Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (2024)

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For years now, we have simply plopped down one of those blobs of canned Cranberry Sauce on our Holiday Table and called it good. Well, NO MORE! This year I actually made a homemade Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce and it's a whole lot easier than you think!

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (1)

Not only does it taste OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD.....you get to listen to the little cranberries POP when you cook them!

I know - it doesn't take much to entertain a food blogger.

Fresh cranberries, sweet cherries, a few dates, a cinnamon stick, some spices, and a little orange juice and zest - and you have the simplest holiday recipe ever.

And it tastes SO GOOD compared to that blob of jelly in a can. And did I mention it's sugar-free???

I looked at a few traditional recipes on the big, wide, interweb and good lord the amount of sugar they use in their recipes! I could feel my insulin spike just reading about it!

This recipe uses NO refined sugar, but rather the natural sweetness from the dates, the cherries, and the orange juice. It's got plenty of natural sweetness this way but yet has just enough tartness leftover for a little pucker.

My wife said it was so good it could be used for pie filling! Lol, maybe in another recipe.

So are your Holiday Plans set in stone yet? Got room for a homemade sugar-free Cranberry Sauce that everyone will be sure to love? It only takes about 15 minutes to whip up a batch...so why not?

But....you will have to soak some dates....so be prepared for that. Whoops...looks like I'm getting ahead of myself.... so let's quit yammerin' and go make some Cranberry Sauce...

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (2)

As I was saying, you're gonna need a handful of dates. I like the Medjool Dates, so grab about 6 of them and toss them in some hot water for about an hour or so to let them soften. The longer the better. And if they have the pit, be sure and remove them eventually.

Next, rinse a 12oz bag of fresh cranberries, in case there's any bog left on them, and toss them into a large pan.

Next, I added about 1 cup of frozen Dark Sweet Cherries. I buy the Private Select brand from our local Fred Meyer (Kroger).

Next, use a zester tool to collect about 1 tablespoon of Orange Zest. I chose an organic orange just for this purpose. We'll also need about 1 cup of orange juice, so feel free to squeeze the juice from this orange as well, but we'll probably need to add a little store-bought orange juice too.

Here is a really cool zester I found on Amazon. It makes the really long strips of zest and I'm truly thinking of ordering one for myself. And as always, as an Amazon Associate, I do earn from qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you.

Add the zest to the pot with the cranberries and cherries but save the cup of orange juice for later.

Now we just add a few spices, the entire list of which is down below in the recipe box but feel free to tweak them or add your own.

So we have the cranberries, cherries, orange zest, and spices in the pan. All that's left now is the orange juice and the soaked dates. I added the dates and juice to my blender and pureed it until it was super smooth, then added that into my pan.

Bring the heat up to med-high and you will soon hear the little cranberries pop as they split. Again, I thought it was kind of fun to watch. Just don't put your face down too close...one might pop out at ya. 😉

One they begin poppin' and rockin', turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and let that go about 10 minutes. It will look a little thin but trust me it will thicken up as it cools.

After 10 minutes or so you can remove the pan from the heat and taste for any adjustments. A pinch of salt may be all it needs, or if you like your Cranberry Sauce a little bit sweeter, you could maybe add another pureed date or a few more cherries - up to you.

That's it!

Super easy, super tasty, homemade Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce - just in time for the Holiday Table.

Be sure and comment to let me know how it went and in the meantime, I'll be here working on at least one more Holiday Recipe before the big day.

Can you believe it's almost here? Yikes! See ya soon!

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (3)
Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (4)

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Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (5)

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries

★★★★★5 from 7 reviews

  • Author: Brand New Vegan
  • Prep Time: 1 hr
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x
  • Category: Holiday, Sauce
  • Method: Stovetop, Blender
  • Cuisine: American, Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Why open a blob of canned jellied Cranberry Sauce when you can make your own? ThisSugar-Free Cranberry Sauce has no refined sugar, tastes delicious, and is a lot easier to make than you think!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 12 oz cranberries
  • 1 cup frozen dark sweet cherries
  • 6 medjool dates
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 Tbs orange zest
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp allspice

Instructions

  1. Simply cover your dates with hot water and allow them to soak until softened, at least an hour or so.
  2. Rinse and drain your cranberries and then add them to a large soup pan
  3. Add the dark cherries, orange zest, and spices
  4. Finally, blend the dates with the 1 cup of orange juice until smooth and pour into the pan
  5. Adjust the heat to med-high until the cranberries begin to pop, then reduce the heat to a slow simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionaly.
  6. Remove from heat and allow to cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
  7. Adjust seasoning to taste. If you like it sweeter you can add a few more cherries or blend another date.

