Healthy Cranberry Sauce

It’s time to ditch the canned stuff! This homemade healthy cranberry sauce is made with fresh cranberries and orange juice and sweetened naturally with only maple syrup. Ready in 10 minutes, it’s the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving menu!

Sometimes I feel like cranberry sauce is the ugly stepchild of the Thanksgiving table. It kind of gets the shaft compared to the pecan pie or stuffing.

Whenever anyone hears ‘cranberry sauce,’ their mind immediately goes to the canned stuff. You know what I’m talking about. The kind that holds the shape of the can, even when it’s been sliced and plated on the table.

I promise. This healthy cranberry sauce is nothing like the sugary, jelly, canned kind. I stayed farrrrrrr away from the cranberry sauce on the table until I tried the homemade stuff.

I developed a LOVE for cranberry sauce after making my own. It may even beat out gravy on my Thanksgiving plate. Now, my family makes this recipe every year.

This healthy cranberry sauce is made with just five ingredients, naturally sweetened only with maple, and is ready in ten minutes. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart, bursting with fresh cranberries.

Give cranberry sauce a second chance and try making your own this year. I think you’ll fall in love with it just like I did!

What makes this cranberry sauce healthy?

Store bought cranberry sauce is typically made with cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, water, and corn syrup.

I’ve cut the high fructose corn syrup and replaced it with a natural sweetener: maple syrup! I’ve also added orange juice and orange zests, which provides some sweetness and helps cut the tartness of the cranberries.

My secret ingredient in this cranberry sauce is fresh thyme. The addition of the more savory herbs pairs perfectly with the sweet and tart flavors of typical cranberry sauce.

This healthy cranberry sauce is made with:

• Cranberries
• Maple Syrup
• Vanilla Extra
• Orange Juice
• Orange Zest
• Fresh Thyme

How to make healthy cranberry sauce

All you need to make your own cranberry sauce is one pot and about ten minutes.

Step 1: Add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until boiling.

Step 2: Once boiling, reduce heat and allow the cranberries to burst open. This should take about ten minutes.

Step 3: Once the cranberries have burst open, use a fork or a potato mashed to smash down the cranberries.

Step 4: Heat on low until cranberry sauce has thickened. Once thickened, turn off heat and let cool.

Can cranberry sauce be made ahead of time?

Yes! This cranberry sauce can be prepared up to three days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Feel free to serve at room temperature, or warm up slightly on the stove.

It also freezes well if you have any leftovers!

How to use your cranberry sauce

My favorite thing about making my own cranberry sauce has been discovering so many DELICIOUS ways to use it. Do NOT limit yourself to just eating cranberry sauce on your Thanksgiving plate.

Some of my favorite ways to eat cranberry sauce are:

• Mixed into oatmeal
• Mixed into yogurt
• On top of pancakes/waffles
• On toast (sort of like jelly)
• As a spread on a turkey sandwich

There are SO many good options. Definitely let me know your favorite ways to eat your leftover cranberry sauce!

Here are some other similar recipes that you may also like!

• Healthier apple sausage stuffing
• Healthy apple crisp
• Paleo pumpkin pie

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment below and let me know how it was! Also tag @erinliveswhole on Instagram and use the hashtag #erinliveswhole so I can see it and feature you!

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