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This healthy, homemade cranberry sauce uses only 3 ingredients and is Paleo friendly and refined- sugar free! It’s ready in 30 minutes and is perfect for Thanksgiving!
You know what trendy thing I just could never jump on board the everybody’s-doing-it-train with?
#throwbackthursday.
Why would I want to remember things I did on Thursday? Thursday is not the weekend. It is a work night. Therefore you never find me out doing anything cool, sipping on any delicious wine cocktails or really doing, well, ANYTHING.
My throwback Thursdays would be like “LOOK A PICTURE OF ME ON THE COUCH WITH MY COMPUTER IN MY PAJAMAS.” There might even be a plate of paleo magic cookie bars beside me…you know to keep me company. *shifty eyes*
And liiiike, every. Single. Thursday. you would see this.
And you thought being self-employed meant I got to frolic with unicorns all day long and do other super-fun and magical things like that.
Big. Fat. Nope.
Anyway. Clearly, I dislike throwing myself back at Thursdays. So, I’m not gonna do it. And that’s my final answer for ever and always the end.
Now, before you think I am sort of throwback-hating-grinch (wrong holiday?) let’s talk about the ONE version of this hip-and-happening Instagram hashtag that I am 110% TOTALLY ONBOARD with: #ThrowbackThanksgiving.
I mean. Thanksgiving. When I think about ALL the Thanksgivings I’ve EVER HAD, I think about eating my weight in turkey, easy gluten free stuffing, roasted brussels sprouts and roasted sweet potatoes. Then having the BEST NAP OF MY LIFE EVER. Only to WAKE up from said best nap ever to PUMPKIN PIE AND PALEO PECAN PIE BARS. <– It’s Thanksgiving. Eating two desserts is DEFINITELY required to fulfill the “food eating quota” that comes along with this holidy.
Seriously guys. I can throw myself ALL OVER Thanksgiving with memories like THAT.
So, umm, I did.
You all know and L-O-V-E Butterball Turkey…it’s sort of kind of, ok TOTALLY, the center piece of ANY Thanksgiving dinner. Do you remember when I cooked my first whole turkey last year? Obviously it was Butterball.
And, yes, I did make a whole turkey for 2 people. The weeks of leftovers afterwards were a magical combination of days that my taste buds will never forget.
I’m using the word “magical” a lot in this post. I’m just noticing this. Thanksgiving just calls for happy words like that.
I also might be eating the aforementioned magical paleo cookie bars RIGHT NOW.
You’ll never know.
[Tweet “Have a #healthy #Thanksgiving with some #Paleo Maple Orange Cranberry Sauce! @Butterball”]Anyway.
Pre-grown-up-gotta-pay-bills-and-do-other-awful-adult-things Taylor used to squirt ketchup ALL over the bird. Like, we’re talking a WEE bit of bird to a BOTTLE of ketchup. Spot on ratios friends. We all know it’s all about the condiments.
Except NOW the condiment that I want to swim around in and just eat with a SPOON, is not of the tomato variety, it’s of the cranberry variety.
Tart and vibrantly-fresh cranberries that simmer in a warm bath of sweet, tangy orange juice and smooth, sticky-sweet maple syrup until they burst in a juicy EXPLOSION of fall-food deliciousness. Then mix all that with tiny flecks of orange zest, so that you get fruity-freshness in every.single.bite.
!!!
You guys. You thought that weird, goopy, cranberry sauce from a can was good, wait until your try this maple-orange spin on it. FLAVOR OVERLOAD. <–And if you’re doing the low carb thing, you could try low carb sugar free keto cranberry sauce!
In only 3 ingredients. And made in 30 minutes. You can’t even drive to store and get Grandma’s favorite canned cranberry sauce in that time.
And you know what, even die-hard goopy-cranberry lovin’ granny is going to be all over this.
More like it’s going to be ALL OVER her turkey this Thanksgiving.
SSSHHH don’t tell her its paleo-friendly and totally refined-sugar free.
It just means you get to eat more pumpkin pie.
BALANCE FOLKS.

Ingredients
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Orange juice not from concentrate
- 10 Tbsp Pure Maple syrup 1/2 cup + + 2 Tbsp
- 4 Cups Fresh Cranberries or frozen ones that have been thawed
- 1 Tsp Mandarin orange zest packed (about 2 mandarin oranges)
Instructions
- In a large pot combine the water, orange juice and maple syrup and bring to a boil on high heat.
- Once boiling, add in the cranberries. Bring the mixture back to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium, to keep it at a nice steady low boil. Cook, stirring frequently, until the berries burst and the sauce begins to thicken, about 30 minutes.
- Once cooked, transfer the sauce to a bowl and let cool completely. Then, chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Note that the sauce thickens a lot once it comes to room temperature, and even more once it's refrigerated. *
- Once ready to serve, stir in the orange zest and put it on ALL the things!
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:
THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY BUTTERBALL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE CREATING GREAT CONTENT FOR YOU BY SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH AWESOME BRANDS THAT FFF LOVES TO WORK WITH! AS ALWAYS, OPINIONS REMAIN 100% MY OWN.
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Weight Watchers Points Per Serving: Points+: 3. Old Points: 2
Want more cranberries?
Cranberry Almond Breakfast Cookies
Amy @Very Culinary says
Haha. I never participate in #throwbackthursday, either. But only because I’m too lazy to go digging for old pictures. I’m not too lazy to make this sauce, though – delicious!
Taylor Kiser says
Bahah, you and me both! So much work to look for photos! Thank you Amy!
Heidi @foodiecrush says
I cannot eat my turkey dinner, turkey grilled cheese or even turkey burritos without a big old slather of cranberry sauce. You’ve got my number with this one Taylor.
Taylor Kiser says
I knew I could find the way to your heart girlfriend 😉 Thanks!
Amanda Brooks says
I always hated cranberries as a kid, then I finally got to make them on my own as an adult…a little bit of orange juice and suddenly LOVE!!
Taylor Kiser says
RIGHT! Orange is MADE for cranberries!!! Thank you Amanda!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Ha, I am totally down with ThrowbackThanksgiving! Especially if that means I can eat this delicious Cranberry sauce every Thursday on repeat, like a nosh-sesh of Culinary Groundhog’s Day. This sauce looks fabulous, Taylor! Love that it is only 3 ingredients, WITH NO refined sugar, AND can be done in 30 minutes! Total Winning, for sure! Pinned! Cheers, girl!
Taylor Kiser says
Haha YES Thursday on repeat sounds like a BRILLIANT idea! Thank you so much friend!
Lawrence says
Looks so delicious Taylor! I and my wife make cranberry sauce every year, we will follow this recipe!
Taylor Kiser says
I hope you love it Lawrence – please let me know if you try it! Thank you!
Zainab says
Oh I love cranberry sauce!! So great to have maple in it!!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much!
Alisa Fleming says
I actually don’t think that weird goopy sauce from a can is good, but this look amazing!
Taylor Kiser says
No, that weird Jello stuff is definitely interesting 😉 Thanks Alisa!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
I am so in love with the flavors here! Great use of maple too!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
NOM! I’d slather that cranberry goodness on toilet paper. It looks THAT good! But for the sake of not weirding you out, I’ll opt for a big ‘ol turkey slice (or 15) instead. I love cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving!!
Taylor Kiser says
HAHA I love you! You’re hilarious. Thanks Chrissa!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Great minds think alike! I just made a batch of cranberry sauce yesterday as well. I never thought to use maple syrup as the sweetener in this holiday favorite, but I’m going to have to try it now. Talk about delicious. 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
You totally need to try it, it really adds great flavor! Thanks lady!