The recipe for how to make Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by thesugarfreediva. · This post may contain affiliate or amazon links.

A lower sugar cranberry bread recipe that is easy to make.

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I like kicking off the holiday season with this (low) Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe.
The only sugar that is added to this comes from the cranberries themselves.

(low) Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe

This really is the only time of the year that we seem to eat cranberry bread. I am sure this has something to do with the fact that cranberries are harvested just in time for the holidays. Also, cranberries are that beautiful red color that we love to see during the holidays as well.

Cranberries are kind of an odd fruit.
Most of the fruits that we enjoy seem to grow during the summer on a tree. We harvest, or pick, those fruits at the end of summer by simply picking them off that tree. Not cranberries though. If you know something about them, Cranberries take a bit more time to grown and they are grown on low-lying vines lying in a specific kind of a bed called a 'bog'. When you are ready to harvest cranberries we flood that bog with water the night before they are harvested. You have probably seen that commercial on TV of the fellas standing in a flooded bog harvesting their cranberries. Thus, growing cranberries is a bit of a task.

Ironically, cranberries do not contain a whole lot of natural sugar.
One cup of cranberries has about 4 grams of sugar. This recipe calls for one and a half cups total- making it about six grams total of sugar.

The ingredients in this recipe.

As you may already know, cranberry bread is commonly made with orange juice. You could use orange juice in this recipe however, keep in mind that the orange juice will add sugar. If you are wanting to keep this as low sugar as possible you can either look for orange juice that is as low in sugar (pulp free is usually better at this) as possible (read the label as there could be sugar added to your orange juice) or use a substitute. There are orange juice substitutes online that you can try in this recipe. You may risk some of the true taste of cranberry bread however, you will also lower the amount of sugar that you consume which could make it worth it to you. Orange flavored Vitamin Zero water is one substitute that I like to use.

We will also be using sugar alternative.
Cranberry bread has a bit of sugar in it by nature. This helps off-set the taste of the cranberries. You can use the sugar alternative of your choice as long as it is used in an amount that is equivalent to what is mentioned in the recipe. Also,a granular sugar alternative that can be used in baking works best. Hence, you can choose the sugar alternative that works best for you when you bake.

The recipe for (low) Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe

What you will need to make this recipe.

  • Flour- 2 cups.
  • Sugar alternative- 1 cup equivalent to sugar.
  • Baking soda- ½ teaspoon.
  • Baking powder- 1 ½ teaspoons.
  • Salt- 1 teaspoon.
  • Orange Juice or alternative- ¾ cup (see post for alternative ideas).
  • Butter- 3 tablspoons softened.
  • Egg- 1.
  • Chopped Cranberries- 1 ½ cups
  • Optional items:Grated orange peel (1 tablespoon) or zest (1 teaspoon), raisins or similar fruit (1 cup), and/or chopped nuts (¾ cup).

How to make (low) Sugar Free Cranberry Bread

  • Preheat your oven to 350 and prep your loaf pan for nonstick.
  • In a mixing bowl, mix together your flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  • Add your orange juice (or alternative), butter and egg to the mixing bowl and continue to mix. If you are using zest or peel, add it in this step and mix.
  • Now fold in your cranberries and any additional fruit or nuts that you are adding to your batter.
  • Bake the bread for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before your serve it.

The recipe for how to make Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe (3)

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3.99 from 87 votes

(low) Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe

A lower sugar cranberry bread recipe that is easy to make.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • Flour- 2 cups.
  • Sugar alternative- 1 cup equivalent to sugar.
  • Baking soda- ½ teaspoon.
  • Baking powder- 1 ½ teaspoons.
  • Salt- 1 teaspoon.
  • Orange Juice or alternative- ¾ cup see post for alternative ideas.
  • Butter- 3 tablspoons softened.
  • Egg- 1.
  • Chopped Cranberries- 1 ½ cups
  • Optional items:Grated orange peel 1 tablespoon or zest (1 teaspoon), raisins or similar fruit (1 cup), and/or chopped nuts (¾ cup).
  • How to make low Sugar Free Cranberry Bread

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 and prep a loaf pan for nonstick.

  • In a mixing bowl, mix together your flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

  • Add the orange juice (or alternative), butter and egg to the mixing bowl and continue to mix if using zest or peel, add it in this step.

