Cranberry sauce is incredibly easy to make at home - it's ready in just 30 minutes, and this included a rest time of 10 minutes.
This tasty sugar-free version is sweetened with stevia and flavored with vanilla extract. You can use a powdered sweetener if you prefer.
If you've never tried making homemade cranberry sauce, you're in for a pleasant surprise. It's a truly easy recipe to make - it requires just three ingredients and is ready in about 30 minutes.
This particular version is sweetened with stevia. The tartness of the fruit does come through, so I recommend tasting it when it's done and adding more sweetener if you want it sweeter.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty sauce. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Water: You'll need ¼ cup of water for this recipe. Some recipes call for orange juice, but water is just fine.
- Sugar-free sweetener: Either powdered erythritol or stevia. I usually use stevia glycerite.
- Vanilla extract: Try to use the real thing - pure vanilla extract - and not the artificially flavored stuff. I feel that in a simple recipe such as this, it does make a difference.
- Fresh cranberries: I use a standard 12-oz bag. You can use frozen cranberries if that's more convenient.
Instructions
Making sugar-free cranberry sauce is surprisingly easy. There's really no reason to use canned sauce! The recipe card below provides the full instructions. Here are the basic steps:
- Your first step is to add the water, sweetener, and vanilla to a medium saucepan.
- The next step is to add the cranberries. Heat the mixture over medium heat, bringing it to a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low.
- Simmer until the cranberries are soft and starting to burst, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and chill to allow the sauce to thicken.
Expert tip
If using a granulated sweetener instead of stevia, make sure to use a powdered sweetener to prevent it from crystallizing as the sauce cools down.
Frequently asked questions
This sauce is typically served at room temperature. Cooling it, even just slightly, allows it to thicken, so its texture improves as it cools.
There's one exception though. Although I do serve this sauce on Thanksgiving, as tradition dictates, personally I'm not a fan of eating it with turkey. My favorite way to enjoy it? I like to pour it while still warm over cool, creamy Greek yogurt. It's really good!
I used to think that you absolutely needed powdered sugar for it to thicken, but you actually don't. The sauce will thicken very nicely - as you can see in the video below - thanks to the natural pectin released by the fruit as they cook.
Yes, absolutely. They work in this recipe just as well as fresh ones, and you can cook them from frozen. There's no need to thaw them first.
Variations
Here are a couple of ideas for changing up this recipe:
- Orange zest, added to the water mixture, greatly enhances the flavor of the sauce. And since we're trying to keep this recipe keto, it's a better option than using orange juice instead of water, which is very tasty but adds quite a bit of sugar.
- Some people like to add a cinnamon stick. Personally, I'm not a fan, but if you think you might enjoy the flavor combination, go ahead and give it a try!
Serving suggestions
Traditionally served at Thanksgiving as a condiment for the turkey, one of my favorite ways of serving this tasty sauce is actually warm, as a topping for plain Greek yogurt. It's also excellent as a topping for this keto cheesecake. And occasionally I serve it as a topping for these coconut flour pancakes.
Storing leftovers
You can keep this sauce in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. It keeps very well, actually. It tastes just as good on the fourth day as it does on the first.
Related recipes
Recipe Card
Keto Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon stevia glycerite (equals 1 cup sugar)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, mix the water with the stevia and vanilla extract.
- Add the cranberries. Bring to a simmer over medium heat (this should take about 3 minutes).
- Lower the heat to medium-low to keep a consistent simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries are soft and starting to burst, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Taste the sauce and decide if its level of tartness suits you or if you’d like to add more stevia. I sometimes mix in an additional 1 teaspoon of stevia at this point (which equals ⅓ cup sugar).
- Cool to room temperature before serving.
Video
Notes
- You can use frozen cranberries if you can't get fresh ones.
- Orange zest, added to the water mixture, greatly enhances the flavor of the sauce. And since we're trying to keep this cranberry sauce keto, it's a better option than using orange juice instead of water, which is very tasty but adds quite a bit of sugar.
- Some people like adding a cinnamon stick. Personally, I'm not a fan, but if you think you might enjoy the flavor combination, go ahead and give it a try!
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition per Serving
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 
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