Keto Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite side dishes at Thanksgiving. Or, really, anytime I am eating Turkey. That is why I developed this keto cranberry sauce recipe. I want everyone to be able to enjoy a low carb and keto friendly cranberry sauce!
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Keto Cranberry Sauce Recipe
As a kid, I used to love that smooth, sickenly sweet cranberry sauce from a can. And I actually refused to eat any other kind of cranberry sauce or cranberry relish-I called those “sticks and stones” because of the whole berries and peels inside.
When I got older, I discovered the rich depth of flavor inside a homemade cranberry sauce and started making my own.
Then, when I started on the Keto diet, I realized that I could still enjoy my cranberry sauce if I used a keto sweetener.
I started playing around with different methods to make this keto cranberry sauce recipe and I discovered how easy this was to make in the InstantPot. And just how great of a texture using the InstantPot gives it.
Can I still make this if I don’t have an InstantPot?
The short answer is yes, you can still make this recipe even if you don’t have an InstantPot. But, you should absolutely get one, they are great and make a lot of keto cooking a breeze!
The texture of this keto cranberry sauce will be different if you don’t use an InstantPot (or another electric pressure cooked), but it will still be a tasty low carb side dish.
If you’re not using an InstantPot, you will need to increase the water in this recipe to 1 cup. Boil the water, lemon juice, and cranberries on the stovetop for 5-7 minutes. Then add the sweetener, reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sweetener is fully incorporated and you reach the desired texture.
What’s the difference between Keto Cranberry Sauce and Keto Cranberry Relish?
I’ve heard people use the terms cranberry relish and cranberry interchangeably, even though I think they are different dishes.
A keto cranberry relish would be made blending or chopping up cranberries very finely, adding citrus peel, nuts and maybe a touch of sweetener.
Whereas, a keto cranberry sauce is cooked and is generally much sweeter than a keto cranberry relish.
The main difference between the two is that a cranberry sauce is cooked and cranberry relish is made with raw cranberries.
To be clear, this is a keto cranberry sauce recipe.
Is Cranberry Sauce Keto Friendly?
Jellied cranberry sauce in the can that you might traditionally buy at the store is not. But, cranberry sauce can be low carb and keto friendly. When you combine cranberries which are already low carb, with a keto sweetener, you are good to go.
Since cranberries are so tart and tangy, it might be hard to tell just how much sugar is in someone else’s homemade cranberry sauce. I suggest making this keto friendly cranberry sauce recipe and taking it with you to your Thanksgiving or holiday parties and meals. This way, you can be sure you aren’t getting a cranberry sauce packed with sugar.
Can You Make Cranberry Sauce Without Sugar?
Absolutely you can. And you will when you make this recipe.
I enjoy a very tart and tangy cranberry sauce. When I make this for myself at home, I usually only use a 1/4 cup of sweetener. This recipe as written calls for a 1/2 cup of sweetener because I think most palates don’t enjoy it as tangy as I do.
That being said, feel free to taste test as you go and add more or less sweetener depending on your own taste buds. I would say that you can go from 1/4 cup all the way up to a full cup of sweetener.
I suggest using Allulose, Swerve, or Powdered Erythritol for this recipe. All three measure pretty close to real sugar, don’t have any weird aftertaste and keep the consistency of the cranberry sauce just like the real thing.
You can choose to go with another sweetener, but results may vary. And you might need to make modifications to the recipe.
What Should I do with Leftover Keto Cranberry Sauce?
I like to make a double batch of cranberry sauce because I love to have leftovers. Most of us have leftover turkey and you know how turkey dries out sometimes when it’s reheated, so I love to use the leftover sauce to pair with the leftover turkey.
I also love to smother cranberry sauce on a turkey sandwich. Hear me out.
Two slices of low carb bread (like the zero net carb bread at Aldi), mounded with turkey, slathered with tangy leftover keto cranberry sauce, and topped with mayo…Yes Please!!!!
Make sure you store your leftover cranberry sauce in the fridge in a sealed container or storage bag.
Keto Cranberry Sauce
This keto cranberry sauce will make the perfect addition to any holiday meal. It's tart and tangy with a hint of sweetness. This recipe uses the Instant Pot so making keto cranberry sauce is simple and it turns out great every time.
Ingredients
- 12 oz Cranberries
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 cup Sweetener (see notes for more details)
Instructions
Wash cranberries
Add water, lemon juice, and cranberries to an Instant Pot (I like this brand)
Pressure cook on high for 1 minute and allow natural release for 7-8 minutes
Remove the lid and switch to sautee mode
Add the sweetener and stir with a wooden spoon, breaking up the berries as you stir
Stir until thickened. If the sauce appears too thick, add a few tablespoons of water
Recipe Notes
When choosing a sweetener for this recipe, I suggest using Allulose, Swerve, or powdered Erythritol.
You can use any sweetener that you like, but the ones listed above will provide the best results. They won't get grainy or burn. And they measure for the most part pretty close to cup for cup like sugar.
The recipe lists 1/2 cup of sweetener, which will provide a fairly tart cranberry sauce. If you like it super tart (like me), you can go down to 1/4 cup of sweetener. And, if you like a sweeter keto cranberry sauce, you can move up to a full 1 cup.
More Keto Thanksgiving Recipes
My personal favorite keto Thanksgiving recipe is my keto cornbread stuffing. It is legit so good. You won’t even miss non-keto stuffing if you make this recipe!
You can also check out this super easy roasted turkey recipe.
And if you need a full keto Thanksgiving menu, I’ve got you covered there too. Check it out!
Tasty! Thank you!