  • Now fold in the cranberries and any additional fruit or nuts that you are adding.

  • Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Recipe Notes

See post for details about substitutions etc.

most recently updated:

December 6, 2017

*About Sugar Alternatives

Specific sugar alternatives are not given in the recipes presented on this site. Only suggestions are given as to the 'kind' of alternative to use. It is up to you to select the alternative to use that suits your needs best. If the recipe is heated or cooked, it is best to use an alternative that can be heated or cooked with for best results. This site does not endorse any specific ingredients,

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g

Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!

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The recipe for how to make Sugar Free Cranberry Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What if I add too much water to cranberry sauce? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

What happens if you cook cranberry sauce too long? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

What to do if cranberry sauce doesn't thicken? ›

If you have followed these instructions, and for some reason the sauce still won't gel, add 1 envelope of unflavoured gelatin to the sauce and bring to a hard boil, stirring frequently.

How to thin out cranberry sauce? ›

If the sauce is too thick when done, and it likely will be, add a little fresh water (see Cook's Notes below). Note that the sauce will thicken more while it cools. Once completely cooled, adjust the consistency further, only if needed. Keep tightly covered in the refrigerator if making it ahead of time.

How do you fix too much sugar in cranberry sauce? ›

The sauce acts as a cleansing port in a tumultuous storm of fat and salt, but the effect is lost if the sauce is too sweet. Luckily, there is a very easy way to fix an over-sugared homemade sauce: You just need a little citric acid. Sure, you could add lemon, but that brings its own, cranberry-obscuring flavor.

How much cranberry juice to mix with water? ›

Recommendations. Pour 1 tbsp (15 ml) of Patience Fruit & Co's Pure Unsweetened Organic Cranberry Juice into a glass. Add in the can of natural Montellier sparkling water. Pour 3 tbsp (45 ml) of Patience Fruit & Co's Pure Unsweetened Organic Cranberry Juice into a glass.

Can dogs eat cranberries? ›

Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

How long does homemade cranberry sauce last in a mason jar? ›

When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Why didn't my cranberry sauce thicken? Cranberries have a lot of natural pectin, the ingredient that makes cooked fruit gel. To release that pectin, you need to cook the berries until they burst and can form a bond with the sugar.

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

The sauce will thicken as it cools. If you want a cranberry mold that holds its shape, continue to boil the mixture so that more pectin is released from the fruit, additional water evaporates, and the sauce becomes thick enough to set into a firm gel.

How to improve cranberry sauce? ›

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

Can you use flour to thicken cranberry sauce? ›

Sure, but it's best to cook the flour in the fat a little. Corn starch can be stirred into water and added later. If you use flour, melt the fat or make sure it's warm, then stir in your flour. Let it bubble a little, a minute or so, not enough to burn it, then whisk in your liquid.

Does homemade cranberry sauce thicken as it cools? ›

Remove from heat. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

How long does it take for cranberry sauce to thicken? ›

Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook cranberries, stirring occasionally, 10-15 minutes or until all or most berries have burst (careful, there is some splatter) and the mixture is slightly reduced. The longer you cook your cranberries the thicker your mixture will be, but it will also thicken up after standing.

What makes cranberries thicken? ›

When the cranberries are heated, the berries begin to break down and pop open. The pectin is then released and reacts with the sugar and juices to form long polymers and thicken the sauce. This process creates the cranberry sauces and jellies which are so familiar at holiday dinners.

How do you remove excess water from sauce? ›

Get rid of it with science! Let the excess liquid evaporate away by bringing the substance to a boil or a simmer until the desired consistency is reached. This method is great for sauces – including a quick pan sauce created after cooking a protein – and gravies that are only marginally looser than desired.

Why is my cranberry sauce upside down? ›

The cans are "filled and labeled upside down with the rounded edge on top and the sharp can-like edge on the bottom to keep the jelly whole." This creates an air bubble vacuum on the rounded side (the top) so customers "can swipe the edge of the can with a knife to break the vacuum and the log will easily slide out."

Is it good to dilute cranberry juice with water? ›

Mixing cranberry juice with water can provide a range of benefits. Here are some of them: Hydration: By diluting cranberry juice with water, you increase your overall fluid intake, promoting hydration.

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