Make Keto Cranberry Sauce for a sweet and tart holiday favorite with just 4 ingredients! With only 5 minutes of prep, this quick and easy side is sure to brighten every holiday plate.
My favorite way to use leftover cranberry sauce is swirled into keto cheesecake fluff or spooned over cottage cheese pancakes for a bright, festive twist after the holidays.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Keto Cranberry Sauce
- Flavor: Sweet-tart cranberries get a cozy holiday boost from warm cinnamon and bright, fresh orange zest.
- Why Make It: With easy prep and quick cook time, this easy cranberry sauce leaves you time and precious stovetop space to make the rest of your holiday dinner.
- Skill Level: Anyone can succeed making this recipe with one saucepan, a spoon, and without any special techniques.
- Time-Saver: Make this cranberry sauce several days ahead so there’s one less recipe to worry about on the holiday, leaving you more time to enjoy the celebration.
Cook Time: 10 Mins Servings: 6 Cooking Method: Stovetop
Ingredient Notes
- Cranberries: Fresh or frozen cranberries work equally well. If frozen, add straight to the saucepan, no need to thaw.
- Sweetener: Use Swerve or another granulated keto-friendly 1:1 sugar substitute. Sweetness can vary by brand and blend, so taste and adjust the amount as needed.
- Cinnamon Stick: Adds warm, cozy cinnamon flavor without leaving bits of ground cinnamon in the sauce.
- Orange Zest: Adds bright, fresh citrus flavor without added sugar found in orange juice. Use more than suggested for a brighter, bolder citrus flavor.
Variations
- Add a small pinch of nutmeg, ginger, or cloves for extra holiday warmth.
- Leave the cinnamon stick out for a brighter, more fruit-forward sauce.
- For a subtle vanilla flavor, stir in vanilla extract once sauce is removed from heat.
- Omit the orange zest, or use lemon zest for a different citrus note.
- For a smoother sauce, gently mash the berries while cooking. For a jelly-like consistency, blend the cooled sauce.
- Prefer a more tart flavor? Reduce the sweetener slightly.
How to Make Keto Cranberry Sauce
- Add cranberries, sweetener, water, cinnamon, and orange zest to a saucepan.
- Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally (full recipe below).
- Remove the cinnamon stick, cool, and refrigerate until thick and chilled.
Save Some for Later
- Store leftovers covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
- Refrigerate for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 4 months.
- Thaw frozen cranberry sauce overnight in the refrigerator and stir before serving.
- Serve chilled, at room temperature, or warmed up. To reheat, warm in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave.
- Leftover sauce is delicious on turkey or pork, added to a low carb wraps, or as a tangy condiment for chicken.
Complete the Keto Holiday Table
Did you enjoy this Keto Cranberry Sauce recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Keto Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cranberries fresh or frozen, about 3 cups
- ⅔ cup sweetener such as Swerve
- ½ cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat for 10-12 minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally. Remove the cinnamon stick and discard.
- Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until chilled. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
Notes
- Cook sauce gently on medium heat to prevent scorching and to thicken slowly.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Make this sauce up to 4 months ahead of time and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
©Easy Low Carb. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
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Hi can you use dried cranberries. thank you
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Sue, but it may work. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Tastes great but how is it “low carb”? Have you read the Nutrition Information?
Cranberries are considered keto friendly, the remainder of the carbs will come from the sweetener you choose. So be sure to pick a low carb sweetener like swerve! I hope that helps.
I used Monk fruit sweetener1/3cup. Then I added a little more but not 2/3 cup. It had a very strong bitter taste and couldn’t eat it. What should I do differently next time.
Swerve and monk fruit sweetener should be a 1:1 ratio so you might have just needed to add more sweetener to offset the bitter flavor. Overcooking the cranberries can result in extra bitterness too or possibly the orange zest had too much pith in it. I hope that helps give you a starting point for trouble shooting, Mary!