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    Home » Sides

    Healthy Lower Sugar Cranberry Sauce

    November 2, 2022 by Chrissy Carroll 24 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Complete your Thanksgiving feast with this lower sugar cranberry sauce! This homemade version is tart and subtly sweet, letting the cranberry flavor truly shine through. It’s perfect for topping your Thanksgiving turkey.

    Note: This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated in 2022.

    A bowl of lower sugar cranberry sauce with a napkin, spoon, and fresh cranberries next to it.

    Why make homemade sauce?

    My husband will argue with me on this one, but I really prefer homemade sauce that isn’t clawingly sweet and allows the flavor of the berries to shine through. He much prefers the standard straight-outta-the-can slice of sauce. To each their own. 😉

    From my standpoint as a dietitian, making your own sauce allows for you to better control the ingredients and sugar if you would like to do so.

    For example, a standard quarter cup serving of canned cranberry sauce contains 23 grams of sugar, while a quarter cup of this sauce contains just 9 grams. Canned sauce has 1 gram of fiber, while this homemade version has 2.5 grams of fiber.

    Since I like to use cranberry sauce in a lot of ways besides just Thanksgiving turkey, I like having this nutritious recipe on hand.

    Ingredients

    You’ll only need these four ingredients to make this recipe:

    Cranberries, canned pears, orange zest, and maple syrup.
    • Cranberries – You’ll want a standard 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries. If you’ve harvested cranberries yourself or are using a big bag of frozen berries, this is equivalent to about 3 cups.
    • Canned pears – This is the secret to adding a subtle sweetness with less added sugar. Canned pears contain some fiber and antioxidants, so they’re great to use in this recipe.
    • Orange zest – Optional, but recommended for flavor complexity.
    • Maple syrup – Because the canned pears don’t add quite enough sweetness alone, I like using maple syrup in this recipe too. I find that two tablespoons is just enough to take the edge off of the super tart cranberries, but still allows their flavor to shine through. However, if you’re used to canned cranberry sauce, you may want to add a little more maple syrup to reach your taste preferences.

    Instructions

    This recipe couldn’t be simpler! You’ll find the full amounts and instructions in the recipe card below, but here’s a helpful overview with photos.

    Start by placing your pear halves and some juice from the canned pears in the pot. Cook that over medium heat for two minutes.

    Canned pears and pear juice in a pot.

    Then mash that with a potato masher.

    Mashing the pears in the pot with a potato masher.

    Add the cranberries, maple syrup, and orange zest.

    Healthy fresh cranberry sauce cooking in a pot on the stove

    Cook it over medium low for about 10 minutes, or until the cranberries burst and the sauce has thickened up.

    Mash the sauce with the potato masher until you get your desired texture. If you prefer a really smooth sauce, you can run this through a blender as well (just wait for it to cool a little, and leave the hole in the blender lid open to allow steam to escape). I prefer it just mashed though so you still retain some of the texture of the berries.

    Now let it cool to room temperature, and enjoy!

    A pot of cranberry sauce with a wooden spoon in it.

    Recipe FAQ

    Here are some common questions that may arise as you prepare this lower sugar cranberry sauce:

    Can you use frozen cranberries for cranberry sauce?

    Yes, feel free to use frozen cranberries instead of fresh. You may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two.

    How long is homemade cranberry sauce good for?

    Homemade sauce is best used within 5-6 days.

    Can you make lower cranberry sauce ahead of time?

    Yes. Feel free to make this up to 3 days in advance for best quality. Store in the refrigerator in an air tight container after making.

    Can you substitute honey for maple syrup in cranberry sauce?

    Sure. Feel free to use an equivalent amount of honey instead of the maple syrup.

    A spoonful of healthy cranberry sauce.

    Ways to use leftover cranberry sauce

    Got a bunch of leftover sauce after making this? Or just looking for unique ways to use cranberry sauce year-round?

    Try one of these ideas:

    • Cranberry chicken meatloaf
    • Cranberry sauce muffins
    • Turkey cranberry quesadillas
    • Cranberry sauce bourbon cocktails
    • Chicken apple meatballs with cranberry sauce
    • Cranberry sauce yogurt parfaits
    • Turkey and cranberry BBQ sauce pizza

    I hope you enjoy this recipe! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, try adding this healthy low sugar cranberry sauce to your holiday menu.  It’s super simple to make and you might be surprised at how much you love the punch of true cranberry flavor.

    If you get a chance to try this, feel free to leave a recipe rating or review below.

    A bowl of lower sugar cranberry sauce next to some fresh orange slices and fresh cranberries.

