Homemade Paleo Cranberry Sauce is a Thanksgiving staple in my house! We've been making it for as long as I can remember. Over the last few years I've been making a lot more dishes on Thanksgiving so I can put my "healthy spin" on them! When I made this dish with less sugar, no one noticed! (And I cut the sugar in HALF!) If you've never tried making homemade Cranberry Sauce, you have to give it a try! It's a very simple recipe that only takes about 15 minutes to make. The hardest part is juicing the orange!
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What makes this Cranberry Sauce recipe healthier?
Traditional Cranberry Sauce has a lot more sugar than what I used in this recipe. (About 20+ grams compared to 10 grams.) I love using coconut sugar because it's a less processed, lower glycemic sugar option. I also love juicing a fresh orange instead of using orange juice! It's fresher, and less processed.
Ingredients & Notes
- Cranberries - I prefer using fresh, but frozen works too!
- Filtered Water - Water helps to simmer the cranberries - I promise it will thicken up!
- Coconut Sugar - You can use regular sugar if you don't have coconut sugar! You can also use Lakanto Monkfruit if you want to make this recipe sugar free.
- Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice - You can also add the orange into a blender to puree it! Juice or puree from one orange works best. (About ½ cup.)
- Salt - Just a pinch of salt to bring out all the flavor!
Step by Step Instructions
- Start by adding your water, fresh orange juice, and cranberries to your sauce pan. Cover it, and bring to a boil.
- Once it's boiling, remove the lid and turn down to medium/low heat. Then stir in your coconut sugar and salt. (If you want to add any cinnamon or nutmeg, you can add it in now!)
- Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes with the cover off, stirring occasionally. The cranberries should start to pop and break down.
- Once it has thickened up, you can slowly stir in your arrowroot starch. If you add it all at once, it will clump up. Stir until it's fully combined, then turn off the heat.
- Transfer the sauce into a glass container, and let sit on the counter until it's mostly cooled. Place a cover on the glass container, and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve! It will thicken up more once it chills.
- Top with fresh orange zest when you're ready to serve!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Fresh or frozen will work for this recipe. Frozen will just take a little longer to cook down.
Yes, you can use Lakanto monkfruit as a sugar alternative! I wouldn't recommend not adding any sugar because the cranberries are very tart!
Yes! I like keeping it simple, but you can simmer the sauce with cinnamon sticks, or sprinkle in a little cinnamon or nutmeg at the end!
No! I like adding in a little to help it thicken up a bit more, but it will naturally thicken up once it chills.
Storing and Serving your Homemade Paleo Cranberry Sauce
After your cranberry sauce cools, it's time to refrigerate! (It will thicken as it cools.) Store your Cranberry Sauce in an air tight glass container in the refrigerator. It will last about 5 days. You can also freeze your cranberry sauce for a couple months! I also make a double batch so I can have some in January when I'm craving Thanksgiving food. To defrost, just leave your frozen cranberry sauce in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. I like to serve mine chilled, but you can also heat it up in a sauce pan if you want it hot!
Love this recipe? You'll love these too!
- Easy Roasted Fall Vegetables
- Paleo Pumpkin Pie
- Easy Cranberry Relish
- Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars
- Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Paleo Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Large Spoon
Ingredients
- 12 Ounces Cranberries You can use fresh or frozen!
- 1 Cup Filtered Water
- ½ Cup Coconut Sugar
- 1 Orange, Juiced Or about ½ cup orange juice.
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Start by adding your water, orange juice, and cranberries to your sauce pan. Cover it, and bring to a boil.
- Once it's boiling, remove the lid and turn down to medium/low heat. Then stir in your coconut sugar and salt. (If you want to add any cinnamon or nutmeg, you can add it in now!)
- Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes with the cover off, stirring occasionally. The cranberries should start to pop and break down.
- Once it has thickened up, you can slowly stir in your arrowroot starch. If you add it all at once, it will clump up. Stir until it's fully combined, then turn off the heat.
- Transfer the sauce into a glass container, and let sit on the counter until it's mostly cooled. Place a cover on the glass container, and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve! It will thicken up more once it chills.
- Top with fresh orange zest when you're ready to serve!
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing & Serving Cranberry Sauce
After your cranberry sauce cools, it's time to refrigerate! (It will thicken as it cools.) Store your Cranberry Sauce in an air tight glass container in the refrigerator. It will last about 5 days. You can also freeze your cranberry sauce for a couple months! I also make a double batch so I can have some in January when I'm craving Thanksgiving food. To defrost, just leave your frozen cranberry sauce in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. I like to serve mine chilled, but you can also heat it up in a sauce pan if you want it hot!Nutrition
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Mel
One of my favorite thanksgiving recipes!