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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Holidays » Thanksgiving » Skinny Cranberry Pineapple Sauce

    Published: Oct 30, 2022 · Modified: Nov 12, 2022 by Toni Dash · 15 Comments

    Skinny Cranberry Pineapple Sauce

    Weight Watchers Points2
    Calories: 43kcal
    Carbs: 11g
    Protein: 0.4g
    Fats: 0.1g
    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    cranberry pineapple sauce in white bowl.

    A Thanksgiving table isn't complete without cranberry sauce. This Cranberry Pineapple Sauce is the perfect tasty recipe especially for a lower sugar, lower calorie option (only 43 calories per serving). This easy recipe is a great change from traditional cranberry sauce and only takes 15 minutes cooking time! Can be made ahead too.

    cranberry pineapple sauce in white bowl.
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    cranberry pineapple sauce in white bowl.

    If you can't imagine your Thanksgiving turkey without fresh cranberry sauce but are on a lower calorie diet or just want less sugar, this is the perfect accompaniment!

    This recipe is perfect for a holiday meal or topping a turkey burger and is made with a much smaller amount of sugar than most recipes. Natural sweetness from pineapple and pineapple juice as well as orange juice give it a fresh unique flavor and beautiful purple color.

    Perfect served with our Instant Pot Turkey Breast Roast, some Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes and Cornbread Stuffing Muffins. WW Personal Points included in the recipe card at the end of the post. Try our Cranberry Pear Sauce too!

    Jump to:
    • What makes this skinny?
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • When to buy fresh cranberries
    • How to make Cranberry Pineapple Sauce
    • How to store
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More recipes you'll love!
    • Recipe

    What makes this skinny?

    Regular homemade cranberry sauce usually contains about 1 cup of sugar for a bag of cranberries. Sure that's what makes it super sweet and helps it gel. But that also makes it a higher calorie side dish.

    Combining naturally sweet pineapple and orange juice with only 2 tablespoons of sugar sweetens the pineapple cranberry sauce with a more natural flavor and far fewer calories. It's the perfect balance between sweet and tart flavors too.

    Many people complain cranberry sauce is just too sweet; this is the solution for that too! And if you want it sweeter you can always add more sugar but in our experimentation we think this homemade cranberry sauce recipe has just enough!

    Some people make this with no sugar but we found that to be aggressively tart for our taste.

    CALORIE COMPARISON: Canned cranberry sauce is 105 calories for a ¼ cup. This Cranberry Pineapple Sauce is 43 calories for ¼ cup.

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    cranberry pineapple sauce labelled ingredients.

    Cranberries. You'll use one 12-ounce package of fresh cranberries. Frozen thawed cranberries work too. Sort and discard any rotting or damaged berries and rinse before using.

    Crushed Pineapple. One 20-ounce can of no sugar added crushed pineapple will be used. This adds a light pineapple flavor to the cranberry sauce and helps thicken the sauce too without tons of sugar. Do not drain the can of crushed pineapple before using.

    Orange juice. Use fresh orange juice if possible for best flavor. You'll need ½ cup. This adds more flavor and sweetness and replaces water in cooking the cranberries.

    Granulated sugar. Just 2 tablespoons is needed. This adds enough sweetness to tame the extreme tartness of the fresh cranberries without making the sauce overly sweet.

    Orange zest (optional). Topping the cranberry sauce with some orange zest when serving gives it some color and extra orange flavor.

    cranberry pineapple sauce in a bowl with thanksgiving dishes.

    When to buy fresh cranberries

    Fresh cranberries are harvested in the fall and available at the grocery store October through December. They are sold in 12-ounce bags and also freeze great! Buy some extra bags to keep in the freezer for cranberry recipes any time of year.

    For recipes like this simple sauce won't matter how they look so frozen and thawed berries still make a delicious cranberry sauce.

    How to make Cranberry Pineapple Sauce

    Combine all the ingredients (cranberries, crushed pineapple, orange juice and sugar) in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat (photo 1). Stir to combine (photo 2).

    cranberry pineapple sauce recipe steps 1-3.

    Allow the mixture to come to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and simmer until the cranberries have all popped; about 15 minutes (photo 3).

    Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before serving or storing. The cranberry pineapple sauce will thicken as it cools and more after being chilled. Top with some orange zest when serving.

    low calorie plate of thanksgiving dishes.
    Served here with Instant Pot Turkey Breast Roast, Air fryer green beans, Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes.

    How to store

    Store leftover cranberry sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 10-14 days.

    Expert Tips

    After cooling. After cooling the cranberry sauce will thicken and the flavors will become stronger.

    Adding more sugar (or other sweetener). This cranberry sauce has more of a natural sweetness than the strong sugary sweetness of regular cranberry sauce. If you want it to be sweeter wait until it has cooked, taste and add more. You can use sugar, sugar substitutes, maple syrup or honey.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What's the difference between cranberry sauce and cranberry relish?

