This low in sugar, quick cranberry sauce is made with Marsala wine for a bit of festive flavour, cayenne pepper for a bit of bite, and is ready in under 10 minutes.
Today I am going to share my super easy to make, low in sugar, quick cranberry sauce, which is ready in under 15 minutes! This recipe is so simple and delicious that I usually carry on making it until cranberries disappear from the shops. Which is well into February!
I can’t imagine Christmas without cranberries. I put cranberries in homemade stuffing, both the meaty kind as well as vegetarian. I scatter them over my roasted brussels sprouts, and even add them to my Christmas dark chocolate truffles.
And I always make sure my Christmas menu includes homemade chunky cranberry sauce.
Can I use frozen cranberries to make quick cranberry sauce
Yes, you can! Either fresh or frozen cranberries are absolutely fine to use. If you choose frozen there is no need to defrost them. Put them straight into the pot and combine with the other ingredients. The only difference is that they might take a couple of minutes longer to cook.
Low sugar easy cranberry sauce
What I love about this easy cranberry sauce is that I am in complete control of the amount of sugar that goes into it. Because cranberries are very sour they do need to be combined with sugar in one form of another. In this recipe I chose ordinary sugar plus Marsala wine (because it’s Christmas!), and ended up with approximately half the sugar content of shop bought cranberry sauce. And it’s really sweet enough!
You can always add more sugar to this recipe if you like but do it bit by bit so you don’t end up making it too sweet.
How to make quick homemade cranberry sauce
This homemade cranberry sauce recipe is incredibly easy to make! Simply place all the ingredients in a saucepan, cover and bring to the boil. Then simmer for about 11-12 minutes stirring once or twice. Once the cranberries stop making popping sounds the sauce is pretty much ready. Leave in the saucepan to cool completely. It will thicken as it cools.
Can you adapt this recipe?
Yes, you can! In addition to adjusting the amount of sugar to suit your preference you can also play around with the spices. I used nutmeg and allspice to give this recipe more of a festive character, but they are not absolutely necessary. You could also combine them or swap them for a bit of cinnamon and/or cloves.
I also spiced it up with some cayenne pepper, but you can leave it out if you want the sauce to be mild.
You could also use port or sherry instead of the Marsala.
Consistency and texture
Because this sauce cooks so quickly the cranberries become soft but do not disintegrate completely. This homemade sauce does not resemble the overprocessed cranberry sauces sold in the shops, which often contain more jelly (sugar!) than fruit. This sauce is chunky and thick, but with a good amount of moisture in it. Perfect with roast turkey or chicken!
Storing homemade cranberry sauce
Once the sauce has cooled transfer it into a clean jar, refrigerate and it will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
You may also like this Cranberry Beetroot Christmas Chutney!
Quick Cranberry Sauce (Low Sugar)
Ingredients
- 300 g cranberries fresh or frozen
- 80 ml Marsala wine
- 3 heaped tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon each nutmeg and allspice and 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Good pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan, stir, cover and bring to boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 11-12 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the cranberries have softened (and stopped making popping sounds). Remove from the heat and allow to cool. The mixture will thicken as it cools.
- Once completely cooled transfer into a clean jar. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Pin Quick Cranberry Sauce (Low Sugar)!
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RECIPE LINK PARTIES
I am sharing my easy cranberry sauce recipe with Totally Terrific Tuesday, Cook Once Eat Twice, Gluten Free Fridays, Fiesta Friday, Saucy Saturdays and Free From Fridays.
Hi, I am Monika, welcome to Everyday Healthy Recipes! This blog is all about creatively simple recipes with a healthy twist, old classics with a modern take, and an occasional Polish dish thrown into the mix - all easy to make, healthy and delicious, perfect for everyday cooking. 
Ooh I love the idea of adding a little cayenne pepper to give the cranberry a kick.
Thank you Charlotte:)
Oooh Marsala wine I will have to try that. In the past I have used prosecco but love the sound of this. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Thanks Kirsty! To be honest I think any sweet tasting alcohol would be suitable in this recipe. Prosecco sounds nice too:)
I make my relish at Thanksgiving and use Grand Marnier and orange zest. I do mine to taste with the sugar as well as I don’t like it too sweet. I will have to remember Marsala the next time I make it. Happy Fiesta Friday!
I am definitely going to have to try Grand Marnier the next time I make it! Thanks for stopping by:)
Thanks! It’s impossible to avoid sugar completely but I always try to use as little as possible:)
Monika,
Love the addition of Marsala to the cranberry sauce and teh fact that you could cut the sugar in half is awesome!
thanks for sharing it with us at Fiesta Friday!
Wow, this sounds delicious!
Thanks! Glad you like it:)
I am absolutely addicted to Cranberry sauce, honestly between me & The Peachicks we go through vats of it every year – I LOVE the idea of adding a bit of marsala or chilli to it! Definitely going to give this one a go! #cookblogshare
Thank you! I can’t imagine the festive season without it either! The other day I had it with fish and thought it tastes great (this means I’ve probably stopped using common sense:)
Homemade cranberry sauce is fab, isn’t it? Soooo much better than the bought stuff. Yours looks gorgeous – I like the addition of cayenne pepper. I’ll have to try that! Eb x
Thanks Eb! We’ve almost finished the first batch, I’ll have to make more for Christmas! Glad you liked the cayenne pepper:)
This looks fab and it’s great to have a low sugar alternative! Love the colour, it really pops off the screen too!
Thank you! Glad you like it! I think less sugar is always better, and cranberry sauce from the shop is so sweet when you make your own you are bound to use less sugar. Thanks for stopping by:)
What a delicious recipe – I love cranberry sauce and might just have a go at your recipe. Thanks for linking up with #CookBlogShare
Thanks Mandy! So glad to hear that!
I love the look of your cranberry sauce. I love cranberries and it sounds like the perfect sauce to go in a turkey sandwich… or a brie and cranberry sauce baguettes… yum! I’m currently putting together a round-up of Christmas recipes that are free from the top 14 allergens. Would you mind if I included it? Thanks 🙂 Mel #CookBlogShare
Thanks! I’d be delighted if you included my cranberry sauce in your roundup! Send me a link when you post it so I can have a look at all the other Christmas recipes too:)
I love cranberry sauce but haven’t had any for a while cause of all the sugar. This sounds like a great idea with the addition of wine.
Thanks! This sauce isn’t as sugary as the shop bought ones – sometimes making your own is simply the best option:)
It looks so vibrant! I’m sure it’s much nicer than the cranberry sauce you can buy, although I have to admit I’ve never made my own yet.
Thanks Corina! I make my own because it’s so easy and I can flavour it however I like:)
And thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice as well Monika!
Thanks for hosting:)