Notes

Donations Are Always Welcome!

Keywords: sugar-free cranberry sauce

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Sweet Cherries (2024)

FAQs

How to reduce sweetness in cranberry sauce? ›

Cranberry sauce is supposed to be a balance of sweet and tart. The sauce acts as a cleansing port in a tumultuous storm of fat and salt, but the effect is lost if the sauce is too sweet. Luckily, there is a very easy way to fix an over-sugared homemade sauce: You just need a little citric acid.

How many carbs are in sugar-free cranberry sauce? ›

How many carbs are in sugar free cranberry sauce? This keto cranberry sauce recipe has 2.8g of carbs and 1.0g of fiber per serving.

How do you take the bitterness out of homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

Their sharp tang counteracts bitter flavors without having to add extra sugar. While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries.

How do I thicken my homemade cranberry sauce? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

What cancels out sweetness? ›

How to Make Food Less Sweet. Add an acid or seasonings such as vinegar or citrus juice; chopped fresh herbs; a dash of cayenne pepper; or, for sweet dishes, a bit of liqueur or espresso powder.

How do you get rid of too much sweetness? ›

The Fix: Tone down an overly sweet dish by adding a sour, salty, or bitter ingredient to it. Sour fruit (such as blackberries or cherries), cooling herbs such as mint, and chopped nuts work well in sweets such as cakes, cookies, and pies.

Is cranberry sauce good for a diabetic? ›

This may leave people with diabetes wondering whether this Thanksgiving favorite is something they can have. The good news is that you absolutely can enjoy cranberry sauce if you have diabetes, read on for more information on how to do it in a healthy way.

Is cranberry zero sugar good for you? ›

Unsweetened, pure cranberry juice is a good source of both vitamin C and vitamin E. It's also a decent source of several other vitamins and minerals, including: vitamin C: 26% of the daily value (DV)

Why is cranberry sauce good for diabetics? ›

Cranberries are high in polyphenols, and epidemiological studies have shown that a high-polyphenol diet may reduce risk factors for diabetes and CVD.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

How to jazz up cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

Why does my cranberry sauce taste weird? ›

If your cranberry sauce has an odd flavor, consider checking the quality of your cranberries, the amount of sugar and water used, and the cooking time and temperature. Ensure you're using fresh cranberries and following the recipe for sugar and water measurements.

Does homemade cranberry sauce thicken when it cools? ›

Reduce heat to a low boil and cook for 10 minutes, until the berries have all burst. Remove from heat. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

What if I put too much water in my cranberry sauce? ›

If you inadvertently added too much water, simply bring the cranberry sauce back to the stove top and bring it to a low boil, cooking it down just a bit to help thicken it up.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

How do you cut the sweetness in a sauce? ›

Add vinegar.

Start with just a splash or teaspoon and taste, so you can ensure that the recipe is balanced. You can always add more if necessary. Virtually any vinegar can help correct food that's too sweet, but white, red wine, white wine, and apple cider usually work the best.

Which of these is the best way to reduce sweetness in a sauce? ›

You can balance out the sweetness by adding acidic ingredients, such as vinegar or lemon juice. Another method is to incorporate savory or bitter elements like herbs, spices, or even a splash of red wine. Lastly, diluting the sauce with additional unsweetened tomato sauce or broth can also help balance out the flavors.

How do you get too much sugar out of sauce? ›

Diluting a sweet tomato sauce will dull its sweetness, so you can add water or chicken or vegetable broth, a little at a time until the sauce tastes better. Or, if you like spicy food, you can try spicing the tomato sauce with some crushed chili flakes, which should help balance out its sweetness.

What Flavour counteracts sweetness? ›

If your dish is a little too sweet, try rounding out the sweetness by adding flavors or ingredients that are sour, bitter, or spicy. It may be obvious not to add more sweet ingredients, but you should also stay away from salty ones since they actually bring out the sweetness in food.

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