I’ve always thought that homemade versions of traditional foods taste better than store-bought versions. Cranberry sauce is a good example of this. Although I loved canned cranberry sauce I always ate it at Thanksgiving when I was little, after trying to make cranberry sauce from scratch for a year I was hooked.
Now I have a whole list of healthy Christmas and Thanksgiving recipes. These reinvented recipes contain whole food ingredients, less preparation, and much less sugar. You won’t even miss the canned goods!
Best Cranberry Sauce (Naturally Sweetened)
Most homemade cranberry recipes call for a lot of sugar… enough that I would classify cranberry sauce as a dessert and not a Thanksgiving side dish!
For those who haven’t tried them, ordinary cranberries are very decorative. I wasn’t sure how much it would be possible to reduce the white sugar and still have a delicious sauce. I didn’t have to worry, because unrefined natural sweeteners (honey) and sweet applesauce fill in the blanks.
This food still has more natural sugar than we normally eat. However, it is a much healthier option than those with refined sugar and is a delicious treat for Thanksgiving dinner.
How to Make an Easy Cranberry Recipe
Just mix the ingredients together and cook until thick. It’s really easy! I add the orange zest later in the recipe so that the flavoring oils don’t overpower it. Many sauces call for thickeners such as corn or flour. However, fresh cranberries contain natural pectin that breaks down during cooking.
Apple juice and syrup add natural sweetness so you don’t need brown sugar or other unhealthy sweeteners. I like this recipe, but you can also add a cinnamon stick or two for extra flavor.
Homemade cranberry sauce also makes a perfect make-ahead dish. Make it a day or two before the big day and store in the fridge. I’m all for good (but still healthy!) holiday meals. And if you make a big batch and have leftovers there are lots of delicious ways to use them up (see recipe ideas below).
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, also check out the healthy options for green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, butternut squash soup, and root vegetables.
Cranberry sauce recipe
A homemade substitute for store-bought cranberry sauce with sweet hints of pineapple and orange to complement the flavor!
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Place the carrots, pineapple or orange juice, apples, and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
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Reduce the heat to medium and stir constantly until the curds begin to pop (about 10-15 minutes).
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Reduce the heat and add the fresh lemon juice and orange zest to the cranberry mixture.
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Cook for another 10-15 minutes and remove from heat.
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Let sauce cool to room temperature and store in refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Nutrition Facts
Cranberry sauce recipe
Amount per serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 86
Calories from Fat 1
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.15g0%
Saturated fat 0.01g0%
Monounsaturated fat 0.02g
Sodium 3 mg0%
Potassium 139 mg4%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 93IU2%
Vitamin C 23 mg28%
Calcium 17 mg2%
Iron 1 mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
- This is not as sweet as the store bought versions! Taste at the end of cooking. It is naturally sweeter than fruit juice and applesauce but you can add more honey or stevia to taste if needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce
Maybe you don’t have any fresh cranberry sauce after you eat your Thanksgiving turkey. If you do, here are some ways to get your balance back.
Do you eat cranberry sauce? What foods do you always have at Thanksgiving? Share it below!