This vibrant Balsamic Cranberry Dressing is the perfect mix of tart, sweet, and tangy-made with just a few whole-food ingredients and no oil. It's light, flavorful, and incredibly nutritious, with natural sweetness from dates and a burst of brightness from fresh orange juice and balsamic vinegar.
It's especially delicious on leafy greens, kale salads, and seasonal slaws. Developed by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Nutritionist's Note:
Here's why I like to start a holiday meal with this vibrant cranberry dressing over crisp greens:
- Whole food ingredients - No added sugar or oil
- Naturally sweetened - With fiber-rich dates
- Seasonal & festive - Uses fresh cranberries and orange
- Antioxidant-rich - Thanks to cranberries and balsamic
- Perfect for greens - Clings beautifully to kale and lettuce
Jump to:
- 👩🏼🌾 Things to Know About Ingredients
- 🌿 Substitutions
- 📝 Tips for Making Balsamic Cranberry Dressing
- Healthy Cranberry Balsamic Dressing Recipe
- ⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
- ✔️ Storage Tips
- 🥗 What to Serve This With
- 🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
- 🛒 Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients
- 👩🏽🍳 Made this recipe?
- 🍽️ Related Recipes
- 💬 Comments
👩🏼🌾 Things to Know About Ingredients
Below, I've included notes on the ingredients from the perspective of a nutrition expert and a trained chef. For a complete list of ingredients and quantities, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Cranberries: Add sharp, seasonal tartness that cuts through the sweetness of the apples.
- Medjool Dates: Naturally sweeten and thicken the dressing. Add gentle fiber and minerals without relying on added sugar.
- Orange juice and zest: Add vitamin C, brightness, and aromatic flavor.
🌿 Substitutions
This recipe is versatile and easy to adapt. Below are some simple ingredient substitutions.
- Dried herbs: Dried thyme, rosemary, oregano, or a small amount of fresh.
- Cranberries: Use frozen or fresh.
- Medjool dates: 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or date syrup
- Dijon mustard: Stone-ground mustard or yellow mustard (milder flavor)
📝 Tips for Making Balsamic Cranberry Dressing
These additional tips will help you get the best results from this recipe.
- Simmering gently (not boiling hard) helps the cranberries burst without becoming bitter and softens the dates so they blend smoothly without gritty pieces.
- Blending piping-hot mixtures can create steam pressure and thin out the dressing too much. Letting it cool for a few minutes gives you a thicker, silkier texture.
- Blend for a long enough time for a completely silky texture.
- This stage of the dressing should be smooth, not pulpy.
- Add the balsamic vinegar and orange juice gradually. The balsamic brings depth and sweetness, while the orange juice adds brightness. Adjusting slowly makes it easy to create the perfect balance for your preference.
- Add the dressing right before serving to keep the greens crisp.
Healthy Cranberry Balsamic Dressing Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
- 4 large Medjool dates (about ½ cup) pitted and chopped
- 1 ½ cups water plus more as needed
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon orange zest optional
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or dried herbs
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar or to taste (see notes)
- ¼ cup orange juice or to taste (about one-half orange)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soften cranberries and dates: In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, dates, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until cranberries burst and dates soften.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Transfer to a blender with Dijon, orange zest, thyme, and garlic. Blend until silky smooth.
- Add balsamic and orange juice to taste - Transfer the dressing to a jar and start whisking in the balsamic vinegar gradually until the flavor is balanced to your liking. Then add the orange juice to achieve the desired brightness. Season with salt and pepper.
- Thin with water if needed for a pourable consistency.
Notes
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Nutritional values may vary depending on factors such as product types and brands used.
⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
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✔️ Storage Tips
Here are some tips for making this Cranberry Balsamic Dressing ahead of time and keeping it fresh:
- Refrigerate: Store the dressing in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavors deepen over time, so it often tastes even better the next day.
- Freezing: You can freeze this dressing for up to 3 months in small containers or ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop the cubes into a sealed freezer bag for easy single servings. Thaw in the fridge overnight and re-blend if needed.
- Meal Prep: Make a double batch and freeze half to have a vibrant, antioxidant-rich dressing ready for future meals.
🥗 What to Serve This With
Pair this with my Festive Green Salad.
I also enjoy this dressing with Roasted Broccoli Salad with chickpeas and tofu.
Drizzle on my flavorful Strawberry Kale Salad, packed with plant-based protein and made with ingredients that are shown to help reverse aging.
Enjoy it with this 6-ingredient Red Cabbage Salad, packed with antioxidants.
It's also delicious with Roasted Kabocha Squash.
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
The dressing is meant to be lightly sweet-just enough to balance the tart cranberries without tasting sugary. Because it is sweetened with whole dates, the flavor stays natural and not overly sweet. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, choose a sweeter orange (like Cara Cara or Navel) and add a bit more orange juice to brighten and naturally sweeten it.
Yes. You can replace the cranberries with raspberries. Just keep in mind that softer fruits like raspberries contain more natural juice, so you will not need the same amount of water. Start with ½ cup water instead of ¾ cup, then add more only if needed to reach a smooth, pourable consistency. Adjust sweetness with date syrup or a little extra orange juice to taste.
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Let me know your thoughts on Cranberry Balsamic Dressing by leaving a ⭐️ rating below or sharing it on Instagram.
Cathy Koeneke says
I added more graded orange peel than recipe called for.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Orange peel makes all the difference!
Marysia says
I made this delicious recipe and loved it. It makes a lot (which is great) so I ended up drizzling it on everything from salads, avocado toast, and soups for a little festive pop of flavor. The color is beautiful.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Awww it makes my day to read this. So glad you like this dressing. Thank you.
Jacelyn says
I made this recipe last night. It is truly delicious. You always provide the best, healthy dressings, along with all your other recipes. I could never thank you enough for sharing your creations and knowledge with us.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you so much for making them and leaving a comment. I appreciate you!