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Get It NowEveryone Asks Me For This Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce Recipe
I make this fresh, sugar free cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving every year. (In fact, it’s my oldest Thanksgiving recipe, from 2016.) And every single year, everyone at the table — including my extended family that isn’t even trying to eat healthy — eagerly gobbles it up. Here’s why everyone asks me for this no-one-will-ever-know keto cranberry sauce recipe:
- Tastes just like regular cranberry sauce – Your family and friends won’t be able to tell the difference! I don’t say this about many of my keto recipes (even when I love them), but with this one it really is true. My sugar free cranberry sauce recipe is just the right balance of sweet and tart, with no aftertaste.
- Customizable texture – You can make it runny, more jelly-like, or somewhere in between! Just see my tips below to adjust.
- 4 simple ingredients – Plus water, but who counts that? And you can whip it up in just 10 minutes.
- Healthy, sugar free, keto, and diabetic friendly – This sauce has just 4g net carbs and 27 calories per generous serving (1/4 cup). And no preservatives or processed stuff!
- Make it ahead – There’s enough to worry about around the holidays! My no sugar cranberry sauce stores beautifully and tastes fresh for a long time after you make it.
- Versatile for Thanksgiving and beyond – Yes, this is a must-have for roasted turkey, but don’t stop there. I also love this sauce over baked chicken breast and keto meatballs, and even stirred into Greek yogurt with my low carb granola or healthy granola.
If you’re looking for “something extra” that will surprise everyone at your Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering (and make them rave), this sugar free cranberry sauce is it. Make it with me this holiday season!
“I made this the day before Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit. Thought it would be better if it sat all night. Even the people in my family that do not do keto loved it. No one knew it had no added sugar until I told them. Will definitely make this again next year!”
-Kiki
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my sugar free cranberry sauce, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Cranberries – You can use fresh cranberries or frozen ones! Cranberries actually have a small amount of natural sugar, which helps the sauce thicken and gel a little, just like you’d expect from a traditional cranberry sauce. If you have extra cranberries left over, use them for my sugar free dried cranberries, stuffed acorn squash, or turkey roulade!
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – My favorite sweetener for sauces, because it tastes like sugar (no aftertaste), dissolves completely, and won’t crystallize! Most brands labeled “monk fruit”, “stevia”, or “erythritol” have trouble dissolving and will form crystals. If you’ll be enjoying your sugar free cranberry sauce right away, other powdered sugar substitutes can work (see my sweetener conversion chart for amounts), but Besti is the only one to use if you want to avoid your sauce becoming crunchy after storing — and it tastes the closest to real sugar.
- Water – Thins out the sauce and gives the berries something to simmer in.
- Orange Zest – Add as much or as little as you like. If you can’t get a fresh orange, then a little orange extract (to taste) is the next best option.
- Vanilla Extract – This brand is one of my faves.
How To Make Keto Cranberry Sauce
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Combine all the ingredients. Mix cranberries, water, powdered Besti, and orange zest in a medium saucepan.
- Simmer away. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Let your sugar free cranberry sauce simmer to thicken, until the cranberries pop and a sauce forms. (See my tips below on this!)
- Add the vanilla. Remove from heat, then add it in. Stir in the vanilla extract. You can serve this sauce warm, at room temperature, or chilled in the fridge.
My Recipe Tips
- Don’t use a wooden spoon like I did. 😉 Sugar free cranberry sauce will stain your spoon! Silicone cooking spoons work well and don’t stain as easily.
- You can change the consistency by adjusting the cook time. Cook the sauce for less time for a texture similar to preserves with some whole berries intact (as pictured), or cook it for longer to get a jelly-like sauce more similar to canned versions.
- The sauce will thicken more as it cools. Keep this in mind when deciding whether it’s thick enough for your liking.
- Prefer a smooth sauce? Puree it in a blender at the end. You could also try to strain it after the cranberries pop (before the sauce is too thick) and then return the liquid to the saucepan to simmer more. This version would need to be chilled to set.
- Adjust the sweetener to your taste. It will depend on your tastebuds and the tartness of your cranberries. I recommend starting with my keto cranberry sauce recipe as written, then stir in more at the end if needed. Besti will dissolve easily!
- Want a fresh (instead of cooked) version? Make my cranberry relish recipe, which requires zero cooking. Just blend and refrigerate!
Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce (4 Ingredients)
My healthy, keto, sugar free cranberry sauce needs just 4 ingredients + 10 minutes! It's sweet, tangy, and tastes better than store bought.
