For several years now, I've rocked out on Thanksgiving and Christmas with this amazing Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce recipe. It's truly delicious, AND not one person has known it was sugar-free and low-carb. Great with turkey or for a delicious appetizer and more! Let's get cooking.
This recipe is: Low Carb, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian and Vegan.
Table of Contents
5 Reasons to Make Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce:
- Amazingly balanced flavor profile for a tangy and rich cranberry sauce.
- Not just for turkey! Can be used on yogurt, pancakes or over cream cheese for an appetizer.
- It's simply beautiful. Just look at that bold color! It makes every tablescape just look better.
- This sugar free cranberry sauce is also low carb and could be keto in small enough portions.
- Super easy to make with under 10 minutes of cook time.
Is Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce Low Carb?
Absolutely. My low carb cranberry sauce has less than 1g net carbs per tablespoon serving... making this recipe a ketogenic cranberry sauce as well. Keep in mind that a traditional cranberry sauce typically has between 7-9g net carbs per tablespoon. My recipe shaves off almost 90% of the carbs! What a perfect way to enjoy the holidays!
Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce Ingredient List
- 3 cups fresh whole cranberries, rinsed
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup erythritol (granulated)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Ingredient Substitutes
- Erythritol: for this recipe, you can easily substitute granulated erythritol with granulated allulose, granulated xylitol or a granulated Monkfruit sweetener blend. Keep in mind that the sweetness varies from one sugar-free sweetener to the next, so you may need to adjust to your preference.
Additional Ingredients
- Orange zest: a little bit of freshly grated orange zest can really make the flavors of this low carb cranberry sauce pop. Keep in mind that a little does go a long way!
- Nutmeg: using a microplane, you can add a touch of nutmeg for that extra delicious flavor profile everyone loves during the holidays.
- Ground ginger: ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger gives the sugar free cranberry sauce a zesty kick in the pants.
Cooking Tools
To make this keto cranberry sauce recipe, you will need the following kitchen tools:
PLEASE NOTE: the links above are for either the exact or similar items that I use in my own kitchen.
How to make Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce: the Complete Cooking Guide
One of the things that I love about this sauce is just how quickly it comes together. It's ready in under 10 minutes, making this a really easy recipe to make at home.
Cooking Method:
- 30 minutes or less
Cooking Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, add in all the ingredients.
- Place on the stovetop over medium heat and gently bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Using a sauce whisk (or a fork works fine too), stir the cranberries until you hear them pop. At this point, start mashing the cranberries with the whisk or fork.
- Cook until the sauce has thickened and turned a deep red.
- Transfer the sugar free cranberry sauce from the saucepan to a serving dish. Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Enjoy!
Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan.
Step 2: Around 2 minutes into cooking, you will hear some light pops. That is the skin cracking like this.
Step 3: Use a sauce whisk to stir and mash the cranberries gently in the pan.
Step 4: Continue cooking until the sauce has thickened slightly and is a deep red.
Step 5: Ensure all the cranberries are mashed before transferring to a serving dish.
Step 6: Transfer the sugar free cranberry sauce to a serving dish. Enjoy!
💡 My Pro Tip
Cranberries are an interesting ingredient to use for any recipe. They are rarely used, so many people don't know what to do with them. Here are some pro tips on cooking with cranberries:
- Rinse them well in a bowl before cooking. Fill a bowl with water and place the cranberries in the bowl. Any cranberries that sink to the bottom should be discarded.
- When cranberries are heated, they make a popping noise. This is the cranberry's thick skin cracking as the cranberry's interior flesh expands.
- Cranberries have pectin, which is why the sauce thickens as it cools. There is no need to add any thickener to this sauce... the natural pectin that is released will make it very thick and rich.
I find that it is best to keep a wet rag near the cooktop when I'm cooking cranberries. The popping tends to send little red dots around my kitchen that are harder to clean up when they dry!
⏲️ Time-Saving Tips
- Make ahead: this low carb cranberry sauce is easy to make a day or two ahead of time. Keep in mind, however, that the erythritol may crystalize when the sauce is refrigerated. You can gently reheat the sauce in a saucepan and the crystals will disappear.
- Double the batch: if you are having a lot of people for Thanksgiving or Christmas, be sure to double the batch. This is great for leftovers as well!
What to serve with Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce:
This delicious cranberry sauce works great with turkey, chicken and pork... you'll love it paired with any of these low carb recipes:
- Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Baked Pork Tenderloin
- Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters
- Pork Medallions with Mustard Cream Sauce (early 2025 recipe!)
Storage and Reheating
When it comes to the holidays (and let's be real, this is most likely the only time we make this recipe!), leftovers are the name of the game. Let's see how to store this sauce to its full potential:
Storing Keto Cranberry Sauce:
- When the cranberry sauce has cooled to room temperature, either cover it with plastic wrap or add it to an airtight container. It will store in the fridge for up to a week or so. Keep in mind that the erythritol tends to crystalize when refrigerated. It's not a problem; just reheat as described below, and it disappears.
Reheating Tips:
- The best method to reheat this sugar free cranberry sauce is in a saucepan over medium-low heat on the stove. It only takes a minute and keeps the cranberry sauce free of any crystalized natural sweeteners.
Freezing Tips:
- Cranberry sauce freezes really well. Cool to room temperature and place in a freezer-safe container. Keep frozen for about 3-5 months without significant loss of quality.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight and either serve cold or gently reheat if the natural sweeteners have crystalized.
Recipe Conclusion
Other Low Carb and Keto Sauce Recipes You Will Love
Feeling saucy? Me too. I love making and adding sauces to various dishes... and here's a great list my sauce recipes to try:
FAQs
Yes. You can make sugar free cranberry sauce easily in your own kitchen with very few ingredients. You will need fresh cranberries, a natural sweetener, vanilla extract, cinnamon and water. Add everything to a saucepan and cook until thickened. Allow to cool and serve.
Yes, homemade cranberry sauce keeps very well in the refrigerator. Cranberries are naturally acidic, naturally inhibiting the growth of bacteria and other molds. Additionally, cranberries have a high level of pectin, which slows microbial growth too. Be sure to keep your homemade cranberry sauce in an airtight container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for the best results.
Cranberries have a very high pectin level. Pectin is a natural thickener. There should be no need to add flour or cornstarch to cranberry sauce. You can continue to reduce the sauce until it starts to thicken, and then remove it from the heat. As the sauce cools, the pectin activates and thickens the sauce naturally.
Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh whole cranberries rinsed
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup erythritol
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients.
- Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir occasionally, and as the cranberries begin to pop, mash them with a whisk or fork to break them down.
- Let the mixture cook until it thickens and turns a rich red color.
- Transfer the cranberry sauce to a dish and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving, allowing it to thicken further as it cools.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
