No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce

October 25, 2021

No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce is a delicious hybrid between classic applesauce and homemade cranberry sauce with a hint of orange and just a drop of (optional) pure maple syrup, if desired. Put your fall apples to good use and try this twist on a holiday classic!

Gluten Free, Nut Free, Sugar Free, Egg Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free

Applesauce is BY FAR one of my all time favorite holiday foods. In reality, it can 100% be an anytime food, but I seem to associate it with the fall holidays. Starting with the Jewish holidays in early fall, like Rosh Hashanah, my mom’s homemade applesauce has a place on the table. But once we get to Thanksgiving it’s all things cranberry sauce.

So I decided to make a hybrid of two of my favorites that’s deliciously sweet, yet tart, and of course a bit chunky…

Meet my No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce…

No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce is…

Naturally sweet
Yet has the perfect amount of tartness
Chunky
Made with just 5 ingredients
A perfect pink pop of color on your plate
Allergy-friendly
Sugar-free
Easy to make

But Chelsey… if all foods fit, what’s wrong with some sugar?

First and foremost, there’s NOTHING wrong with some sugar!

When I first set out to create a hybrid cranberry applesauce I definitely expected to add sugar. I had brown sugar on my mind because I love the dark hint of molasses in it. Apples + brown sugar are a match made in heaven, like in these apple crumb bars! But as I was developing this recipe using in-season apples I didn’t really think the sugar was all that necessary.

Now cranberries are a tart fruit, so if you like things on the sweeter side, you can always add more sweetener than what’s listed. I opted for maple syrup in the end because the liquid sweetener mixes effortlessly into the chunky sauce.

My view on added sugar as a balanced dietitian:

Sugar is not a health food. Moderate consumption also won’t dramatically interfere with your health. So I like to save added sugar, including natural sweeteners like maple syrup, if it truly enhances the dish. Like desserts should have some sweetness in them! Don’t hold back in that case… that’s what dessert is for!

But no one wants to eat something lackluster… especially around the holidays!

If your apples aren’t as ripe or it’s not quite apple season when you make this recipe, you may wish to add a touch more sweetener to this recipe to make it a “low sugar” recipe instead of “no sugar.”

So if there’s no sugar, what do you need to make cranberry applesauce?

Ingredients to make No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce

You only need 5 ingredients to make cranberry sauce with no sugar:

Apples
Cranberries (look in the freezer section!)
Ground cinnamon
Cinnamon stick
Orange juice

Perhaps the most important ingredient in this recipe is the apples.

While you could use ANY type of apples to make applesauce, I personally think the best apples to use for applesauce are McIntosh apples. Why? They’re softer.

Think of a tart, super hard, crunchy Granny Smith… it’s definitely not going to cook down quickly compared to a softer McIntosh apple.

To add more depth of flavor you could also use a mixture of apples. I like to do this with any apples on their way out in my fridge. Usually, this is whatever’s on sale that week at the supermarket!

How to Make Cranberry Applesauce with No Added Sugar

Despite taking some time to simmer, this recipe is totally easy to make!

Essentially you add all of the ingredients (plus some water) into a medium saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer. While the liquid simmers it will break down the apples and pop open the cranberries. The liquid will also evaporate and the applesauce will thicken.

It’s important to stir occasionally while the liquid simmers. As you stir, you can mash any soft chunks of apples and create your desired level of chunkiness.

Smooth vs. Chunky Sauce

Now the question of chunky or smooth applesauce comes into play…

I’m a chunky fan all the way. I like the way it adds to the rustic-ness of homemade applesauce. But, of course, if you prefer smooth applesauce you can also puree the entire mixture once the liquid is fully absorbed and the applesauce thickens.

What if I prefer thinner applesauce?

If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a bit more water. It’s as simple as that.

I would advise against adding more orange juice, unless you want a VERY potent orange flavor.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce

You only need 2 kitchen tools to make this cranberry applesauce: a saucepan and a silicone spoon! As you learned above, this cranberry applesauce is made in just one pan. You literally add all the ingredients to the saucepan and let the heat do its job.

Of course you can use any spoon you have, but I prefer not to use a metal spoon because it can scrape the saucepan. Instead, I’ve been gravitating towards silicone kitchen utensils. I love this set I found on Amazon. You can also use a wooden spoon, but it may get stained by the cranberries. Consider yourself warned!

How to Serve No Sugar Cranberry Applesauce

Cranberry applesauce can be served in any way you’d serve traditional cranberry sauce or applesauce.

On your Thanksgiving table? Check!
With Hanukah latkes? Check!
By the spoonful? Check!
With roasted chicken or pork? Check!
Mixed into your morning bowl of oats? Check!

The opportunities are endless! I can’t wait for you to devour this sauce like my family did!