Mid-Life Croissant

Healthy Food + Cocktails. Cuz Balance.

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.

 

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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.

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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.
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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

 

Comments

  9. 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

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