    Cranberry sauce is made with cooked cranberries and cranberry relish uses chopped cranberries that are not cooked.

    Can this homemade cranberry sauce be frozen?

    Yes! Allow it to fully cool. I would put it in the refrigerator overnight before packing it to be frozen. Then add it to a freezer-safe airtight container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator before using.

    Should cranberry sauce be served chilled or at room temperature?

    It can be served either way but will have more flavor if at room temperature.

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    Recipe

    Cranberry Pineapple Sauce

    Weight Watchers Points2
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    Easy Cranberry Pineapple Sauce uses only 4 ingredients and cooks in 15 minutes. It has a naturally sweet flavor versus the heavy sugar versions. A perfect lower sugar lower calorie cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, turkey burgers and so much more!
    5 from 141 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Chilling time (suggested): 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 17 minutes minutes
    Servings: 15 ¼-cup servings (total yield: 3 ¾ cups)
    Calories: 43kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries rinsed and sorted to remove any blemished berries. Frozen and thawed cranberries can be used too.
    • 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple (no sugar added) do not drain
    • ½ cup orange juice
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and lower heat to until simmering.
      1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries, 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple (no sugar added), ½ cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • Simmer over lowered heat, stirring periodically, until the cranberries have burst and a sauce has formed; 10-15 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and allow to cool and thicken. Best made ahead of time and chilled in the refrigerator for maximum thickness.

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes
    • Sort and discard any blemished or rotting cranberries before starting the recipe. Rinse the berries too.
    • Choose no sugar added crushed pineapple. It should just be pineapple and pineapple juice.
    How to Store
    Store leftover cranberry sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 10-14 days.
    How to Freeze
    Allow it to fully cool. I would put it in the refrigerator overnight before freezing to chill it completely. Then add it to a freezer-safe airtight container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator before using.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 49IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    cranberry pineapple sauce in white bowl.
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 141 votes (128 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Holley says

      November 19, 2022 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      I love this pineapple twist in the cranberry sauce! Great recipe!

      Reply
    2. Kathleen says

      November 19, 2022 at 8:35 am

      5 stars
      My family appreciated a different kind of cranberry sauce. Especially one that is so easy to make and has a fantastic flavor combination.

      Reply
    3. Linda French says

      November 19, 2022 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! I love this skinny change up and that the sauce isn't overly sweet. Great flavors.

      Reply
    4. Kristen says

      November 19, 2022 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      I made this to try with chicken this week and it was perfect. Will make it again for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
    5. Carrie says

      October 31, 2022 at 8:26 am

      5 stars
      Oh yum! The pineapple in this is so unexpected! 🙂 Going to have to make this one again for Thanksgiving dinner this year.

      Reply
    6. Karen H says

      October 31, 2022 at 8:52 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for this recipe. It really was so easy to make and I love that it's lightened up!

      Reply
    7. Shadi says

      October 31, 2022 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
      Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!

      Reply
    8. Michelle says

      October 31, 2022 at 6:31 am

      5 stars
      I love that you used pineapple to sweeten this version! So good

      Reply
    9. Jen says

      October 31, 2022 at 7:18 am

      5 stars
      Such an amazing version of a classic favorite!!

      Reply
    10. Nancy says

      October 30, 2022 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      Lovely reduced sugar cranberry sauce. I will be using this for thanksgiving

      Reply
    11. Andrea says

      October 30, 2022 at 9:34 am

      5 stars
      I am loving this cranberry pineapple combination. It sounds absolutely fabulous. Will definitely be surprising my family with this side dish over the Holidays.

      Reply
    12. Gina Abernathy says

      October 30, 2022 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      This was so delicious! I made it over the weekend to try out for Thanksgiving. I'll enjoy having another version of cranberry sauce for the table. The pineapple and orange juice added just the right amount of sweetness.

      Reply
    13. Tara says

      October 30, 2022 at 7:18 am

      5 stars
      Such a fun and delicious addition to the holiday table! The flavors sound so good with the crushed pineapple.

      Reply
    14. S says

      October 30, 2022 at 5:59 am

      In a family with a diabetic and keto eaters which can be everybody, there is no need to use regular sugar or orange juice, just a little rind on top is plenty. The dish tastes wonderful without them with many fewer carbs and using a keto sweetener like erythritol, allulose or stevia instead.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        October 30, 2022 at 11:14 am

        Hi S! Your comment is a great example of tailoring a recipe for your family's needs! I personally do not use sugar replacements in any of my recipes for multiple reasons but encourage others to modify as they prefer or need to make the recipes work for them! Our recipes are developed to be low calorie, not keto or low carb though some may be coincidentally. I know some people make the recipe without any sugar (or sugar replacements) however in our tests we found it too tart to enjoy. Thanks for your comment.

        Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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