This healthy cranberry sauce takes 15 minutes to make and is great to make ahead of time! It's bursting with fresh cranberries and orange juice and is naturally sweetened for a lower sugar side made for any fall menu.
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Is homemade cranberry sauce healthy?
Traditionally, homemade cranberry sauce is made with about 1 cup of granulated sugar. By most people's standards, that wouldn't be considered "healthy" although I do think homemade is a better (less processed) option in general.
Today, I'm sharing a healthy cranberry sauce option with you, naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup. No refined sugars here!
What makes this healthy cranberry sauce so good
- Fast: It only takes 15 minutes on the stove!
- Easy: minimal, simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store
- Healthy: naturally sweetened with maple syrup (refined sugar free)
5 simple ingredients
- Fresh cranberries
- Pure maple syrup (you could also use honey or coconut sugar)
- Water
- 1 orange (juice and zest)
- Pure vanilla extract
How to make healthy cranberry sauce
- Add cranberries, maple syrup, water and orange juice to a large saucepan. Mix and bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Carefully taste the sauce and add additional sweetener or orange juice as desired. The longer it cools the thicker it will get.
What if my cranberry sauce is too runny? If you don't think you're cranberry sauce is as thick as you want, allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes longer. The longer the liquid cooks off, the thicker it will be. Storing it in the fridge and allowing it to chill will also make it thicker.
Is it served hot or cold?
The best way to serve cranberry sauce is cold or at room temperature. When you're serving it as a Thanksgiving side, I like it cold because it gives a nice contrast to the warm dishes on your plate.
How to make it in advance
Yes, you absolutely can make this recipe in advance, In fact, I find it's better on day 2 or 3! If you want to get ahead of the game for Thanksgiving, this is the first recipe that should be on your list.
What to do with leftover healthy cranberry sauce
- Swirl in overnight oats (instead berries)
- Scoop on top of banana baked oatmeal
- Put on top of leftover turkey sliders
- Top your yogurt with cranberry sauce and granola
- On a piece of sourdough toast
- On a vegan biscuit
- Spread onto cornbread muffins
- Swirled into healthy muffins
- Slow cooked with mini meatballs
- Served on a crostini with goat cheese
If you love this recipe as much as I do, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with @what_mollymade so I can see it and feature you.
More healthy Thanksgiving sides:
Recipe
Healthy Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- Juice from 1 large navel orange about 1/4 cup
- Zest from 1 orange
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Add cranberries maple syrup, water and
Instructions
- Add the whole cranberries, maple syrup, water and orange juice to a large saucepan. Mix quickly with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook longer if you want the sauce to reduce and thicken more.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the orange zest and vanilla extract. Carefully taste the sauce and add additional sweetener or orange juice as desired. It’s supposed to be tart.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
Chelsea says
My family loved this cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving! It’s more on the tangy side and the orange flavor comes through a little. After tasting, I did add a bit more maple syrup, but it was perfect!!