• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

What Molly Made

Eat to Feel Good

  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Recipes
    • 14 DAY MEAL PLAN
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Special Diet
      • Gluten Free Recipes
      • Dairy Free Recipes
      • Keto
      • Whole30 Recipes
      • Paleo Recipes
      • Refined Sugar Free Recipes
      • Vegetarian Recipes
      • Vegan Recipes
    • Christmas Recipes
    • Healthy Desserts
      • Healthy Cookies
      • Healthy Cakes, Pies & Tarts
      • Healthy Brownies & Bars
      • Healthy Bread & Muffins
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers & Snacks
  • PCOS
    • PCOS Recipes
    • PCOS Lifestyle
    • FREE PCOS Email Course
  • Shop
    • Whole and Healthy Meal Plan
    • Complete 4 Week Meal Plan
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Life
    • Travel
    • Home and Decor
  • Resources
    • Income Report
    • Email Course for Food Bloggers
    • The Pinning Academy

Home » Recipes » Healthy Cranberry Sauce [Naturally Sweetened | 15 Minutes!]

Healthy Cranberry Sauce [Naturally Sweetened | 15 Minutes!]

November 9, 2020 By Molly Thompson 1 Comment

Dairy Free RecipesDF
Gluten Free RecipesGF
Paleo RecipesP
Refined Sugar FreeSF
Vegan RecipesVg
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This healthy cranberry sauce takes 15 minutes to make and is naturally sweetened! Use fresh cranberries and orange juice for a lower sugar side made for any fall menu.

healthy cranberry sauce in a white bowl with orange zest on top

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)
cranberry sauce in a white dish on a white plate surrounded by fresh cranberries

Ingredients for cranberry sauce:

  • 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 cranberry sauce:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

How do you thicken cranberry sauce? 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 cranberry sauce 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.

low sugar cranberry sauce sweetened with maple syrup in a serving bowl with an orange garnish

Can cranberry sauce be made 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 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
simple cranberry sauce recipe in a white bowl ready to be served at thanksgiving

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:

  • Easy Thanksgiving Dinner on 2 Sheet Pans [Video]
  • Simple Herb Sourdough Stuffing
  • Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Squash [Oven and Air Fryer]
  • Healthy Sourdough Buns [Minimal Kneading!]
healthy cranberry sauce recipe in a white serving dish with orange zest on top

Healthy Cranberry Sauce

5 from 1 vote
This healthy cranberry sauce takes 15 minutes to make and is naturally sweetened! Use fresh cranberries and orange juice for a low sugar side made for any fall menu.
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Servings: 6 people
Author: Molly Thompson

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.

Notes

Double for a large crowd or if you want leftovers!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 4.9mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 38g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @What_mollymade or tag #WhatMollyMade so I can see it and feature you!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Previous Post: « Gluten Free Apple Pie with the Best Gooey Filling
Next Post: Soft Pull-Apart Sourdough Rolls [2 hours] »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chelsea says

    November 29, 2020 at 10:13 am

    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!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

I'm so glad you're here! My hope is that the recipes I share make your lives a little easier and healthier. I'm so happy you're here!

Recipe Key:

Dairy FreeDF
Gluten-FreeGF
Low CarbLC
PaleoP
Refined Sugar FreeSF
VeganVg
VegetarianV
Whole30W

Search What Molly Made

Healthy Dinner Ideas:

overhead shot of air fryer stuffed peppers topped with melted cheddar cheese and chopped parsley

Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

easy chicken pad thai recipe topped with green onion, cilantro and lime wedges in a shallow white bowl

30 Minute Chicken Pad Thai

crispy cauliflower gnocchi in a white dish tossed with fresh basil pesto

Homemade Cauliflower Gnocchi [Gluten Free | Whole30]

crispy golden brown air fryer shrimp being dipped into a spicy remoulade sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Shrimp [Gluten Free Option]

Footer

Stay Connected

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 · Privacy Policy