Mid-Life Croissant

Healthy Food + Cocktails. Cuz Balance.

  • Home
  • Start here
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Legal

Healthy Cranberry Sauce {2 Ways!}

Find the yin to your Turkey’s yang this Thanksgiving with these two homemade healthy cranberry sauce recipes. One dark. One light. Both are naturally sweetened with the added depth and complexity of cocktail bitters.

Find the yin to your turkey's yang this Thanksgiving with these two healthy cranberry sauce recipes. One dark. One light. Both sugar free with added complexity from my favorite cocktail bitters. MUST try.Let’s face it. Cranberry sauce is usually an afterthought. It’s kind of obligatory but nobody really eats it, do they? Well, the cranberry game is about to get changed! These healthy cranberry sauce recipes boast amazing depth of flavor and are guaranteed to elevate your holiday feast almost effortlessly.

 

option to go straigt to recipe

Think about it. Turkey has dark meat and light meat right? How is one cranberry sauce (especially if it’s from a can!!) supposed to hold up to such different flavors and textures?

Find the yin to your turkey's yang this Thanksgiving with these two healthy cranberry sauce recipes. One dark. One light. Both sugar free with added complexity from my favorite cocktail bitters. MUST try.Well, it can’t. So I made two. One healthy cranberry sauce has a dark, plummy flavor to compliment the white meat and one has brighter, citrusy notes to harmonize with your dark meat.

After all, Thanksgiving is all about balance, right? Uuuuhhhh. OK, maybe not. But it IS about abundance. And nothing says “abundance” like giving your guests choices.

Need this recipe but not near a printer? Pin it For Later!

Two Healthy Cranberry Sauce Recipes Made with Cocktail Bitters

Find the yin to your turkey's yang this Thanksgiving with these two healthy cranberry sauce recipes. One dark. One light. Both sugar free with added complexity from my favorite cocktail bitters. MUST try.Ready for your bonus? These two healthy cranberry sauces are even tastier if you make them a day or two in advance. So helpful when you’re feeding a crowd! Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge and bring them to room temperature before you serve the meal. Cinch-a-licious.

Close up of healthy cranberry sauce made with maple syrup and orange bitters. So what’s in there?!? Well, fresh cranberries, obviously. The dark one is made with dehydrated cane juice (sucanat) and Angostura bitters for a plummy, clove-forward flavor. The light one is made with pure maple syrup and orange bitters for a much brighter, citrusy effect.

While the light one is a bit sweeter than its dark sibling, neither one could technically be called sweet. The definitive star of both of these healthy cranberry sauce recipes is the natural, tart flavor of the cranberries.

Find the yin to your turkey's yang this Thanksgiving with these two healthy cranberry sauce recipes. Glass bowl of healthy cranberry sauce made with sucanat and Angostura bitters.Goes great with dark meat.Although these sauces were designed with turkey in mind they go equally well with roasted chicken, pork and as part of a killerrrrr cheese plate.

And on that note, I’d like to wish you a very happy, food-filled, love-filled holiday season. The world seems a little crazy right now but we can find strength and solace in our communities. And that is something I’m very thankful for.



Mid-Life Croissant simple, healthy Recipe Blog

5 from 2 votes
Find the yin to your turkey's yang this Thanksgiving with these two healthy cranberry sauce recipes. One dark. One light. Both sugar free with added complexity from my favorite cocktail bitters. MUST try.
Print
Healthy Cranberry Sauce {2 Ways!}
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Two homemade healthy cranberry sauce recipes. One dark. One light. Both are naturally sweetened with the added depth and complexity of cocktail bitters.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 cups
Author: Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
Ingredients
  • 2 12 ounce bags of fresh cranberries one for each version
for the light one
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 Tablespoon orange bitters
for the dark one
  • 1/2 cup sucanat
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Angostura bitters
  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
  1. In two separate saucepans, dissolve sweetener and water over medium heat.
  2. Add cranberries.
  3. Bring to a boil and let boil gently as the cranberries pop.
  4. Reduce heat when most berries have burst and simmer to your desired consistency, around 10 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in bitters and, in the case of the dark one, the tbs of maple syrup.
  6. Let cool to room temperature and either store or serve.

Recipe Video

 

Share This With Your Besties!
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Yummly
Yummly
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Digg this
Digg
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: Dressings and Condiments, Healthy, Recipes, vegetarian

« Saucy Saturdays Blog Hop No 70
Holiday Menu Ideas with Dean & DeLuca Online »

Comments

  1. Toni | Boulder Locavore says

    November 22, 2018 at 6:20 pm

    I love this! Looks really easy to make!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 25, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      It is unbearably easy to make! That’s why I don’t feel guilty suggesting we make two! LOL.

      Reply
  2. Sara says

    November 20, 2018 at 11:32 pm

    Love a good homemade cranberry sauce, these look fab! I especially love the one with maple syrup!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 21, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      Yup that one is nice and bright.

      Reply
  3. Alida | Simply Delicious says

    November 20, 2018 at 1:50 am

    I’ll take both, thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 20, 2018 at 11:32 am

      You’re my kind of gal.

      Reply
  4. Krissy Allori says

    November 19, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Cranberry sauce is my favorite part of thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 19, 2018 at 1:07 pm

      It’s definitely in my top three, along with stuffing and gravy.

      Reply
  5. Ellen says

    November 19, 2018 at 8:36 am

    What a great idea to serve two sauces with such different flavors. Sure to please everyone at the table!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 19, 2018 at 8:44 am

      I love giving my guests options!

      Reply
  6. Gerlinde says

    November 24, 2016 at 9:55 am

    What a interesting twist to add bitters to the cranberry sauce. I Lso like your choice of sweeteners. Happy Thanksgiving !

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 27, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      Thank you, Gerlinde! Hope you had a fantastic feast!

      Reply
  7. chef mimi says

    November 23, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Very interesting with the bitters!!!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 23, 2016 at 12:22 pm

      Thank you! They are such an easy flavor boost.

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    November 20, 2016 at 10:36 pm

    Very clever!
    I like the light/dark option!
    Thanks!
    Michelle

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 21, 2016 at 7:55 am

      Thanks Michelle!

      Reply
  9. Monika says

    November 19, 2016 at 8:13 am

    These recipes look lovely and simple to make. So many people don’t realise it’s so easy to make your own cranberry sauce, and so much tastier!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 19, 2016 at 8:37 am

      I must admit to being one of those people. And one of those people who never cared for it because all I’d tasted was canned.

      Reply
  10. swayam says

    November 19, 2016 at 4:13 am

    This is beautiful C!! Love the color!!

    Reply
    • Christine says

      November 19, 2016 at 6:47 am

      Thanks, girl. I’m pretty psyched to make another batch for Turkey day ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Site With Keywords

About Christine

Hey there! If you've been looking for a healthy(ish) food blog that doesnt' take itself too seriously you're in the right place. I focus on low carb, low sugar and dogma FREE recipes that taste great. Read more here -->

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

FREE eBook of MLC’s All Time Top Five recipes!

Sign up here to get all my new recipes in digest form twice a month PLUS a downloadable ebook of my five most popular recipes.

Appetizers
smoothies
dinners
cocktails

Sign up for recipe digests!

Get all my new recipes in digest form twice a month PLUS my new, FREE eCookbook of the all time top five recipes on this site.

Copyright © 2019 ยท Midlifecroissant.com