one bag of fresh cranberries. You can also use frozen cranberries if you can’t find fresh ones. Do not use dried cranberries!
- Water – I use water as my liquid when making homemade cranberry sauce, but you can use orange or apple juice if you want it sweeter. If using juice, I suggest still adding 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of the juice.
- Chipotle Peppers – I used a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for this recipe. You can see the brand I used in the photo above the can. I first tried a different brand, and it was so bitter and smoky that it was almost unbearable to me. The one I chose seemed to have a few extra ingredients, but I enjoyed the taste. Just make sure you taste your peppers before using them!
- Maple Syrup – Be sure to use pure maple syrup for this recipe, not pancake syrup (usually in a plastic bottle). It doesn’t matter if you use light or dark maple syrup. You can also use honey if you’re not vegan.
- Cane Sugar – I usually add coconut sugar to my cranberry sauce but decided to add cane sugar this time because I wanted that sweeter flavor to balance out the chipotle peppers. You can use coconut sugar instead, though.
- Salt – I added just a small pinch of salt since this cranberry sauce is a little more savory than regular cranberry sauce.
How To Make Homemade Chipotle Cranberry Sauce
If you’ve ever made your own cranberry sauce, you know how easy it is!
- Add chipotle peppers and adobo sauce to a food processor or blender. You probably won’t use the entire can, so you can add a few peppers and some of the sauce, but I added the whole can because I knew I could use the blended peppers for something else. Blend them until pureed; you will probably still have a few chunks and seeds.
- Next, add the cranberries, water, maple syrup, sugar, 1-3 tablespoons of pureed peppers, and a small pinch of salt to a medium-sized saucepan. I only added one Tablespoon because I didn’t want it to overpower the cranberry flavor, but you can add as much as you like.
- Mix everything together. Place over medium heat, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for about 20 minutes until cranberries almost burst open. It will seem a little liquidy, but letting it sit and cool will thicken it up perfectly.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this cranberry sauce ahead of time? Yes! You can make it and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days before serving. I suggest serving at room temperature.
- Can it be frozen? I suggest freezing it in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw on the counter or in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature.
- Can I double this recipe? Yes, it will double very easily.
- Where can I find canned chipotle peppers? You should be able to find them in the Mexican food aisle at most grocery stores.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes?
No Bake Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
Perfect Roasted Brussels sprouts
Maple Chipotle Cranberry Sauce
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Maple Chipotle Cranberry Sauce is perfect tart, sweet and smoky! It’s a great addition to your vegan/vegetarian holiday meal!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries, or 12 oz frozen cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup cane sugar, or granulated sugar
- 1 small can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Open the can of chipotle peppers and add the entire can to a food processor or blender. Blend until mostly pureed but can still have a few chunks in it.
- To a medium sized saucepan, add the cranberries, water, maple syrup, sugar, pinch of salt and about 1 tablespoon of the pureed chipotle peppers. You can add as much as you like but I didn’t want mine to be too spicy.
- Place pot over medium heat and stir everything together. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, until most of the cranberries have broken down. Let cranberry sauce cool for at least 20 minutes to thicken up.
- I like to mix in a few small spoonfuls of the remaining pureed chipotles to the top of the bowl so people can tell what is in the cranberry sauce. I also like to garnish with a little cilantro, parsley or rosemary for some green color. Best when served chilled or at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Side, Vegan
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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