Well is More Plant-Based Thanksgiving, Pt. V
Menu
I. Garlic Smashed Sweet Potatoes, V, GF
II. A Healthier Thanksgiving Stuffing, V, GF
III. A Healthier Mushroom Gravy, V, GF
A Healthier Cranberry Sauce
Really the main thing that makes a cranberry sauce unhealthy is the high sugar content. Some recipes call for as much as one to two whole cups of sugar. Don’t get me wrong, I love my sweets, but knowing there is an option to achieve the same effect without all the sugar, I’d rather take that route.
This recipe uses monkfruit sweetener in place of sugar. Monkfruit sweetener can be used in place of sugar in all sorts of recipes. It’s how I sweeten my daily matcha latte and I use it in a lot of baked goods too. Unlike artificial sweeteners, monkfruit is a natural option that is sugar-free and also calorie-free.
So, with the added sugar removed, now we have a healthier cranberry sauce option that is basically just cranberries with some flavor and spice.
Recipe Notes
Sweetener. As mentioned, this recipe uses monkfruit sweetener. If monkfruit sweetener is unavailable to you or you’d rather not purchase it, you can use some other less processed sweetener options in place of white sugar. Options include coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey, and organic cane sugar. Keep in mind maple syrup will add a maple-y flavor, honey would complement it well but it’s not vegan. At the end of the day, sugar is sugar, but as a general rule, the less processed the better.
Lemon vs. Orange. I used lemon in this recipe simply because it’s all I had on hand. The result was slightly citrusy/tart but still delicious. I personally think orange would make a better fit and would recommend that instead, but either will work.
Consistency. I used minimal water in this recipe for a thick consistency. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add more water or orange juice 1 tbsp at a time until it’s where you want it.
Step By Step
1. Wash cranberries in a colander and let drain.
3. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes then medium heat for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add cranberries (minus 1/2 a cup) to saucepan. Add sweetener, orange juice, orange zest, water, and spices. Stir to combine.
4. Turn heat back to low. Add remaining 1/2 cup of cranberries. Adjust flavor with additional sweetener and/or spices if needed. Remove from heat.
No-Sugar-Added Vegan Cranberry Sauce
Recipe adapted from Food Network’s Perfect Cranberry Sauce recipe
Ingredients
12 oz bag of cranberries
1/2 cup monkfruit sweetener, see recipe notes
1-2 tbsp squeezed orange juice
2 tsp orange zest
1-2 tbsp water, see recipe notes
dash or two of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, sea salt and white pepper, to taste
Instructions
Add entire bag of cranberries to a saucepan. Remove 1/2 a cup of cranberries and set aside for later.
Add monkfruit sweetener, orange juice, orange zest, water and spices to saucepan. Stir to combine.
Turn heat on to low. Cook over low heat for roughly 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn heat up to medium. Cook over medium heat until cranberries burst, approximately 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Turn heat back down to low. Stir in remaining cranberries. Add additional sweetener and/or spices, to taste.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
To revive cranberry sauce after refrigerating, add hot water 1 tbsp at a time and mix until desired consistency is achieved.
Enjoy!