I’ve always thought that homemade classic recipes taste so much better than store-bought ones. Cranberry sauce is a perfect example of this. I loved the canned cranberry sauce I always ate at Thanksgiving when I was a kid, but one year I tried making cranberry sauce from scratch and I was hooked.
Now I have a whole list of healthy Christmas and Thanksgiving recipes. This new, reimagined recipe uses whole food ingredients, little preparation, and much less sugar. Don’t miss out on the canned food!
Best Cranberry Sauce (Natural Sweetener)
Most homemade cranberry sauce recipes call for a lot of sugar. Enough to classify cranberry sauce as a dessert rather than a Thanksgiving side dish!
For those of you who haven’t tried them yet, regular cranberries are very tart. I wasn’t sure how possible it would be to reduce the white sugar and still have an enjoyable sauce. There was no need to worry because unrefined natural sweetener (honey) and delicious applesauce filled the void.
This recipe contains more natural sugars than we typically eat. But they’re much healthier than those with added refined sugars, and they make a delicious Thanksgiving dinner treat.
How to Make Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Add the ingredients together and cook until thickened. It’s really simple! Add the orange zest later in the recipe to keep the flavorful volatile oils from breaking down too much. Many sauces require a thickening agent such as cornstarch or flour. However, fresh cranberries contain natural pectin, which breaks down when cooked.
Juice and applesauce add natural sweetness, eliminating the need for brown sugar or other unhealthy sweeteners. I love this recipe as is, but you could also add a cinnamon stick or two for more flavor.
Homemade cranberry sauce also makes a perfect make-ahead dish. Make it a day or two before the big day and store it in the refrigerator. I prefer easier (but still healthy!) holiday meals. And if you make a big batch and have leftovers, there are lots of delicious ways to use them (see recipes below for ideas).
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, check out my healthy versions of Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole, Butternut Squash Soup, and Root Vegetable Stuffing.
Cranberry Sauce Recipe
This homemade alternative to store-bought cranberry sauce adds the flavor of pineapple and orange to make the flavor stand out even more!
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Combine cranberries, pineapple or orange juice, applesauce, and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
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Reduce heat to medium and continue to stir until cranberries begin to explode (about 10-15 minutes).
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Reduce heat to low and add fresh orange juice and orange zest to cranberry mixture.
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Boil for another 10-15 minutes and then turn off the heat.
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Let the sauce cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Take it overnight, if possible.
Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Amount per serving (0.5 cup)
calorie 86
calories from fat 1
% Daily Value*
province 0.15g0%
Saturated fat 0.01g0%
Monounsaturated fat 0.02g
sodium 3 mg0%
potassium 139mg4%
carbohydrate 23g8%
3g fiber13%
15g sugar17%
protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 93IU2%
Vitamin C 23mg28%
calcium 17mg2%
steel 1mg6%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
- This is not as sweet as the store bought version! Taste it after cooking. It’s naturally sweet from the fruit juice and applesauce, but you can add more honey or stevia if needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce
You might not have any fresh cranberry sauce left after eating it with your Thanksgiving turkey. But if you do, here are a few ways to recycle your leftovers.
Do you eat cranberry sauce? What food do you always eat on Thanksgiving? Share below!
