Healthy Cranberry Sauce Recipe (2024)

5-Ingredient Healthy Cranberry Sauce that tastes perfectly sweet with just the right amount of tart. This recipe is naturally sweetened with dates and fresh orange juice. Cranberries are so good for you. Let's keep them that way with this lower-sugar recipe.

Finally, a homemade cranberry sauce recipe that you can feel good about eating! Commercial cranberry sauces are typically high in refined sugar, and traditional homemade recipes include sugar as a key ingredient to balance the tartness of the cranberries, sometimes as much as 1 to 2 cups of sugar per 12-ounce bag of cranberries!

However, this healthy homemade version is much lower in sugar and is naturally sweetened, yet still delicious and very flavorful. There's no refined sugar, no maple syrup, no honey, and no high-fructose corn syrup. Plus, this recipe keeps for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, and the leftovers are delicious with oatmeal, or can be used to make chia seed jam!

Make this quick and easy recipe ahead of time for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Serve with my tried-and-true gluten-free Tofu Turkey or my seitan-based Vegan Turkey recipe.

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

• Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• Pitted Deglet Noor dates are my preferred choice of sweetener as they are lower in sugar and the sauce does not end up tasting like dates as they have a caramel-like flavor. Dates also add gut-healthy fiber to this healthy recipe.
• Fresh orange juice adds a delicate sweetness and an orange flavor that complements the cranberries and dates.
• Cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon
• Whole or ground cloves

See the recipe card for quantities.

🍊 Substitutions

• Cranberries - use fresh or frozen
• Dates - Pitted Deglet Noor dates have a honey flavor and the best consistency for making healthy cranberry sauce, but you can use Medjool dates instead.
• Orange - Use Valencia, Navels, or Minneola Tangelos for the best-tasting healthy cranberry sauce. Add a dash of orange zest for a bright and citrusy tang.
• Cloves - use whole cloves or a pinch of ground cloves
• Cinnamon - use ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick

See my easy 6-ingredient Vegan Gravy. It takes 5 minutes to make and is gluten-free.

📖 How to Make Healthy Cranberry Sauce

See the recipe card below for quantities.

Step 1. Soak the dates in hot water for 10 minutes beforehand.

Step 2. Blend the dates:Transfer the dates to the canister of a blender. Add the orange juice and one-half cup of water. Blend until smooth.

Step 3. Combine:Transfer the cranberries, blended dates, orange juice, cloves, cinnamon, and ¼ cup water to a small saucepan.

Step 4. Bring the reduced-sugar cranberry mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

See Also

A history of the Clootie Dumpling, including a recipe for making your own | Scotsman Food and DrinkHomemade Elderberry Gummies Recipe - Paintbrushes & PopsiclesRoast duck and baked quince: Nigel Slater’s recipes for festive gatheringsEASY Peanut Butter Sauce Recipe (4 Ingredients and 5 minutes!)

Step 5. Simmer covered: Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the cranberries burst and the mixture starts to thicken.

Step 6. Stir occasionally and add more water, one tablespoon at a time, as needed.

💡 Expert Tips

• Choose sweet and juicy oranges for the best-tasting, naturally-sweetened, healthy cranberry sauce.
• For garnishing: Use a microplane to add a dash of orange zest for a bright and citrusy tang.
• Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Or freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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📖 Recipe

Vegan Side Dish Recipes