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Easy Cranberry Maple Vinaigrette Recipe

Easy Cranberry Maple Vinaigrette

A quick, creamy cranberry dressing made with whole-berry cranberry sauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and extra-virgin olive oil. It makes approximately 3/4 cup, or 6–8 servings.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Vinaigrette
  • 1/2 cup Whole-berry cranberry sauce
  • 1/4 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Optional Thinning
  • 1–2 tablespoons Water or orange juice

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Add the cranberry sauce, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and black pepper to a blender or food processor. Blend until mostly smooth.
  2. With the blender running, slowly pour in the extra-virgin olive oil. Continue blending until the dressing is thick and emulsified.
  3. If the vinaigrette is too thick, add water or orange juice 1 tablespoon at a time, blending briefly after each addition.
  4. Taste the dressing and adjust the balance as needed. Add vinegar for more sharpness, maple syrup for extra sweetness, or salt to brighten the flavor.
  5. Chill briefly before serving if desired, then shake or whisk again to recombine the dressing.

Notes

Use whole-berry cranberry sauce for the best texture and a more natural cranberry flavor. For a brighter holiday variation, use orange juice as the thinning liquid and add 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest.