Cranberries are the juice I turn to when there’s a cold going round. On their own they’re too sharp, so I balance them with sweet apple and a whole orange. The result is a ruby-red glass that tastes of autumn and gives me a good dose of vitamin C without reaching for a supplement.
Why these ingredients work
Cranberries are one of the richest everyday sources of vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants, which is where their reputation for supporting the immune system comes from. The orange and lemon add more vitamin C on top, while the apple brings natural sweetness so the glass stays tart rather than sour. Nothing here is magic; it’s just three fruits that happen to work well together.
FAQ
Is cranberry juice good for a cold?
It won’t cure one, but it doesn’t hurt. A glass of this juice gives you around 50mg of vitamin C, comfortably more than the 40mg a day UK adults are advised to get. It’s a helpful extra when you’re feeling run down, not a replacement for rest.
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes. Frozen cranberries work just as well, and they’re usually cheaper and available all year round. Let them thaw for five minutes or run them under warm water first so they soften, then juice or blend them exactly the same way.
Is this juice very sweet?
Not really. Cranberries are naturally tart, so even with two apples and an orange it keeps a bit of a bite. A glass comes in at about 110 calories with 20g of sugar, nearly all of it natural from the fruit. If you’d like it sweeter, swap one apple for a ripe pear.
More immunity recipes: see the full Immunity collection.
Cranberry Apple Orange Juice
Equipment
- 1 Juicer or a blender and fine sieve
- 1 Budget cold press juicer a great value alternative
- 1 Budget blender a great value alternative
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
- 2 apples cored
- 1 orange peeled
- 1/2 lemon peeled
Optional
- 1 inch fresh ginger for a little warmth
Instructions
Juicer method
- Wash the cranberries and core the apples. Peel the orange and lemon.
- Feed everything through the juicer, alternating the soft cranberries with the firmer apple so they push each other through.
- Stir, pour over ice and drink straight away.
Blender method
- Core the apples and peel the orange and lemon. Blend everything with 120ml of cold water until smooth.
- Strain through a fine sieve, pressing with the back of a spoon to get every drop.
- Serve over ice.