Are we a fan of homemade cranberry sauce? I for sure am and it’s one of my favorite parts of the holiday!
It wasn’t always this way though. I used to be obsessed with canned cranberry sauce and it was the only way I would eat it. No chucks of fruit, just straight cranberry jello as I like to call it. It was a must that my mom had to get some, despite her making her own every year, or my sister and I would throw a fit.
As I got older though, my taste buds changed. After some time, the canned stuff lost its appeal. I gravitated more towards my mom’s homemade version. And now I will never go back!
This homemade cranberry sauce is actually my mom’s recipe that she has been making for longer than I can remember! No artificial sweeteners, thickeners, or weird additives. The fresh fruit adds some sweetness to balance out the tartness from the cranberries and it cooks down into a thick chutney consistency.
I will warn you though, it’s not very sweet. This is exactly how we love it, but everyone has different taste buds. If you like things on the sweeter side, add one of the sweeteners I suggest below. Many of you have made this your own year after year.
Why we love this easy homemade cranberry sauce recipe
- made with 3 simple ingredients
- sugar-free and naturally sweetened with just fruit
- easy to customize – if you find it too tart, add in your sweetener of choice! So many people have made this over the years and made it their own.
Ingredients
- fresh cranberries
- canned pineapple
- apple
How to make homemade cranberry sauce
- Cook cranberries and pineapple. Add cranberries and pineapple to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until broken down and the berries have burst. Be careful it doesn’t burn.
- Add the apple. Add apple, stir to combine, and cook for another 15-20 minutes until softened and combined. Consistency should be a thick chutney. If you are adding a sweetener, add it when you add the apples.
- Enjoy! Serve it up with your favorite holiday dishes and enjoy! Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Is cranberry sauce served hot to cold?
Cranberry sauce can be served hot or cold, it just depends on your preference. We prefer to serve it slightly chilled. We always make it a few days ahead of time and store it in the fridge. On Thanksgiving day, we will take it out and let it naturally warm up a little before serving.
How to use homemade cranberry sauce
- Thanksgiving dinner – turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and whatever else you enjoy at your holiday celebration!
- as a spread on a sandwich – leftover turkey sandwiches anyone?
- in leftover turkey salad
- in yogurt bowls
- spread on toast with cottage cheese, cream cheese, or goat cheese
- with oatmeal
- on top of ice cream
- swirled into muffin batter
- on top of pancakes or waffles
How long does homemade cranberry sauce last
Cranberry sauce will last for 2-3 weeks in the fridge glass jar or airtight container.
How far in advance can you make cranberry sauce?
Since this fresh cranberry sauce lasts for a long time, it makes a great option to prep ahead of time for the holidays! Feel free to prep it as early as 2-3 weeks, but I find a week is best for optimal freshness.
Can you freeze homemade cranberry sauce?
Freeze cranberry sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let defrost in the fridge overnight.
Substitutions and additions
I love this sugar free cranberry sauce recipe as is. It is definitely on the tart side though and I know not everyone loves super tart things. There are quite a few ways to adjust the recipe to your liking.
- canned pineapple – you can you fresh pineapple, but I suggest using canned though as it breaks down easier and adds some juice to help the cranberries cook down.
- apple – use any kind of apple you like. I prefer red as it helps sweeten the recipe.
To make it sweeter, add one of these (the recipe will no longer be Whole30 if you add maple syrup, honey, or sugar):
- maple syrup
- honey
- date paste – homemade or store-bought
- coconut sugar or white sugar
- fruit juice – apple juice or orange juice would be great!
To change up the flavors some, add some of these:
- fresh orange juice and orange zest – mentioned above, but both would be a great addition
- spices – a few of you guys have added cinnamon and say it’s a great addition! I also think cloves, nutmeg, or cardamon would be good.
- vanilla extract
- lemon juice – this will add to the tartness so I would balance it out with something sweet.
More healthy holiday side dishes
- kale salad with butternut squash & pomegranates
- rosemary roasted radishes
- green beans with mushrooms and bacon
- tahini whipped sweet potatoes
- balsamic roasted mushrooms
- parmesan roasted parsnips
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
ingredients
- 1 12-ounce bag whole cranberries
- 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple *
- 1 small apple, finely diced (about 150 grams)
- sweetener of choice (optional)**
instructions
- Cook cranberries and pineapple. Add cranberries and canned pineapple (with its juices) to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until broken down and most of the berries have burst. Be careful it doesn't burn.
- Cook apple. Add apple to the pot, stir to combine, and cook for another 15-20 minutes until softened and combined. Consistency should be a thick chutney. If you are adding a sweetener, add it when you add the apples.
- Enjoy! Serve it up with your favorite holiday dishes and enjoy! Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
notes
- maple syrup
- honey
- date paste – homemade or store-bought
- coconut sugar or white sugar
- fruit juice – apple juice or orange juice would be great!
Nancy says
I made this cranberry sauce and used it to top freah salmon. It was so delicious! Now i know i can make this for more than just my Thanksgiving turkey! Super easy to make too!! A must try!
Kelly says
Such a great idea!! It really is so versatile – I love stirring it in oats or topping with yogurt! Thanks Nancy!
Vicki Crow says
This was my first time making from scratch. I loved how easy it was to through together! It was a little tart but added a drizzle of honey and it was an absolute hit! Definitely going to make this again, thanks!
Kelly says
Yum, I love the addition of honey! Glad you found it easy and so glad it was a hit. Thanks for trying it Vicki!
Megan says
I love this recipe. It’s the only cranberry sauce I make now!
Kelly says
Yay! This is my absolute favorite come the holidays. So glad you liked it Megan!
Dominique says
Hi Kelly! thank you for the recipe! I liked it a lot so I am going to make it for my christmas dinner. I also added your recipe to my latest blog. You can see it here: https://omdetox.com/21-vegan-christmas-recipes/
Merry christmas!
Kelly says
So glad you liked it Dominique! I think I am going to make it for Christmas too 🙂 and thanks for including me in the round up, everything looks so good on it! I will share it!
Robin says
Everybody raved about this chutney. I loved the idea of this recipe. I made it but way too sour. I ended up adding cinnamon/sugar sprinkled in, orange zest and orange juice. You have to let this sit in the fridge overnight to blend the flavors. I loved the tart, lightly sweetened and chunkiness of the apples and pineapple. Thank you! My new go to!
Kelly says
So glad to hear that Robin! A few others have added cinnamon and I need to try that – I am thinking I am going to make some more haha. Thanks so much for trying it!
Christine Fitzer says
Thank you for this delicious recipe. It was a little tart for us so I added Spends, cinnamon, vanilla and some water. Yum.
Kelly says
A few people have added cinnamon and I’m going to have to try that myself. Thanks so much for trying it Christine!
Britny says
Bringing this baby to our Thanksgiving brunch! Cannot wait to try this. Thanks for the recipe!
Kelly says
Yay!! Hope you enjoy and thank you for making it!
Annc says
I just made this and it is so sour I doubt anyone will touch it, it is not sweet at all. I just double checked the recipe and I made it correctly. I’m trying it for my husband who doesn’t eat sugar but this is not going to work. I think I will mix with a container of applesauce and see if I can salvage.
Kelly says
Hi Annc, I’m so sorry to hear that. I have had a lot of people make it and like it. The pineapple and apple definitely sweeten it, but it depends on your taste buds on how sweet you like things. I hope it didn’t inconvenience you too much.