Healthy Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce with Raspberries

This Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce with Raspberries is beautiful and healthy. Made with nutritious ingredients, it is perfect for any season.

NOTE: This post has been updated since it was originally published on November 22, 2022.

This sugar-free cranberry sauce is enriched with the vibrant flavor of raspberry fruit and is both visually stunning and health-conscious.

Made with a blend of simple ingredients, this homemade cranberry sauce offers a beautiful display on any holiday table.

It also provides a versatile addition to any meal, which makes it the perfect choice, not just for the holiday season, but for all seasons.

I enjoy fresh cranberries but sometimes they can be quite tart, which is why I like this sugar-free cranberry sauce recipe. The raspberries in this recipe cut the tartness just enough, resulting in a beautiful combination of tart and sweet flavors all at once.

When I first developed this sugar-free cranberry sauce recipe, it was for a large Thanksgiving dinner I was hosting. My family enjoyed it so much that I began making fresh cranberry sauce throughout the year.

Similar to fruit jam, this healthy cranberry sauce is great to have on hand year-round.

It is also made with monk fruit sweetener instead of real sugar so this recipe is healthier than traditional cranberry sauce and will reduce blood sugar spikes.

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Kitchen Tools Recommended

• medium sauce pan. This cookware is my favorite, and this is the size sauce pan I use for this recipe.
• silicone spatula. Although not absolutely necessary, silicone spatulas are lovely to use when trying to scrape every last drop from any saucepan or bowl, which is why I included them here.
• measuring cups. I use these wooden measuring cups much more than my stainless steel set, especially for wet ingredients like apple sauce or yogurt.
• measuring spoons. And the same is true for these measuring spoons. It’s fun to have a matching set of cups and spoons.
• glass storage container. These glass storage containers are nice to have on hand. The lids snap tightly shut and the containers are microwave, oven, freezer, and dishwasher safe.

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce Ingredients Needed

Cranberries. Using fresh cranberries is best but you can also use a frozen bag of cranberries if fresh are not available.

Raspberries. You can use fresh or frozen raspberries for this recipe. I have used both, and the recipe turns out just fine either way.

Orange juice. Fresh orange juice is always better than bottled, and it is cheaper too. Just a hint of orange, along with the raspberries, gives this recipe a distinct and unique flavor.

Monk fruit. Monkfruit is a zero-calorie sweetener that comes from a small round fruit from China. It is approximately 100-250 times sweeter than sugar, so for baking needs, most monk fruit brands combine it with powdered erythritol for bulk, a zero-calorie sugar alcohol.

Vanilla extract. Make sure to look for pure vanilla and not “vanilla flavor” for the most rich, deep, flavor.

Kosher salt. You can also use sea salt or a low-sodium salt substitute if you wish.

optional ingredients you may want to consider

Orange zest. Adding a bit of orange zest really gives this cranberry dish a pop. I put it here as an optional ingredient but it was a strong toss-up between optional and necessary.

Nuts. If you want to add a little crunch to your cranberry relish, feel free to add some crushed walnuts or pecans. Very delicious.

Grand Marnier. For a little extra zip, and if you are not avoiding alcohol, adding just a touch of Grand Marnier gives this delicious sugar-free cranberry sauce a nice distinct flavor.

How To Make Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce: Step-By-Step Instructions

STEP 1. Measure out the cranberries and raspberries, and place them in a medium saucepan. Add the orange juice, monk fruit, vanilla extract, and salt, along with the Grand Marnier if you are using it. Stir to combine.

STEP 2. Place the saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat to medium.

Simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes or until the cranberries have popped and the mixture is beginning to thicken. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

STEP 3. Once cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the cranberries to cool in the pan to room temperature before storing.

NOTE: If not all of the cranberries popped while simmering, you can use a fork to mash more, although I do like to keep some remaining cranberries whole for a lovely texture.

STEP 4. If you are not eating the sugar-free cranberry sauce right away, transfer the sauce into glass storage containers, and allow it to cool completely before covering and placing the cranberry sauce into the fridge.

How To Store

This healthy cranberry sauce will stay fresh in the fridge for approximately 5-6 days if stored in a tightly sealed container, like a mason jar or any other type of glass storage container.

You can also freeze this sugar free cranberry sauce as long as it is stored in a freezer-safe, airtight container.

FYI, if you are freezing, make sure to leave a little bit of room at the top of the container to allow for expansion as it freezes, otherwise, your container may crack or break (been there).

Cranberry sauce will last in the freezer for approximately 2-3 months.

Recipe Tips For Success

You can use fresh or frozen cranberries and raspberries for this recipe. Either way works just fine but know that if you use frozen, you will have to simmer the sauce a few minutes longer for it to thicken.

Using the Grand Marnier is optional. I like to add just a bit as it cuts the tartness of the cranberries but if you prefer not to use it that is perfectly fine too.

You can use regular white sugar, brown sugar, or even coconut sugar instead of monk fruit if you prefer not to use sugar substitutes.

If you do choose to use regular sugar, I recommend looking for organic. The sugar cane crop is highly pesticide-sprayed so using organic sugar will, if not save you from calories, at least help you reduce your chemical exposure.

Cranberry Sauce: Instant Pot Method

You can also make this sugar-free cranberry sauce using an instant pot. This works well when you want to make a large batch by doubling or even tripling the recipe, or if you want that hands-off experience.

Here’s how to make sugar free cranberry sauce using an instant pot.

STEP 1. Measure out the cranberries and raspberries and add them to a mixing bowl. Add the orange juice and monk fruit, and stir to combine.

STEP 2. Pour the mixture into the Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook High for 2 minutes. Press Start. Let the cranberry raspberry sauce cook and allow the Instant Pot to Pressure Release on its own.

STEP 3. Once the release valve has dropped, carefully open the Instant Pot. Stir and mash up some of the cranberries and raspberries. Add the monk fruit, salt, vanilla extract, and Grand Marnier (if using) to the cranberry mixture. Stir until combined well.

STEP 4. Pour the cranberry sauce into a glass storage container, and place it in the fridge for 2-3 hours to thicken and gel.

Ready to ENJOY!

VIDEO: Step-By-Step Instruction How To Make Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce with Raspberries

Versatile Cranberry Sauce: 5 Ways to Enjoy It Year-Round

1. Holiday Meal. If you are going to make it for a holiday meal, then it is very good on top of traditional Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, or potatoes.
2. Side Dish. This sugar free cranberry sauce makes a great side dish and is delicious any time of year. It can be served with a variety of foods.
3. Dessert Topping. Sugar free cranberry sauce also makes for the perfect addition when you dollop a few tablespoons on top of vanilla ice cream, brownies, or cookies for dessert,
4. Breakfast. Throughout the year I most often will put it on top of freshly made steel cut oats. Add some plant-based milk, chopped nuts, and seeds, a tablespoon or so of flax or hemp seeds, and a touch of maple syrup, and you have yourself a delicious, warm, comforting, nutritious breakfast.
5. Everything Topping. Doug, my guy with Parkinson’s, puts this cranberry sauce on everything. He makes toast and uses this cranberry raspberry sauce as a jam. He puts some on homemade banana or pumpkin muffins. Actually, I’ve seen him put it on the majority of his morning baked goods!

If I must say, this recipe is the best cranberry sauce and is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Enjoy!

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Let’s Connect

If you make and enjoy this delicious Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce with Raspberries, I would love it if you give this recipe 5 stars and/or comment below.

Let me know which recipe you use too, either the conventional stove method or using an Instant Pot.

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