This keto cranberry sauce recipe is a delicious, sugar-free alternative to the traditional version. The base needs only three ingredients to create a thickened texture. Serve with your favorite holiday dishes!
Recipe Science
- Erythritol is 70% as sweet as sugar and low-carb. Monk fruit is a high-intensity sweetener, requiring just a small amount. Blends mimic sugar’s bulk and sweetness in the cranberry sauce.
- Use powdered sugar-free sweetener to dissolve quicker and prevent erythritol from recrystallizing when chilled.
- As cranberries pop in the sauce mixture, they release pectin, naturally thickening the sauce.
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Why It Works
Homemade cranberry sauce is a must-have side dish on the holiday table. This sugar-free version doesn’t sacrifice the taste or texture. Simmering fresh cranberries with a non-nutritive sweetener and some water will deliver a flavorful sauce that you may not even realize doesn’t have added sugar! I added some orange zest and vanilla extract to add a citrusy note for a more interesting taste.
Preparing the sugar-free cranberry sauce only takes under 30 minutes. Nowadays, you’ll find many options at the grocery store to swap out sucrose-based sweeteners. I’ll provide options for varieties and how to use them in the recipe. No one should have to miss out on the tangy topping. This is a healthier version of a keto diet Thanksgiving recipe that everyone can enjoy!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cranberries: I prefer fresh cranberries for the sauce. For this recipe, I use a 12-ounce bag, which, when cooked down, yields about 1 ½ cups of low-carb cranberry sauce.
- Keto Sweetener: I use a powdered sugar-free sweetener because it dissolves quickly into the sauce. It’s a blend of erythritol and monk fruit. However, granulated is also okay to use, but levels must be adjusted for density. Brands like Lakanto, Swerve, and Truvia sell these low-carb sweetener blends.
- Liquid: Water is added to help the cranberries break down and thicken the sauce. I use water instead of juice to control the sugar levels in the sauce.
- Citrus: To add a lingering orange flavor and aroma to the sauce, add orange zest so that the citrus oils infuse.
- Spices: Add a cinnamon stick for a pleasant, warm spice aroma and taste without being overpowering.
- Flavoring: A small amount of vanilla extract adds a sweet, baked aroma to the cranberry sauce.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
Now that you know how to make a traditional cranberry sauce keto, try these different ways to flavor the recipe.
- Using Frozen Cranberries: Add them in frozen, it will just take a few extra minutes to cook to melt the ice crystals.
- Keto Sweetener Options: If using granulated sugar-free sweetener, add 2/3 cups and adjust the level to the desired sweetness. Stevia, monk fruit, allulose, and erythritol are acceptable keto-friendly options.
- Herbs: Try adding rosemary, thyme, sage, tarragon, oregano, or basil.
- Spices: Add star anise, cardamom, allspice, or nutmeg. Use whole or ground spices.
- Add Some Heat: Minced ginger or hot peppers are an excellent addition to change the flavor. Check out my spicy cranberry sauce or ginger cranberry sauce recipes for inspiration!
How to Make Keto Cranberry Sauce
Step 1: Add the Ingredients
Add cranberries, your preferred keto-friendly sweetener, water, fresh orange zest, and a cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. These simple ingredients create a flavorful sauce without the added sugar, perfect for a low-carb diet.
Step 2: Simmer the Sauce
Bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. The cranberries will start to pop, releasing the pectin into the water to thicken the sauce. Stir occasionally to distribute the fruit and dissolve the sweetener.
I like to add the zest for a hint of orange extract taste from the oils in the orange. The cinnamon stick adds sweet-smelling spices to the sauce. The process takes about 15 minutes.
Ingredient Chemistry: For the quickest and easiest dissolving granules, use a powdered sugar-free sweetener instead of a granulated sweetener. This also helps reduce the recrystallization of erythritol in the recipe once the sauce is chilled.
Step 3: To Serve
Taste your keto cranberry sauce and adjust the sweetness if needed. Remove the cinnamon stick, turn off the heat, and stir in the vanilla for warmth and depth.
Let the sauce cool to room temperature before serving. This will allow the flavors to fully meld together, giving you a perfectly balanced dish.
Make-Ahead Tip: This delicious low-carb and keto cranberry sauce can be made one week in advance. Cool the sauce and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for up to three months and defrosted before use. Now, you can use it whenever you like throughout the year!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Even though they are fruit, cranberries are healthy and keto-friendly. They are low in carbohydrates and fiber. When prepared with a calorie-free sweetener, it makes for a delicious and healthy cranberry sauce.
Sweeteners on a keto diet include stevia, monk fruit, allulose, and erythritol. These are all-natural sweeteners. They range in their sweetness level. High-intensity sweeteners like stevia (about 300 times sweeter than sugar) and monk fruit (about 200 times sweeter) need a very small amount to add sweetness. Using too much will taste bitter and have a lingering aftertaste. Allulose and erythritol are lower in sweetness, about 70% as sweet. They are not digested by the body the same as sugar, making them a low-carb sweetener.
You can still achieve a thickened cranberry sauce when using a calorie-free sweetener. Pectin is released when the cranberries burst during cooking. This helps to create a gel-like consistency, which becomes thicker as it cools.
It depends on the type of sweetener used. Sucrose-based sweeteners like granulated or brown sugar, maple syrup, and honey increase carbs. A calorie-free sweetener like stevia, erythritol, monk fruit, or allulose will add sweetness without the high net carb count.
Serve This With
If you tried this Keto Cranberry Sauce Recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Keto Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cranberries, washed
- 1 cup powdered sugar-free sweetener, Lakanto, recommended
- ¾ cup water
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, optional
- 1 cinnamon stick, optional
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional
Instructions
- Add Ingredients – In a medium pan, add cranberries, sweetener, water, orange zest, and cinnamon stick.
- Simmer Sauce – Bring sauce to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Cook, occasionally stirring, until the cranberries pop and the mixture thickens to a jam consistency, about 13 to 15 minutes.
- To Serve – Taste the sauce and add more sweetener if desired. Discard the cinnamon stick. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Cool the sauce before serving.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Recipe Yield: About 1 ½ cups
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Storing: Cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze for up to 3 months; defrost before use.
- Sweetener Options: If using granulated sugar-free sweetener, add 2/3 cups. Adjust the level to the desired sweetness. Stevia, monk fruit, allulose, and erythritol are acceptable keto-friendly options.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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