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    Home » Recipes » Condiments

    November 18, 2020 Condiments

    Healthy Cranberry Sauce

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more info.

    This healthy cranberry sauce recipe is incredibly easy to make using just 5 whole-food ingredients. It's naturally sweetened with maple syrup, making it a much healthier alternative to the store-bought variety.

    bowl of homemade cranberry sauce

    Cranberry sauce is best known for its sweet-tart flavor and is most commonly eaten at Thanksgiving. Unlike the majority of Thanksgiving foods, the cranberries' ruby red hue adds a splash of color to the plate.

    Homemade vs Store-Bought Cranberry Sauce

    If you live in the U.S., you know about the infamous canned cranberry sauce. Its weird gelatinous cylinder shape leaves you feeling like you're about to eat a science project.

    Store-bought cranberry sauce is anything but healthy. The ingredients on a popular brand of cranberry "sauce" are cranberries, high fructose corn syrup followed by more sugar making it a heavily processed, overly sweet, and nutrient-void condiment.

    Don't be fooled into thinking that all homemade cranberry sauce is automatically healthy though. Many recipes still call for heaps of sugar.

    This healthy cranberry sauce recipe uses a fraction of the sweetness yet still tastes incredible. Plus, it's so easy and quick to make that you have no excuse but to make your own!

    Fresh cranberries up close

    Ingredients

    • fresh cranberries - fresh are best, but frozen will work too (no need to thaw first)
    • maple syrup - adds unrefined, natural sweetness as well as antioxidants and minerals
    • fresh orange juice - helps to build the flavor and make it more dimensional
    • orange zest (optional) - adds brightness and helps balance the flavors
    • cinnamon sticks (optional) - more flavor, warmth, and spice
    • pinch of salt - balances out the sweetness

    How to Make Healthy Cranberry Sauce

    colander full of fresh cranberries

    Add your fresh cranberries to a colander, rinse well, and drain off any excess water. Sift through the cranberries, discarding any squishy berries.

    squishy fresh cranberries

    In a medium saucepan, you'll bring the fresh cranberries, maple syrup, and orange juice to a boil over medium-high heat.

    Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the cinnamon stick, salt, and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until the cranberries have popped open and the sauce has thickened.

    The whole process takes about 8-10 minutes.

    Now you'll never buy the cranberry space tube again. Homemade healthy cranberry sauce for the win!

    Make It Your Way: Ingredient Substitutions

    Please remember that recipes are meant to be used as guides.

    How can you make this healthy cranberry sauce using what you already have? Here are some ideas…

    • No fresh cranberries? ➝ You can also use frozen, but you may need to simmer the sauce for an extra 1-2 minutes since they release more liquid when cooking.
    • No maple syrup? ➝ Feel free to use honey.
    • No orange juice? ➝ Apple juice or apple cider also works well.
    • No cinnamon stick? ➝ You can either use ground cinnamon (¼ tsp) or leave it out completely.
    • No oranges to zest? ➝ Just leave it out.

    How to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce

    • Add to a parfait with granola and yogurt
    • Put on crackers with cheese (it pairs really nicely with this cashew ricotta or vegan mozzarella).
    • Spread it on toast with homemade cashew butter for a seasonal spin on a classic sandwich.

    Helpful Recipe Tips

    Removing the Zest

    The easiest way to remove the zest is by using a Microplane grater. Make sure to zest the orange before you cut it if using orange juice. It’s much easier to get the zest when the fruit is whole.

    Using an organic orange is ideal, but if you can't, that's okay too. Just make sure to wash your orange really well.

    Storage, Freezing, & Making Cranberry Sauce Ahead of Time

    • Make it ahead. If you're making this healthy cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or Christmas and you have a million other things to do, you can make this sauce ahead of time.
    • Store. Once it has cooled down, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 10-14 days.
    • Freeze. Interested in freezing cranberry sauce? It'll last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest

    More Fall Recipes You'll Love

    • Maple and Miso Roasted Carrots
    • Easy Massaged Kale Salad
    • 1-Pot Dairy-Free Butternut Squash Risotto
    bowl of homemade cranberry sauce
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Healthy Cranberry Sauce

    A homemade cranberry sauce with a healthier spin on a seasonal condiment. It only take 10 minutes to make plus it's so easy that you'll never buy that weird store-bought cranberry sauce again.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Servings: 2 cups
    Author: Lindsey Jenkins

    Ingredients

    • 1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup orange juice
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest (preferably organic, optional)
    • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan, bring the fresh cranberries, maple syrup, and orange juice to a boil over medium-high heat.
    • Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, add the cinnamon stick, pinch of salt, and continue to simmer.
    • Stir occasionally until the cranberries have popped open and the sauce has thickened. This takes about 8-10 minutes.
    • Remove from the heat, stir in the zest (if using) and chill until ready to use.

    Notes

    • This recipe makes about 2 cups of cranberry sauce.
    • Use within 10-14 days.

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    Hi, I'm Lindsey. My goal is to teach you how to become a better cook, rely less on recipes, and be more adaptable in the kitchen depending on what's in season, in your pantry, or to fit your dietary needs. All recipes are dairy-free but come with a "make it your way" substitution section to get you started.

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