Give this Healthy Cranberry Sauce recipe a try and you’ll never want to buy canned again! Homemade is SO much better and incredibly easy to make. It’s packed with delicious fresh flavor and is the perfect blend of sweet and tart. You’ll need just 4 key ingredients and 15 minutes!

Fresh cranberry sauce in a white bowl with a spoon.

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This healthy cranberry sauce recipe is a major family favorite, and one of those classic holiday side dishes! The pairing of tart, slightly sweet cranberry sauce with savory turkey and cornbread dressing is such a tasty combo!

Like many families, there are those certain foods that must be served for the big Thanksgiving feast. We simply cannot let the holidays pass by without pumpkin pie bars, broccoli rice casserole and homemade cranberry sauce. This recipe is the best, it’s just the right amount of sweet while still remaining true to the delicious tart profile of cranberries. The texture is perfectly thick and with how easy it is to make, you’ll never want to go back to the cans!

Even if you’re not in charge of Turkey Day dinner this year, I recommend trying out this low sugar cranberry sauce recipe! You’ll definitely need it for these leftover turkey sliders and it makes a great snack, mixed with Greek yogurt and vanilla ice cream, too.

Tried it for Thanksgiving and it was delish! Had the leftovers for breakfast with toast. Now making it for Christmas Eve and used the orange juice instead of the zest. Thanks for this diabetic friendly recipe.

— Yvonne
stirring cranberry sauce

Ingredients needed

This healthy cranberry sauce recipe tastes amazing and will complete your holiday meal! As an added plus, the ingredient list is short and sweet! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Fresh or frozen cranberries. We typically use fresh cranberries to make this, but frozen will work just fine. No need to thaw frozen cranberries.
  • Water. The water is needed to thin the sauce a bit, so it’s not too thick.
  • Orange zest. For wonderful fresh flavor.
  • Sugar or stevia. The type of sweetener you choose is really up to you. You can use regular granulated sugar. The recipe is still healthier than most because we’re only using 1/3 cup, whereas most recipes use 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar. Brown sugar also works great and gives the sauce a lovely richness. To make a ‘no sugar added’ cranberry sauce, substitute sugar with stevia. Stevia in the Raw (and many other stevia blends) measures cup-for-cup for sugar, so no conversion is needed.
  • Optional add-ins. I’m sure you have ground cinnamon and vanilla extract in your pantry, and I highly recommend adding 1/2 teaspoon of each to this sauce to really take it to the next level.

Flavor variations

We really love this cranberry sauce as-is. It’s simple, but so tasty! However, if you’d like to change up the flavors, here are some options:

  • Add more spices. Simmer with a cinnamon stick and/or add a few pinches of ground nutmeg and cloves.
  • Juice. Substitute water with fresh orange juice, unsweetened cranberry juice or a cranberry juice blend.
  • Boozy. Add 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier, bourbon, brandy, amaretto or scotch whiskey.
  • Nuts. Mix in chopped pecans or walnuts after cooling.
  • Fruit. Stir in diced apple or applesauce, cherries, crushed pineapple or diced pear.
  • Maple syrup or honey. You can replace the sugar/stevia with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey.

How to make this recipe

This has to be the simplest of all Thanksgiving dishes — from start to finish, this healthy cranberry sauce takes only 15 minutes to make! Here’s the simple process, but for the full, printable recipe, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Cranberries, orange zest and stevia in a small pot.

Step 1: Combine ingredients in medium pot. Start by combining cranberries, orange zest, water and stevia (or sugar) in a medium saucepan or large saucepan over medium heat.

Cooking cranberries in a small pot.

Step 2: Boil then reduce to a simmer. Set over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes. Watch closely and stir frequently. The cranberries will begin to become soft, break down, and thicken the sauce (thanks to the natural pectin in cranberries).

Using a wooden spoon to serve cranberry sauce.

Step 3: Finish. You can use a fork or potato masher to smash the cranberries as they become tender. Once you remove the sauce from the heat, the natural pectins in the cranberries will continue to thicken the sauce. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon, if using.

Healthy cranberry sauce in a bowl with fresh rosemary and orange slices.

Step 4: Cool and serve. I like to let my cranberry sauce cool for about 20-30 minutes before serving. And that’s it. I told you homemade cranberry sauce is actually SO easy!