    Lower Sugar Cranberry Sauce

    Snacking in Sneakers
    This lower sugar cranberry sauce is a tart and subtly sweet healthy recipe that’s perfect for topping your Thanksgiving turkey.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 7 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 canned pear halves
    • ½ cup juice from can of pears
    • 12 ounces fresh whole cranberries (about 3 cups)
    • 2 tbsp pure maple syrup (or more to taste)
    • ½ tbsp orange zest

    Instructions
     

    • Add the pear halves and juice to a medium pot over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes, then mash pear halves a few times with a potato masher. 
    • Add the cranberries, maple syrup, and orange zest. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, or until the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened.
    • Remove from heat and mash to desired consistency. Let the cranberry sauce come to room temperature before serving.  Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Canned pears should be packed in juice, not syrup. You use both the canned pear halves and the canned pear juice directly for this recipe.
    • This recipe is lightly sweetened and lets the tartness of the cranberries shine through. If you’re used to store-bought cranberry sauce, you may find this too tart. In that case, feel free to add extra maple syrup to taste.
    • This recipe makes approximately 1 ¾ cups sauce, for approximately 7 servings of ¼ cup each.
     
    Nutrition analysis (approximate per ¼ cup serving): 55 calories, 0 g fat, 5 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 2.5 g fiber, 9 g sugar, 3.5 g added sugar, 0.5 g protein, Vitamin D: 0%, Calcium: 1%, Iron: 1%, Potassium: 2%
    Keyword healthy cranberry sauce, lower sugar cranberry sauce
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Share with me:  When it comes to turkey, do you go for the gravy or the cranberry sauce? If you tried this recipe, what did you think?

    Feel free to pin this post to save for later!

    A bowl of healthy cranberry sauce next to a spoon, napkin, and fresh cranberries.
    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
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    Comments

    1. Mikki

      November 3, 2016 at 4:07 pm

      Looks like you had a great time and the recipe looks amazing! Yum!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 3, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        It was a blast! Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Chrissa - Physical Kitchness

      November 3, 2016 at 4:35 pm

      Yep this is the key to my heart! I look forward to cranberry sauce the most during Thanksgiving. I know, I’m weird 😉

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 3, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        My husband would echo that sentiment. He’s been known to pop open cans and eat it straight out of there. That’s why I started making it more often, lol!

        Reply
    3. Maggie Moon

      November 3, 2016 at 6:30 pm

      Great photos! And I like that there’s not too much added sugar in your recipe. I love making a fresh relish with fresh cranberries, orange segments, & walnuts.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 3, 2016 at 9:24 pm

        I’ve been hearing about lots of versions with oranges lately – that sounds so tasty!!

        Reply
    4. Lindsey Pine

      November 3, 2016 at 6:55 pm

      Looks like you had so much fun wading in the cranberry bog! Love the addition of orange zest in your sauce!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 3, 2016 at 9:24 pm

        The bog was a blast. That whole trip was just amazing. I’m so grateful I was able to go on it.

        Reply
    5. Cara

      November 3, 2016 at 9:01 pm

      I would LOVE to get knee deep in some cranberry bogs! Looks like you had a great time, great recipe too!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 3, 2016 at 9:24 pm

        Thanks Cara! And yes, that trip was SO fun!

        Reply
    6. abbey

      November 3, 2016 at 11:20 pm

      This looks like an absolute blast, and the recipe looks delish!!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 10, 2016 at 7:33 pm

        It was definitely a blast!

        Reply
    7. Amy Gorin

      November 3, 2016 at 11:28 pm

      This is so fun! And what a pretty recipe!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 10, 2016 at 7:33 pm

        Thanks Amy! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Sarah @ The Fit Niche

      November 4, 2016 at 10:16 am

      I am totally doing this this year!! Thank you for the idea!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 10, 2016 at 7:34 pm

        Yay! Hope you love it Sarah.

        Reply
    9. Lauren Harris-Pincus

      November 4, 2016 at 10:17 am

      This sounds awesome! I would love to add pears to cranberry sauce!!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 10, 2016 at 7:34 pm

        It adds a nice sweetness and texture (I think). 🙂

        Reply
    10. Tara @ A Daily Dose of Fit

      November 4, 2016 at 9:54 pm

      I’m so grateful for this recipe! I have always wanted to make my own cranberry sauce! I’d rather have cranberry sauce than gravy. YUM!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 10, 2016 at 7:35 pm

        You’re so welcome Tara! Hope you love it this holiday season.

        Reply
    11. Bridget Swinney

      November 10, 2016 at 8:51 pm

      Pears add an interesting twist! Who knew a cranberry bog could look so fun?! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        November 16, 2016 at 7:40 pm

        It was definitely a blast being in the bog! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      September 29, 2018 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      That cranberry sauce looks absolutely incredible! Thanks ever so much for mentioning my grilled cheese sandwich.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        October 29, 2018 at 8:04 am

        Of course! 🙂

        Reply

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    Welcome to Snacking in Sneakers! That's me, Chrissy, and I'm here to share all my favorite fitness, food, & wellness stories & tips. I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, runner, triathlon coach, foodie, not-so-extreme couponer, and all around fun lovin' gal.

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