Orange Cardamom Cranberry Sauce

Name: Orange Cardamom Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients: 4 Medjool (big) or 6 Deglet Noor (smaller) dates, pitted and soaked in hot water for 10 minutes; 1 cup unfiltered apple juice or apple cider* (235ml); 1 large orange, zested, peeled and sectioned (set aside the zest for now); 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and drained (340g); 1 large apple, peeled and diced (a sweet variety, such as Gala or Fuji works best / leave the peel on for a more rustic sauce); 2 cinnamon sticks or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder; 5 whole green cardamom pods or 1 teaspoon cardamom powder; 1/4 teaspoon peeled and grated ginger root