Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce (5 Ingredients)

Sugar free cranberry sauce is SO GOOD! It’s made with just 5 ingredients and cooks in under 20 minutes. This healthy homemade cranberry sauce is gluten free, sugar free, low carb, and vegan, making it one of the best holiday side dishes that everyone can enjoy.

Cranberry sauce is one of those quintessential fall recipes. It’s a little sweet, a little tart, and usually served at holiday meals. My family usually serves the canned, jellied cranberry sauce, but this year I’m taking over and making it from scratch!

It may sound intimidating to make homemade cranberry sauce, but it really could not be simpler. You just need 5 ingredients and about 20 minutes to make it! See, I told you it was easy!

This recipe for sugar free cranberry sauce is made with fresh cranberries, whole cinnamon sticks, monk fruit to keep it sugar free, and orange zest for a little hint of brightness. Make a simple syrup, add in the fresh cranberries, and let them boil until they burst. Then just let it cool in the fridge and boom- homemade, healthy cranberry sauce!

It’s great to serve on holidays alongside a roast turkey or chicken as well as other traditional sides like mashed potatoes, cornbread, and green beans. However, you don’t have to save this healthy sauce just for holidays, make it all fall for an easy side that the entire family will LOVE.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS HEALTHY CRANBERRY SAUCE

• It’s entirely sugar free
• Gluten free, dairy free, and vegan as well!
• You only need 5 ingredients
• It takes 15 minutes to cook
• Great to make ahead of time for busy holidays
• Can be made with fresh or frozen cranberries

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE SUGAR FREE CRANBERRY SAUCE

• Water: This makes up the base of the sugar free simple syrup the cranberries are cooked in
• Monk Fruit: My favorite brands are Whole Earth and Lakanto
• Cinnamon sticks: The cinnamon sticks are an important flavor additive to give this healthy sauce warm, cozy flavors
• Orange zest: A little brightness to contrast the sweetness and add freshness
• Fresh cranberries: Both fresh and frozen cranberries will work in this recipe

HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY SAUCE WITHOUT SUGAR

1. To a medium sized pot, add water, monk fruit, cinnamon stick, and orange zest.
2. Bring the pot to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the monk fruit is dissolved
3. Once the monk fruit is dissolved add in the cranberries and turn the heat down to low. 
4. Stir and simmer the cranberries until they’ve all burst and the sauce starts to thicken. This takes about 10-15 minutes.
5. When the cranberry sauce is done cooking and looks thick and chunky, turn the heat off and pour it out into a heat-proof bowl. Remove the cinnamon stick and let the sugar free cranberry sauce come to room temperature.
6. Once the sauce has cooled and come to room temperature, place it in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.

EXPERT TIPS

• Use frozen cranberries if you can’t find fresh ones
• When zesting the orange be sure to just get the peel, the white part is call pith and will add bitterness
• You can “mash” the cranberries with a wooden spoon to help them along in the bursting process
• For best results, let it cool completely before serving
• Make this homemade cranberry sauce up to 2 days ahead to save time during the holidays
• Substitute the monk fruit with any 1:1 sugar free replacement

FAQs

Should I serve homemade cranberry sauce hot or cold?

Typically it’s served cold or at room temperature. As it sits in the fridge the sauce will thicken and the flavors will develop more.

If you prefer, you can serve it warm, but I don’t recommend serving it piping hot because the cranberries will be like little fire balls.

Will the sauce thicken if I use a different sugar free sweetener?

Absolutely! Though the sugar does help to thicken it, the cranberries have a natural pectin that will release as they’re cooked which will thicken as well.

Can I use frozen cranberries?

You sure can! Both fresh and frozen will work in my recipe for cranberry sauce without sugar.

Am I able to freeze cranberry sauce without sugar?

You can freeze it! Make sure it is completely cooled before placing it into an air-tight container or freezer plastic bag. Remove as much air as you can, then put it in the freezer. Cranberry sauce will last up to 2 months, and when you’re ready to serve it, pull it out of the freezer the night before and let it defrost in the fridge.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

Substitutions:

• Monk fruit: Use any 1:1 sugar free sweetener like Erythritol or Stevia
• Orange: You could substitute with lime or lemon

Variations:

• Use half orange juice and half water for a more prominent orange flavor
• Add a pinch of black pepper
• Use 3/4 Cup water and 3/4 cup monk fruit instead of a full cup of each for a more tart cranberry sauce recipe
• Use 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon in place of the cinnamon stick

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Traditionally, cranberry sauce is served at holiday meals alongside dishes such as turkey, chicken, and mashed potatoes.

It would also be delicious alongside some cornbread or as a cake or cupcake filling!

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER SUGAR FREE CRANBERRY SAUCE

In the fridge:

Store fully cooled leftover int the fridge in an airtight container. For best results, try and remove as much air as you can from the container. It will last 7-10 days.

In the freezer:

Homemade cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time and be stored in the freezer up to 2 months. Place fully-cooled cranberry sauce into an airtight container or freezer safe plastic bag and pop it into the freezer. It will stay fresh up to 2 months, and when you’re ready to serve it, pull the container out of the freezer and allow to thaw in the fridge overnight.

RELATED RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Did you make this recipe?

If so, I would GREATLY appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below! In addition, you can follow me on Instagram and use #incoleskitchen so I can see what you made and share it!

Print

CHECK OUT MY LATEST RECIPES