Lately, I’ve had fresh cranberry sauce on my mind. So I researched cranberry sauce recipes, and found that most have anywhere from ¼ to 1 ¾ cups of sugar. This Paleo Cranberry Cherry Sauce, however, is made with no sugar, and has only 4 ingredients! I like a tart cranberry sauce, one that almost makes my mouth pucker, so I developed this stevia and fruit-sweetened cranberry sauce. While it’s nicely tart, the cherries and orange juice make it just sweet enough.
This is a naturally sweetened lower-glycemic cranberry sauce recipe, however I did not come up with the idea of combining cranberries and cherries myself. I found this delightfully unique flavor combination on marthastewart.com.
Cranberry Cherry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce package fresh cranberries
- 1 10 ounce package frozen cherries
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 10 drops stevia
Instructions
- Place cranberries, cherries, orange juice and stevia in a saucepan
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat
- Simmer about 20 minutes, until berries have burst and sauce has thickened
- Transfer to a bowl and serve
When I conducted a survey on twitter the other night and asked what people use to sweeten their cranberry sauce, the responses ranged from sugar to orange juice, to honey, maple syrup, apple juice and xylitol. Thanks to all of you who responded to my informal poll!
What kind of cranberry sauce do you usually make at Thanksgiving? Will you use a standard recipe this year or try something new?
jaime @ sweet road says
I love the idea of using cherries as well. I’ve noticed some people don’t like the overwhelming bitter/tart taste of cranberries, so sweetening it up and adding another flavor could make it much more versatile.
Mom2my10 says
Here’s a great cranberry salsa recipe we love to make during the holidays!
http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.mx/2010/11/homemaker-monday-cranberry-salsa.html
Nancy says
The local church has a holiday bazaar every year, and one woman makes the most amazing cranberry/orange/ginger relish. This year we are avoiding sugar, wheat, and soy. I bought berries this year and working on how to make my own with out cane sugar. I though I’d try coconut crystals (by Coconut Secret) I find I don’t use as much as it’s very sweet and is prebiotic. I buy Coconut Secret brand, they have a good line of products. We the coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. I can find these locally.
http://www.coconutsecret.com
this feed has some good information
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/04-14/coconut-sap-a-paleo-ish-sweetener/
Lynnette Foster-Horwith says
Hm I’m wondering if you mean sweet or sour cherries? I have a freezer full of sour ones from my Moms tree but puuuucker! I hope stevia can cut through!
CJ at Food Stories says
Love the cherry add :-)
Jeanne says
We have made many cranberry relishes with different fruit choices….Pomegranite juice is a nice addition too….The cherry looks lovely and I have some jars I canned last summer, so may make a small batch ….
Jeanne
cindi says
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing that. :) I don’t like orange juice in anything, but pomegranate is a fantastic replacement idea!
Ruth J. Hirsch says
Hi, Elana,
Yay ThanksGiving!
This past Sunday was my pre-ThanksGiving for our neighbors. Sign up went from 10 to 21 to 24. It was great
Cranberry-wise, I made the Cranberry-Orange relish. Quartered org, Oranges, and cranberries. Into food Processor. chop chop chop. Done. One orange p bag of cranberries. Sweetened with a very very small amt of honey– some set aside with none at all, for my sweetener free sweetie (aka husb.)
Your Cherry Recipe is lovely and luscious, for next year perhaps.
Also made Praline Squash, Curried Squash– decided to do two squash and no stuffing. Would do same again in future.
hope it is a good and peaceful time for you and your readers,
Ruth
Judee @ Gluten Free A-Z says
A healthy no sugar cranberry sauce has been on my mind. I like the addition of cherries to the cranberry mix. I have a bag of Trader Joe’s frozen cherry and other berry mix. I might try that and I like the idea of adding walnuts as Lisa suggested.
Kate @ Eat, Recycle, Repeat says
Ooo I love the flavor combination! And using frozen cherries makes it so easy to make in the winter
Lisa says
I like the idea of subbing stevia in the recipe. I have been thinking of changing up the sweetener in my usual cranberry relish this year. I actually make it year round, since it is really simple and delicious.
In a medium pot, put 1 bag of fresh cranberries, an 8 oz. can of (drained,juice packed) crushed pineapple, and 1 cup sugar (or equivalent sweetener). Cook until the berries pop, then take it off the heat and stir in 1 cup chopped walnuts.
Sometimes I add more pineapple, or some mandarin oranges; I’ve even subbed finely chopped apples. It’s good as a cheesecake topping, too.