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Combine the cranberries, water, Besti, and orange zest in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
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Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the cranberries pop and a sauce forms that's thickened to your liking.
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Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 cup
- Tips: See my recipe tips above to get the perfect consistency (thick or runny, smooth or chunky) and sweetness you like in this sauce!
- Variations: I’ve got a whole list of add-ins above if you want to change up the flavor a bit.
- Storage: Keep sugar free cranberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks. (Fun fact: The allulose in powdered Besti is a natural preservative, so this keto cranberry sauce will keep for longer than regular versions!)
- Make ahead: I used to make this recipe with erythritol for years, and while it was good, I could never make it in advance because it developed this crunchy texture after a few hours. Now that I use powdered Besti (every year since 2020), I can make it in advance and not give it a second thought. Here’s to making the hectic holiday season a little easier!
- Freeze: Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Low Carb Holiday Cookbook, Healthy Holiday Cookbook, and Keto Ebook Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Sugar-Free Keto Cranberry Sauce
Flavor Variations
It’s super easy to change up the flavor of my basic sugar free cranberry sauce! Try these add-ins:
- Maple – Use 1/2 cup of my Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Maple Syrup instead of the sweetener.
- Brown Sugar – Swap the powdered Besti with my Besti Brown sweetener, which will give you a brown sugar flavor.
- Spices – You can add ground cinnamon, allspice, ground cloves, and/or ground ginger. I recommend starting with 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, and 1/8 teaspoon each of nutmeg and cloves. From there you can adjust to taste.
- Orange – I already add orange zest to my keto cranberry sauce, but double it if you want a stronger orange flavor.
- Spicy – Simmer the sauce with some minced jalapenos.
- Apple – Use 3/4 cup of unsweetened apple juice or 1 cup unsweetened applesauce instead of water. (This option makes a low sugar cranberry sauce, but it’s not keto friendly. You can use apple extract instead for a keto version.)
More Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes
With how quickly this sugar free cranberry sauce comes together, you’ll have plenty of time to make other holiday dishes. I recommend:
- Turkey – I love a juicy roasted Thanksgiving turkey (pictured above with this low carb cranberry sauce). But you can’t go wrong with spatchcock turkey for a faster option, or Crock Pot turkey breast or turkey legs for a smaller gathering. Don’t forget my keto gravy!
- Potatoes & Swaps – Choose from my healthy sweet potato casserole (uses real sweet potatoes, but no refined sugar), or my keto sweet potato casserole as a low carb swap. For something simpler, try my mashed cauliflower or mashed sweet potatoes.
- Classic Sides – Complete your Thanksgiving dinner with my cauliflower stuffing and keto green bean casserole. My family also really loves cauliflower mac and cheese, garlic roasted green beans (in my picture above), and butternut squash salad.
- Desserts – If you’re watching your carbs, you can still enjoy a slice of my keto pumpkin pie, sugar-free pecan pie, or keto pumpkin cheesecake. My healthy cheesecake is a more recent fave at my house.
460 Comments
Robyn
0It’s delicious! And super easy
Kristyn
0Even though this is sugar-free, it’s still perfectly sweet & so tasty! Thank you for sharing this!
jess
0Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this recipe! I love cranberry sauce, but always hated the amount of sugar in it, and this is just what I needed.
DeDe
0How much is a serving, or how many will this serve?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi DeDe, This makes 6 1/4-cup servings. You can adjust the servings on the recipe card above if you need more.
Sarah
0Hi, next to allulose, it says see notes, but there aren’t any notes about sweetener. It just says, “RECIPE NOTES Serving size: 1/4 cup.”
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Sarah, Sorry about that! There are no notes, I removed the “see notes” part. But you can check the post above for notes about the sweetener if you have questions around that.
Peggy
0This cranberry sauce is fabulous! It is sweet and tart at the same time. For more tartness, leave out the vanilla.
Carole
0What can I use instead of Besti?
Lydia
0I am excited to try this recipe this Thanksgiving.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Carole, Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend is my top choice because it blends perfectly into the sauce, keeps longer without crystallizing. Depending on which sweetener you choose, you may need to adjust the amount of sweetener needed in the recipe. Check out my sweetener guide to help you determine the best option for you.
Barbara
0Have not made yet, but will be making Thanksgiving—Thank you for the recipe
Bunamaica
0Did not disappoint! So pleased to get this recipe. One question- the Besti seemed to accumulate on the top after a night in fridge making a crusty patch – should I use less sweetener, a bit more water or what. Still so good!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Glad you liked it! Any accumulation should go away if you just reheat it again, it shouldn’t be actual crystallization like erythritol would do (which is tough to get rid of).
