Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Pecans

Turkey (or chicken), potatoes, Brussel sprouts ... hmm ... what is missing? Cranberry sauce, of course! This particular cranberry sauce recipe with pecans is a perfect side for your turkey or chicken, and it can also surprise as a dessert.

It's sweetened with maple syrup and free of refined sugars, making it healthier than the store-bought, canned cranberry sauce you're likely familiar with.

Key ingredients

If you check out the ingredients on the typical canned cranberry sauce you find at the grocery store, you're sure to find loads of unnecessary added sugar.

When you make your own homemade cranberry sauce recipe, like this cranberry sauce recipe with pecans, you can avoid that excess sugar without sacrificing taste. All you need are the following ingredients:

Cranberries

You can't make any cranberry sauce recipe without cranberries, of course, and these healthy berries make for a healthy foundation for any recipe. Loaded with vitamin C, manganese and more, these little tart berries are known to help with urinary tract infections, along with aiding heart, gut and immune health.

Apple juice

You know the saying: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. While that may not be entirely true, apple nutrition is full of goodness that can help combat cancer, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and more. If you are buying apple juice from the store, however, be careful to get an organic variety that limits the added sugar.

Maple syrup

For natural sweetness, maple syrup provides the flavor without the dangers of artificial sweeteners.

To top it off, this cranberry sauce recipe spices things up with cinnamon, adds a little zest with orange peel, and uses pecans to add a little added flavor and crunch. (If you prefer walnuts, feel free to sub them in place of the pecans, or use both!)

How to make cranberry sauce

Using a medium-size saucepan, combine cranberries, apple juice, maple syrup and cinnamon, and simmer for around five minutes or until most of the berries "pop."

Remove from heat, then stir in the grated orange rind and pecans.

Let it cool to room temperature, then transfer into a container and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve. That's it!

Other Thanksgiving side dish recipes

When you think cranberry sauce, you think Thanksgiving. Here are some more Thanksgiving side dishes to try this year:

• Candied pecan butternut squash salad
• Roasted beets with balsamic rosemary glaze
• Roasted Brussels sprouts with apples and pecans
• Healthy cornbread stuffing
• Gluten-free pumpkin bread