Cranberry Glazed Ham-Free Roast (Printable)

Plant-based ham-free roast with a tangy cranberry glaze, perfect for holiday dinners.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Roast

01 - 2 1/2 cups vital wheat gluten
02 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, mashed
03 - 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
04 - 3 tablespoons tomato paste
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1 teaspoon ground mustard
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ For the Cranberry Glaze

13 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
14 - 1/2 cup orange juice
15 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
16 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
18 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
19 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make:

01 - Set the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, mix mashed chickpeas, vegetable broth, tomato paste, olive oil, and soy sauce until well combined.
03 - Add vital wheat gluten, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, black pepper, and salt to the wet mixture. Stir to form a dough and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until firm.
04 - Form the dough into a log resembling a small roast. Wrap tightly with parchment paper and then aluminum foil.
05 - Place the wrapped log on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes at 350°F.
06 - Combine cranberries, orange juice, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until cranberries burst and glaze thickens. Remove from heat.
07 - Carefully remove the roast from the oven and unwrap. Place it back on the baking sheet and raise the oven temperature to 400°F.
08 - Brush the roast generously with cranberry glaze. Bake uncovered for another 25 to 30 minutes, brushing with additional glaze halfway through until browned and sticky.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with extra cranberry glaze.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's surprisingly impressive for dinner guests, yet the process feels manageable and even meditative
  • The sweet-tart cranberry glaze hits that perfect balance between festive and sophisticated
  • Leftovers are genuinely delicious, making it a gift that keeps giving all week long
02 -
  • The wrapping in parchment and foil is non-negotiable—it steams the roast and keeps it tender. Without it, you'll end up with something dry and dense.
  • Don't skip the 10-minute rest. I learned this the hard way when I sliced too early and watched my beautiful roast crumble. Those 10 minutes make all the difference between rustic chunks and elegant slices.
03 -
  • If you have a food processor, pulse your chickpeas instead of mashing by hand for a more uniform texture, but keep some small chunks for authenticity
  • Make the glaze the day before and reheat it gently—the flavors deepen and the texture becomes even silkier

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