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    Home » Recipes » Sauces

    Published: Nov 23, 2020 · Modified: Sep 18, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 2 Comments

    Cranberry Sauce (Alcohol and Citrus Free)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This cranberry sauce is a really simple recipe, and perfect for your Thanksgiving, Christmas or holiday celebrations. It combines cranberries, sugar, cherries and a touch of optional cinnamon for a sweet but slightly tart side-dish. Perfect as an alcohol-free and citrus-free cranberry sauce that is vegan, gluten-free and low histamine.

    citrus free cranberry sauce in a white bowl on a wooden board.

    Planning your holiday meals? Perhaps you may also like to see my sweet potato casserole and roasted potatoes with zucchini. Both easy to make and the perfect accompaniment for your mains!

    And for lunch my cranberry turkey and cream cheese sandwich feels very festive and you can use this fresh sauce to make it!

    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why this recipe is so good
    • 🍒 Citrus free cranberry sauce (and alcohol free too!)
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Step by step instructions
    • 💭 Recipe tips and notes
    • Frequently asked questions
    • 🍽 More tasty holiday recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why this recipe is so good

    • Pop of sweetness. The hit of sweetness that you need on your plate for your Thanksgiving or holiday meals!
    • Citrus free and alcohol free. Many cranberry sauces have both, but this has none of them!
    • Easy to make. Homemade cranberry sauce is very simple to do, and is made on the stove top.

    🍒 Citrus free cranberry sauce (and alcohol free too!)

    This citrus free cranberry sauce leaves out some of the more traditional ingredients so it is suitable for a low histamine diet. So we swap out orange juice for some cherries, which gives a lovely sweetness. Using frozen is fine, as they aren't in season during the holiday period.

    We leave out port too, which is sometimes used in supposedly 'high-end' sauces. So it's an alcohol free cranberry sauce too.

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Cranberries - I tend to use fresh cranberries, but have also made this sauce with frozen and it worked out great.
    • Cherries - personally I use frozen as fresh aren't usually available during the holidays, and if they are they don't tend to have the best taste.
    • Brown sugar - for sweetness, as cranberries are naturally very tart.
    • Cinnamon - gives a lovely flavour, but is optional if you are on a low histamine diet, as cinnamon is debated in terms of histamine levels.

    Make sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients and their quantities!

    🔪 Step by step instructions

    Cranberry sauce is very easy to make, and so much better than the store-bought version. It takes just a few steps:

    cranberries in a pan.

    STEP 1

    In a pan, bring the water to a boil and pour in the sugar. Give it a stir to dissolve the sugar.

    STEP 2

    Add the cranberries and cherries to the pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a light simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Add a touch of water if you prefer a thinner consistency.

    STEP 3

    Sprinkle on the cinnamon, if using, and stir to combine. Set aside to cool, and then enjoy with your meal!

    💭 Recipe tips and notes

    • Stir the cranberries fairly frequently so they burst and break down. You can also use the back of a wooden spoon to help them along.
    • Add a little water if required to thin the sauce.
    • The cinnamon is optional, but gives a nice hint of spice.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use frozen cranberries to make this cranberry sauce?

    Yes, I have used frozen cranberries (and cherries) a number of times and they work perfectly!

    Is this cranberry sauce made on the stove top?

    Yes, it saves valuable oven space by being made on the stove top!

    Do I have to add the cinnamon?

    No, it is optional and my low histamine readers may prefer to leave it out due to the debated nature of the histamine level of cinnamon. You can add a tiny pinch of cardamom instead if you would like a hint of spice.

    cranberry sauce in a white bowl on a wooden board.

    🍽 More tasty holiday recipes

    Find so many ideas to share with friends and family on my Thanksgiving recipes page, including my easy turkey rissoles, pesto Brussels sprouts and my honey roasted vegetables. Some recent recipes to enjoy:

    • Brussels sprouts on a white plate on a wooden board.
      Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
    • passion fruit posset in two white ramekins next to mint leaves and passion fruit in a bowl.
      Passion Fruit Posset
    • turkey cranberry cream cheese sandwich on a wooden board next to an apple with a jar of cranberry sauce in the background.
      Turkey Cranberry Cream Cheese Sandwich
    • turkey rissoles on parchment paper on a wooden board next to garlic cloves and fresh herbs.
      Easy Turkey Rissoles

    I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating if you tried the recipe!

    📖 Recipe

    citrus free cranberry sauce in a white bowl on a wooden board.

    Cranberry Sauce (Alcohol and Citrus Free)

    Claire
    This citrus free cranberry sauce is a lovely sweet, and slightly tart, side dish for your holiday celebrations. With only a few ingredients and a simple recipe, it can be easily made on the stove top while your other dishes are in the oven. Makes approximately one cup.
    5 from 4 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 344 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
    • ½ cup water
    • ¼ cup brown sugar more to taste
    • ½ cup cherries optional, fresh or frozen
    • pinch cinnamon optional

    Instructions
     

    • In a pan, bring the water to a boil and pour in the sugar. Give it a stir to dissolve the sugar.
    • Add the cranberries and cherries to the pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a light simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens. Add a touch of water if you prefer a thinner consistency.
    • Sprinkle on the cinnamon, if using, and stir to combine. Set aside to cool, and then enjoy with your meal!

    Notes

    • Stir very frequently so the cranberries burst and become a thick sauce.
    • Add a touch of water if you wish to thin the sauce.
    • The cinnamon is optional, so include only if you are able to tolerate.
    • Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
     
    Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine
    All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
    • cinnamon, which scores 0 but is rated higher on other lists.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 89gProtein: 2gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 25mgPotassium: 386mgFiber: 9gSugar: 71gVitamin A: 164IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @lowhistaminekitchen or tag #lowhistaminekitchen!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carrie Kellenberger says

      November 26, 2020 at 7:13 am

      This not only looks lovely, but it also looks very tasty. I always learn something new with your posts. I've already mentioned I had no idea that people put alcohol in their cranberry sauce! I love the idea of adding cherries to cut the tart citrusy flavor a bit.

      Reply
      • throughthefibrofog says

        November 26, 2020 at 9:45 pm

        Thank you! I don't get putting port in cranberry sauce either, I definitely prefer a fruity taste without it.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

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