Serving tip

For a festive presentation, add a bit of orange zest over the top of the cranberry sauce before serving.

Expert tips

  • Choosing cranberries. When you’re buying cranberries at the store, look for full and unbroken cranberries. They will be bright pink or red in color.
  • Fresh cranberries. If you are using fresh cranberries, gently rinse them and remove any stems or debris on them. Add in your cranberries whole.
  • Frozen cranberries. If you don’t have fresh cranberries available then frozen will work! No need to defrost them first. 
  • Added flavor. For more citrus flavoring, use orange juice instead of the water. You can also use other juices to replace the water.
  • Fresh orange juice. If you can find freshly squeezed orange juice, or squeeze your own, it tastes amazing and adds extra freshness to your cranberry sauce recipe.
  • Thicker sauce. The longer you simmer the berries after they have burst, the more thick the sauce will become. Keep in mind that your sauce will seem runnier while it’s hot and will thicken as it cools and sets.

Frequently asked questions

Is cranberry sauce healthy to eat?

Many cranberry sauce recipes contain quite a bit of white sugar but this one is low in sugar, or can be made without sugar at all. It contains nutrient rich ingredients, including cranberries. According to Healthline, they are rich in many vitamins and minerals and are a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants, as well as the metabolism-boosting mineral manganese.

How do you eat cranberry sauce in a can?

The traditional way of plating jellied canned cranberry sauce is sliced into rounds. Once removed from the can, place the column on its side, slice into ¼-inch thick rounds and then arrange the slices on a serving platter.

Is cranberry sauce better warm or cold?

Cranberry sauce can be served warm or cold, and is just a matter of personal preference. If homemade, many prefer to have it served fresh and warm, straight out of the pot, while others enjoy it cooled down to room temperature or even chilled.

Make ahead

You can make cranberry sauce up to 3 days before you plan to serve it. I always make my cranberry sauce at least one day in advance because I feel like the flavors have more time to develop as it sits in the fridge. Simply, allow it to cool completely and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Leftover serving suggestions

No worries if you have leftover cranberry sauce. There are sooooo many great ways to enjoy it!

Storing leftovers

  • Refrigerator. Let your cranberry sauce cool completely. Then, add it to an airtight container where it can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
  • Freezer. Once it is cooled, add it to an airtight container or a ziplock bag to be frozen. Lay flat if it is in a ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 1 month in the freezer. When reheating, your sauce will not be as thick with the added water from being frozen. You can thicken it up by simmering for a few extra minutes. Thaw in the refrigerator over night before warming it up.
  • Reheating.  When you are ready to warm sauce, simply reheat it over medium heat in a pot or small pan. Simmering the sauce will help thicken it back up from being frozen.
Spoon in a bowl of healthy cranberry sauce.

More Thanksgiving recipes

Here are some of our family favorite holiday recipes. Hope you get to try one or more of them!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

Fresh cranberry sauce in a white bowl with a spoon.
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Healthy Cranberry Sauce {no added sugar}

Yield: 12 servings (2 tablespoons each)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Give this Healthy Cranberry Sauce a try and you’ll never want to buy canned again! Homemade is SO much better and incredibly easy to make. It's packed with delicious fresh flavor and is the perfect blend of sweet and tart. All you need is 4 key ingredients and just 15 minutes!
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-10 oz) bag of fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest*
  • 1/3 cup stevia that measures like sugar**, (or sugar or brown sugar)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, (optional)

Instructions 

  • Combine cranberries, water, orange zest, and Stevia in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have popped and the mixture has thickened to your liking, about 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Use a fork or potato masher, if desired, to further mash up cranberries. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and cinnamon, if using.
  • The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. It will keep in the refrigerator in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

*How to zest an orange. I use a microplane grater which easily removes the zest. You could also use the fine holes of your box grater. If you want to simplify, skip the zest and stir in ¼ cup orange juice instead.
**You can replace the sugar/stevia with 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey.
Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats
Author: Kim
Course: sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 10kcal, Carbohydrates: 2.5g, Sodium: 0.4mg, Potassium: 15.8mg, Fiber: 0.8g, Sugar: 0.8g, Vitamin A: 5IU, Vitamin C: 3.8mg, Calcium: 14mg

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