Preserves are something every cook should know how to make. Contrary to popular belief, this simple spread comes together quickly. And, it’s quite the experience. In our home, this Homemade Cranberry Grape Preserves recipe has become one of those things that mark the season. It’s clean, vibrant, and brightens any holiday meal with the most beautiful ruby-red color.
If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the idea of making your own preserves, let this recipe change your mind. You don’t need pectin, refined sugar, or complicated canning equipment. All you need is fruit, a saucepan, and a few minutes of patience. The result is a thick, glossy preserve with layers of natural sweetness and tartness…perfect for pairing with organic and free-range turkey, gluten-free dinner rolls, charcuterie boards, or a spread of allergy-friendly appetizers.
This is the kind of recipe that reminds you how effortless clean cooking can be when you let God’s ingredients shine.
Table of Contents
A Preserve That Belongs on Every Holiday Table
Holiday meals often rely on store-bought sauces filled with corn syrup, additives, dyes, and hidden sugars. But this homemade version proves just how unnecessary those ingredients really are.
By simmering Concord grapes with fresh apple cider and unsweetened dried cranberries, you get a naturally sweet and deeply flavorful preserve without compromising your health goals.
The taste is reminiscent of classic cranberry sauce, but smoother, fresher, and more complex. The grapes create a velvety base that beautifully complements the tartness of the cranberries.
And the apple cider ties it all together with a warm, orchard-like sweetness, especially if you use fresh-pressed cider like we do (from my Dad’s apple trees). This recipe elevates everything it touches, whether it’s spread over a slice of organic, free-range turkey or spooned onto a warm gluten-free roll.
Plus, it’s completely vegan and free of refined sugar; a win for everyone around the table.
Why This Recipe Fits Perfectly Into Healthy Holidays
Healthy holiday cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or restrictive, as I always say, it’s simply about making intentional choices that love your body. One of my biggest goals as a clean-cooking mama is to create recipes that leave you feeling nourished, energized, and balanced after the meal, not weighed down or battling sugar crashes. This little preserve does exactly that.
Instead of relying on the usual holiday culprits like refined sugar, corn syrup, preservatives, dyes, or artificial flavors, we let whole, vibrant ingredients do the work. Every spoonful is naturally vegan, naturally gluten-free, and naturally sweetened by the fruits God created. No filler, no fluff, no hidden ingredients that undo all the effort you’ve put into living well.
When you choose this recipe, you’re saying “yes” to clean sweetness that won’t spike your blood sugar, to antioxidant-rich real fruit that supports cellular repair and calms inflammation, and to simple digestion because your body easily recognizes every ingredient. You’re also saying yes to holiday joy without the bloating, brain fog, or heaviness so many people have accepted as normal.
This is a family-friendly dish even picky eaters will love for its bright, jammy flavor. And just as meaningful as what you’re adding to your table is what you’re leaving out: no dairy, gluten, or common allergens to complicate holiday meals.
Small swaps like this accumulate over the course of a holiday season. Instead of finishing December feeling depleted, you end it with more energy, less inflammation, and a body that feels cared for. That’s the kind of holiday rhythm that changes everything, because tiny choices add up to big impact.
Benefits of Homemade Cranberry Grape Preserves
Healthy cooking is so much more joyful when you understand how the ingredients nourish your body. Here are a few benefits of each ingredient.
Organic Concord Grapes: Concord grapes contain anthocyanins, the same potent antioxidants found in blueberries and blackberries. These compounds help support heart health, calm inflammation, and protect the brain from oxidative stress. Their natural sweetness allows you to skip sugar entirely while still getting that classic, rich holiday flavor.
Organic Fresh-Pressed Apple Cider: Natural apple cider contains vitamin C, enzymes, and minerals that support your immune system. Unlike bottled juice blends filled with concentrates and sweeteners, fresh-pressed cider gives a clean, authentic apple flavor without additives. We fresh-press our own cider using apples from my parents’ trees. Want a way to use extra cider? Check out our favorite Mulled Cider Recipe.
Organic Unsweetened Dried Cranberries: Most commercial dried cranberries are coated in refined sugar. But unsweetened ones deliver the true cranberry tartness that balances the sweetness of the grapes. Cranberries also support urinary tract health, help stabilize blood sugar, and provide fiber and antioxidants.
These three ingredients simmer together into Homemade Cranberry Grape Preserves that taste luxurious while still honoring your wellness.
Cranberry Grape Preserves (Vegan)
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic fresh-pressed apple cider
- 1½ pounds organic Concord grapes, stems removed
- 1 cup organic unsweetened dried cranberries
Instructions
- Place the cider and grapes in a saucepan and cook until the grapes have released most of their juices, about 20 minutes.
- Using a sieve, strain the grapes into a saucepan and discard the solids. Add the dried cranberries to the fruit juice and heat over low until the cranberries soften, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This Cranberry Grape Preserves recipe is easy to make and a great option for holidays or to jazz up your everyday table. Here’s how it comes together.
Step One: Simmer the Fruit
Place the cider and grapes in a saucepan and cook until the grapes have released most of their juices, about 20 minutes.
Step Two: Strain the Preserves and Serve
Using a sieve, strain the grapes into a saucepan and discard the solids. Add the dried cranberries to the fruit juice and heat over low until the cranberries soften, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Serving and Storage
One of my favorite things about this recipe is its versatility. You can use it in so many ways throughout the holiday season and beyond. Try serving it alongside roasted organic and free-range turkey or chicken, spooned over warm gluten-free rolls or biscuits, stirred into oatmeal, paired with vegan cheeses for a beautiful grazing board, or swirled into dairy-free yogurt.
Homemade fruit preserves are meant to be enjoyed fresh, but they store beautifully, too. Here’s how to keep them at their best:
Refrigerator: Store in a sealed glass jar for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Portion into small jars or silicone ice cube trays and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Meal Prep Tip: Make a double batch during the holidays and freeze half. You’ll have a ready-to-go preserve for winter meals or future gatherings.
This recipe is also a lovely homemade gift. Pour it into small mason jars, add a ribbon and tag, and bless a neighbor, teacher, pastor, or friend with a clean, delicious treat.
A Fresh Way to Think About Holiday Cooking
As much as I love warm spices, rich flavors, and nostalgic recipes, I’ve learned that healthy holiday meals taste even better and make you feel better long after the table is cleared.
Clean cooking isn’t about restriction; it’s about intention. It’s choosing ingredients that bless your body rather than burden it. It’s about finding joy in the process rather than feeling tied to the kitchen. It’s slowing down long enough to smell the simmering fruit and appreciate the goodness God has woven into whole, simple foods.
This preserve is a beautiful example of that simplicity. Just three ingredients…yet full of flavor, nourishment, and meaning.
A Moment of Reflection for Your Holiday Season
The older I get, the more I realize that some of the most sacred moments happen in the kitchen. In the quiet places where we prepare food for the people we love. Homemaking is holy work, and when we cook with love, intention, and gratitude, God meets us in those small, everyday moments.
As you prepare this Cranberry Grape Preserves recipe, I pray your home feels extra warm with His presence. May your heart be steady, your mind be peaceful, and your table be filled with joy and connection.
“He fills the hungry with good things.” — Luke 1:53
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17
May your holiday season be full of nourishing food, meaningful conversations, and the sweet reminder that God delights in the work of your hands.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939475322000837
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22468945/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26864371/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11431298/
