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Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a healthy recipe that has hints of pineapple and citrus. It has no sugar and is optionally sweetened with honey.
  • Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (Low Sugar)

Katie WellsNov 26, 2019
Reading Time: 2 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes » Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe (Low Sugar)
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  • Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce
  • Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I’ve always thought that homemade versions of classic recipes taste much better than store-bought versions, and cranberry sauce is a perfect example of this. Although I loved the canned jellied cranberry sauce that we always ate on Thanksgiving when I was young, after I tried making cranberry sauce from scratch one year, I was hooked.

Now I have a whole list of re-invented, healthier recipes for the holidays, most of which call for real food ingredients, little prep, and a lot less sugar.

Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce

Most homemade cranberry sauce recipes call for a lot of sugar… enough that I’d classify cranberry sauce a dessert and not a side dish!

For those who haven’t tried them, plain cranberries are very tart, so I wasn’t sure how much it would be possible to reduce the sugar and still have an enjoyable sauce. I shouldn’t have worried, because unrefined natural sweeteners (honey) and delicious applesauce filled in the gaps.

healthy cranberry sauce recipe

This recipe still has more natural sugars than we normally eat, but is a much healthier option than the ones that actually contain refined sugar and is a delicious treat for Thanksgiving dinner.

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, also check out my healthy versions of green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, butternut squash soup, and root vegetable stuffing.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a healthy recipe that has hints of pineapple and citrus. It has no sugar and is optionally sweetened with honey.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Katie Wells
A homemade alternative to store-bought cranberry sauce with delicious hints of pineapple and orange to complement the flavor!
3.94 from 58 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 4 hrs 30 mins
Course Side
Cuisine Thanksgiving
Servings 4 cups
Calories 98 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 24 oz fresh cranberries
  • ¾ cup pineapple juice or orange juice
  • ½ cup no sugar added applesauce
  • ½ cup water
  • juice and zest of one orange
  • 3-4 TBSP  honey or to taste optional

Instructions
 

  • Put cranberries, pineapple juice, applesauce and water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce to medium heat and stir constantly until the cranberries start to explode (about 10-15 minutes).
  • Reduce to a simmer and add the juice and zest to the cranberry mixture.
  • Simmer 10-15 minutes and remove from heat.
  • Cool completely and store in fridge at least 4 hours but preferably overnight before serving.

Notes

This is not as sweet as store-bought versions! Taste at the end of cooking. It is naturally sweet from the fruit juice and applesauce but you can add more honey or stevia to taste if needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 cupCalories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 21.2gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSodium: 2mgFiber: 3.7gSugar: 14.9g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Do you eat cranberry sauce? What foods do you always have at Thanksgiving? Share below!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a healthy recipe that has hints of pineapple and citrus. It has no sugar and is optionally sweetened with honey.

Category: Recipes, Side Dish Recipes

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (75 Comments)

  1. Grace

    November 13, 2014 at 12:26 AM

    5 stars
    This cranberry recipe sounds delicious. I usually buy extra fresh cranberries at Thanksgiving and freeze them . Then I can make this recipe anytime of year. My question is, can I use Stevia instead of honey?

    Reply
  2. Heim

    October 23, 2014 at 10:25 PM

    I eat turkey all year ’round and enjoy cranberry sauce with it. Recently I’ve begged the supermarket to get organic or other cranberry sauce without high fructose corn syrup which is so unhealthy and seems to be in all prepared brands. I read all labels and refuse to ingest that dangerous sugar substitute.
    Dole made some in a box (!) with just sugar…now I can’t even get that. Guess I’ll have to make my own from some of your great recipes. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Robin Soares

    November 29, 2013 at 12:31 AM

    Turned out great! Yum!

    Reply
  4. Dee Jackson

    November 25, 2013 at 10:12 AM

    An interesting recipe!

    Reply
  5. Natasha Field

    November 25, 2013 at 4:17 AM

    this is an awesome alternative to homemade cranberry sauce.. I’m a cranberry addict 🙂

    Reply
  6. Kathleen H

    November 24, 2013 at 9:34 AM

    I always make my own cranberry sauce,usually with a hint of orange, but pear is good too:) I like roasted root veggies,, and my children love mashed potatoes, and apple sausage stuffing. I love the idea of butternut squash soup as a starter, and your cranberry sauce is much healthier than the one I usually make, so thanks a bunch for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Myrt Geoghegan

    November 14, 2013 at 6:35 PM

    Looks great! I will use maple syrup to keep it vegan! Yay! Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Lindsay Herfst

    October 2, 2013 at 6:10 AM

    Can this recipe be canned in a hot water bath? I am thinking of doubling the recipe and gifting it.

    Reply
    • Katherine Durham

      November 26, 2017 at 7:19 PM

      I’ll let you know in a few days 🙂 After years of making two cranberry sauces, one with all the sugar and one with sugar substitutes plus some thickener for my diabetic cousin, this recipe passed all the hurdles for everyone, though some would like it sweeter next year. My cousin loved it as is, so I will be replacing this recipe for the prior I used for his Christmas present: twelve jars of cranberry sauce that he loves on toast a couple of times a week. I will add a spoonful of lemon juice to the top of each jar for a little insurance, may or may not be needed.

      Reply
  9. Jess

    May 26, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    What can be used instead of applesauce? I’m allergic.

    Reply
    • Kathi

      November 24, 2015 at 3:35 PM

      Try pear sauce instead – I often substitute pear sauce if I don’t have any applesauce ready. Don’t have any… dice up some pears (peel if you prefer it smoother) and place in a saucepan. Add a tablespoon or two of water and heat on top of the stove for about 30-45 minutes (all you are doing is letting the water content cook off until it is thicker). Keep your heat around med low (just so the sauce stays at a slow boil so the water can cook off). When the fruit and water has cooked down, turn it off and let it cool if you like fruit sauces with soft chunks. If you prefer it smooth, use a food processor, blender etc. and whirl it up until you lose all the chunks. You can make fruit sauce with almost any kind of fruit like this. It’s a great replacement too for store bought jams, jellies etc. As long as you are in the kitchen, place some on the stove and let it cook. I usually stir a couple of times just to make sure it doesn’t scorch on the bottom. If it’s sticking too much, your heat is too high.

      Reply
  10. Corey Clifford

    November 22, 2012 at 7:00 PM

    The juice has sugar in it.

    Reply
    • jm

      December 18, 2013 at 8:35 PM

      true story. So does the honey!

      Reply
    • Rhea

      November 26, 2014 at 4:07 PM

      You can get pineapple juice canned in its own juice, no sugar.

      Reply
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