This refined sugar free cranberry sauce is so flavourful, and yet so easy to make for your Thanksgiving dinner and holiday recipes. A tasty side that adds a pop of sweetness to your family meal!
If you are planning your Thanksgiving and holiday recipes and love sides as much as my family does (I think more than the mains!), then you may also like to see my sweet potato casserole and cheesy cauliflower mash. Both so tasty and easy to make!
For those using maple syrup, this cranberry sauce is vegan, gluten free and low histamine, vegetarian if using honey.
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Why this holiday recipe is so good
Cranberry sauce is the pop of sweetness you need on your plate for Thanksgiving and holiday dinners, but don't get it out of a can! Fresh homemade cranberry sauce is super easy to do and tastes so much better. You will love this spiced version because:
- It's fresh and light - no gloopy from a can texture here!
- Quick and easy - just a few steps and it only takes 15 minutes to make on the stove top.
- Hints of spice go so well with the fresh fruit - adjust the spice to your preference, and have it as spicy as you like, or just a little hum of heat if you prefer.
- Refined sugar free - this cranberry sauce uses maple syrup (or honey) instead of regular white sugar.
Ingredients
This is a very simple recipe that only requires five ingredients. You will need:
- Cranberries - the main ingredient, go for as fresh as you can (the berries shouldn't have wrinkles) if using fresh. You can also use frozen cranberries.
- Maple syrup - used instead of refined sugar. It gives a lovely rich sweetness to the cranberry sauce. Adjust the amount of maple syrup to your preferred sweetness.
- Ginger and cardamom - for a kick of spice that you can adjust to taste preference.
- Cinnamon - this is optional for my low histamine readers.
A note on sugar vs maple syrup or honey
There is much debate over whether maple syrup (or honey) is better to use than refined sugar. Both obviously contain sugar, although the maple syrup has a lower glycemic index than sugar.
Personally I use both sugar and maple syrup, but I know some of my readers prefer not to use white sugar. I also like the richer flavour that maple syrup brings to this cranberry sauce.
Make sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients and their quantities!
Step by step instructions
One of the easiest Thanksgiving recipes you can add to your table I think. Just a couple of steps to follow, this recipe is made on the stove top so saving valuable oven space for your other holiday recipes!
Step 1
Add all the ingredients to a pan, including the water. Give it a stir so the spices combine with the fruit.
Step 2
Bring the cranberries to a boil, then reduce the heat to a light simmer. Stir occasionally and use the back of a spoon to press any cranberries that haven't broken down. Add a touch more water if the sauce feels too dry.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use frozen cranberries. You may want to add a touch of water to the pan when you first heat them through.
No, you can leave out if you prefer just fruit.
Cranberry sauce goes so well with fresh cheese, so enjoy on a cracker or breads. You may like to try my cranberry cream cheese toasts over the holidays!
More holiday recipes to enjoy
More mains and sides to enjoy with friends and family for special occasions.
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!
Refined sugar free cranberry sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups cranberries
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (more if you prefer it sweeter)
- ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon optional if low histamine
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a very light simmer, and cook for 8-10 minutes. The cranberries will pop, but you can help them along with the back of a spoon. Stir occasionally, then allow to cool. Enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the amount of maple syrup to taste preference for sweetness. You may wish to add another tbsp.
- Note - cinnamon isn't always tolerated on a low histamine diet, so leave out unless you know you tolerate well.
- ginger, which scores 1.
- cardamom scores 0, but has a note that some varieties may not be well tolerated.
- cinnamon scores 0 on the SIGHI list, but other lists rate it as higher.
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