Healthy cranberry sauce refined sugar free, fresh with whole cranberries. This homemade cranberry sauce is ready in less than 15 minutes without overwhelming orange flavor and with a special kick.
Try this pumpkin jam as well, so flavorful and delicious.
This sugar free cranberry sauce is the best to go with your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey. It is healthier with no refined sugars and it is mildly sweet to accompany your dinner.
Cranberries are not famous at all in Egypt, but I've had the pleasure to taste cranberry sauce many years ago at a friendsgiving gathering.
Why This Recipe Works
I like the tartness that cranberries provide to dishes and I like using it instead of raisins in many sweet and salty recipes. Cranberry sauces are too sweet and we felt they can be classified as a dessert.
I wanted a sauce that is not too sweet and yet has a different Mediterranean kick to it. Honey has an amazing wide range of flavors that will work and blend well with this recipe. Using orange blossom water to perfume the sauce was a wonderful addition that added citrus floral notes without being overwhelming.
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Honey is used to sweeten the mixture, I prefer honey for its wide range of flavors. For a vegan recipe use real maple syrup instead.
- Cinnamon is optional but highly recommended.
- Orange blossom water is my take for perfuming this sauce.
Recipe Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a sauce pan, add fresh cranberries and water.
- Stir in honey and turn on heat to medium.
- Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until the berries are all popped.
- Take out of heat. Stir in orange blossom water and cinnamon if using.
Recipe FAQs
In the party that I was invited to, it was served room temperature. So I guess it is your call. You can serve it chilled or room temperature.
Canned or homemade cranberry sauce should stay good in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. It is recommended though that you do not leave it out of the fridge at all.
Yes, you can definitely freeze cranberry sauce for up to 2 months. The texture might change a bit but it will still be good to eat.
What is cranberry sauce used for?
Usually cranberry sauce is used as a condiment for turkey in Thanksgiving. But seriously you can use it a variety of ways like:
- Topping for pancakes, waffle and ice cream.
- Make cranberry brie grilled cheese sandwich.
- Top a slice of toast with sour cream and a tablespoon of the sauce, my fav. pictured above.
- Bake oatmeal bars, muffins, coffee cakes or top mini cheesecakes.
- Make a cranberry mojito mocktail by adding it to the bottom of the glass.
Sauces To Enjoy
If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you. If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.
Healthier cranberry sauce
Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries washed and drained.
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup water
- 1-2 teaspoon orange blossom water.
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional.
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the cranberries, honey and water. Mix well to combine.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat stirring every now and then, simmer for 7-10 minutes until all cranberries have popped and the sauce thickened to your satisfaction.
- Take the pot off heat and add in the orange blossom water and cinnamon if desired.
Notes
- If this is your first experience with orange blossom water or if you are using a brand that is new to you, you may wanna start by adding 1/2 teaspoon, taste then add more until you reach your perfection.
- Ways to serve cranberry sauce other than with your Thanksgiving turkey
- Topping for pancakes, waffle and ice cream.
- Make cranberry brie grilled cheese sandwich.
- Top a slice of toast with sour cream and a tablespoon of the sauce, my fav. pictured above.
- Bake oatmeal bars, muffins, coffee cakes or top mini cheesecakes.
- Make a cranberry mojito mocktail by adding it to the bottom of the glass.
Nutrition
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First published Nov 8, 2018. Last updated October 12, 2020 for better images, step by step instructions and readability.
Mmm, it's cranberry season! This sauce looks terrific -- tons of flavor. Thanks!
I love your fresh and classy cranberry sauce made without the addition of refined sugar! So flavourful! Thank you once again for an amazing recipe- I'll be sharing it with friends and family members!
Thank you so much Colleen.