Peggy Riley
0Do you squeeze the orange juice into the cranberry sauce, or do you just throw the orange away?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Squeezing the orange juice into the sauce would add a lot of sugar so I don’t, but my kids usually eat the orange itself after I add the zest to the sauce. You can add some orange juice into the sauce if you like, though.
Dottie Bacon
0Oh my goodness! This was amazing! I simmered the sauce as in the directions, and added Besti. I skipped the extra flavorings, and orange zest. The Besti was perfect! I will definitely make this often. YUM!
Christy k
0I use this recipe every year! Even my non-keto/low carb family prefers this cranberry sauce over several others we’ve tried!
Renee Reger
0Have made this cranberry recipe and loved it was a hit with whole family in fact going to make this year again and family said not to bother getting canned stuff I did have a little crystallize in there I liked the crunch. Would probably be good as topping for sugar free ice cream or just by its self worked for me. Thanks for this recipe made turkey day for me I enjoy the cranberry sauce with my meal
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Renee, I’m glad you liked it! You shouldn’t have any crunch or crystallization if you use Besti, but other brands may crystallize.
Marcos
0Can’t wait to try this! I like to take a whole Clementine slice it very thin and add it for a special citrus flavor.
Carole
0Very tasty! I actually reduced the sugar and added more zest. At the end, I did add a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg as you suggested. Also an easier way to zest your orange is to buy a smaller zester with a handle and put the orange on a solid surface. Then zest it by moving the orange around.
Brigida Sullivan
0Wonderful recipe. I made this last night to go with our salmon. Both my husband and I loved it. I like to add star anise when I can. However I couldn’t find any at the store so I used a teaspoon of Sambuca.
Gisele
0So glad I found your sugar free recipe. I made it Thanksgiving day and the family really enjoyed it. I did cut down my Monk granular sugar to 3/4c. & didn’t have orange zest on hand. I might even try 1/2c next time. Thank you.
Jane Watson
0I have just made this. I am in Australia where we can only buy dried (always sweetened) cranberries and unsweetened frozen ones for a few weeks a year near Christmas, from only one store in my small town so they go pretty quickly. The first time I made this recipe I used granulated erithrytol (possibly with a minute amount of stevia or monkfuit), deliciously jammy initially but rocky by the next morning. I have just found powdered truvia and used it this time but the sauce is very tart. I feel there are two possible reasons for this: 1. The cranberries are picked and frozen before they are properly ripe. OR 2. Powdered sweetener is not as compact as granular so a cupful or powdered contains less sweetener. I now have a jar of deliciously fruity, but very sour cranberry sauce. Should I reheat it and add more sweetener. I did not use vanilla because I hate vanilla everything.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jane, Unfortunately the reason your sauce turned out rocky was due to the erythritol. Truvia has the same main ingredient, so will have the same result. I know being in Australia, finding quality ingredients can sometimes be difficult. I recommend making your cranberry sauce fresh right before serving if you have to use an erythritol-based sweetener.
Patty Sisk
0Do you know if this could be used in a gelatin salad recipe? I have made this gelatin salad recipe every Thanksgiving for many years, and the family demands it. It calls for canned whole berry cranberry sauce, but I now eat Keto and do not want all the sugar and carbs from the canned version.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Patty, I haven’t turned this sauce into a gelatin salad, but you definitely can! I recommend cooking the sauce for longer for stronger gelling action.
Debra Worth
0Had no idea cranberry sauce was so easy to make. This recipe is delicious and perfect for my diabetic husband! Highly recommend.
Angie Adams
0Hi there! I’m wanting to make this for our Thanksgiving, but I don’t have the monk fruit/allulose blend. I do have allulose and erythritol, though. Could you use both of these in this recipe, and if so, in what quantities? Thank you. Can’t wait to try this!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Angie, Out of the options you have, I’d recommend using the plain allulose instead of the combination. You’ll need about 1/3 more than the amount of Besti. You can always adjust to your taste at the end.
Sharon Maas
0If I use stevia how much should I use?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Sharon, This will vary widely by brand, as some brands are very concentrated and others are not. You can use my sweetener conversion chart to convert from Besti to what you have. Keep in mind that most brands of stevia are blended with erythritol, so they will crystallize and make your sauce crunchy when storing. I hope you get a chance to try my recipe using Besti Powdered and see the difference!
Janet Wooldridge
0This was fantastic! I added a splash of Grand Marnier to the recipe. My husband usually likes the canned jelly kind and has switched to this! We are both watching our sugar and carb intake so this was great not having to worry or skimp. Yum!