Unsweetened cranberry juice you can make easily at home with fresh fruit. Only 1 ingredient plus water to make refreshing and sugar free homemade cranberry juice.
If you’re looking for a refreshing and healthy drink option, sugar-free unsweetened cranberry juice might be just what you need. Cranberries are packed with antioxidants and have been found to have numerous health benefits, including improving heart health and preventing urinary tract infections. However, many store-bought cranberry juices are loaded with added sugars, which can negate these benefits and add unnecessary calories to your diet. By choosing pure sugar-free unsweetened cranberry juice, you can enjoy all the goodness of this tart fruit without any added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice Recipe
Texture: light.
Taste: sour with a strong cranberry flavor.
Simplicity: very easy to make. Only 1 ingredient to make the juice.
Meal Type: drink, Christmas, New Year’s Eve.
Cranberry Juice Benefits
- Cranberries are rich in vitamin C, E, K1, B6 and antioxidants.
- They contain many minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, sodium and phosphorus.
- It is used to treat urinary tract infection, respiratory disorders and heart disease.
- Cranberries prevent infections.
How to make Cranberry Juice
- (Recipe and Video below) You will need 2 INGREDIENTS to make this drink: Cranberries and Water.
- Immerse cranberries in a large pot, add water.
- Cook on low-medium heat for 45 – 55 minutes.
- After cooking use strainer to get a clear drink.
Sugar Free Cranberry Juice Tips
- If the drink is to sour for you add a little honey, maple syrup or sugar.
- There is no need to use the strainer but keep in mind that you will have cranberry pieces in your drink.
- Sometimes, I push cranberries on the strainer to get more juice out of them. However, the sugar free juice will be more cloudy with mashed fruit.
- If the drink is too strong for you, dilute with more water.
- Decorate with fresh slices of orange.
Sugar Free Drink Faq’s
How long does homemade cranberry juice last? You should keep the drink should in refrigerator and it will last approximately one week.
How much cranberry juice can I drink a day? About 16 oz. is ok to drink, sometimes it might upset stomach if you drink too much.
Can you freeze cranberry juice? Yes you can freeze the juice in airtight container for up to three months.
Can I use dried cranberries? No, you can’t use dried cranberries, you need to use fresh cranberries.
Can I use frozen cranberries? Yes! I actually buy lots of cranberries during winter time and I freeze. I make my homemade drink even during summer.
Other Cranberry Recipes
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Homemade Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
Instructions
- Add water and cranberries to the large pot.
- Cook on low – medium heat for 45 minutes to 55 minutes. Until cranberries will soften.
- After cooking use strainer to separate cranberries and juice (optional).
- Drink unsweetened or add sugar, maple syrup or honey.
- If the juice is too strong for you; dilute with water.
Video
Notes
- I prefer homemade drink because usually juices from the store are loaded with so much sugar. However if the drink is to sour for you add a little honey, maple syrup or sugar.
- There is no need to use the strainer but keep in mind that you will have cranberry pieces in your drink.
- Sometimes, I push cranberries on the strainer to get more juice out of them. However, the sugar free juice will be more cloudy with mashed fruit.
- Decorate with fresh slices of orange.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in December, 2015. It was updated with new tips, benefits, video and questions on January 14, 2021.
Lisa Sharp (@retrohousewife5)
I’m going to have to try this. I think it would be nice to add to smoothies.
Ilona
It will be perfect for smoothies. Thank you Lisa!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness
This looks great! I always drink cranberry juice to avoid UTI’s but pure cranberry juice is always so expensive!!
Ilona
I agree Chrissa, so expensive. Thank you!
Rosalyn Ⓥ (@LynSire)
How simple and easy! I like how this is easily vegan, and stunning photos by the way!
Ilona
Thank you Rosalyn!
Jenn
Sounds delicious! I love the tartness of cranberries. I don’t think it needs any sugar…maybe a little champagne!! 🙂
Ilona
I agree! I don’t need sugar in it:) Thank you Jenn!
Christine@24 Carrot Kitchen
This looks delicious and so easy!
Ilona
Thank you Christine!
Mayr
This is great! I get a great deal on local cranberries in the fall and have tons in the freezer. I will try this with frozen berries, and make a bunch next fall. It’s so expensive to buy 100% cranberry juice – thank you! Happy New Year 🙂
Ilona
Happy New Year to you too Mayr!
Laura
Happy New Year to you too! Love this colourful cheery drink. I never thought of making my own cranberry juice but LOVE the idea to cut back on sugar. Thanks!
Ilona
Thank you Laura!
Tracy | Baking Mischief
This is going to sound so silly, but I never even considered making homemade cranberry juice! I agree with Lisa, this would be so great in smoothies. I love to add cranberry juice to them, but hate all the sugar. This is such a good option!
Ilona
Thank you Tracy!
Chris@TalesofaKitchen
I love this idea. I too avoid off the shelf juices as they are loaded with sugars.
Ilona
Thank you Chris!
Candy Company
I have some leftover cranberries frozen and I think I know what I will use them for. Ilona I love the photos they look so delicious and mouth watering when I first saw them I’d never thought it “just” cranberry juice and not some sophisticated cocktail 🙂
Ilona
Thank you so much!
Homemade Food Junkie
Wow! Unsweetend cranberry juice? I’ll have to try this recipe! I have a juicer too! It’s so lovely. I hope we can stand the pucker! I’ have no doubt this is a REALLY healthy juice!
Ilona
I would love to have a juice maker, maybe someday:) Thank you so much for your visit!
fonyob
Wonderful pics, amazing recipe! Must try!
Ilona
Thanks!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender
Happy New Yeah Ilona!
This looks like an amazing drink too 🙂 Always love homemade juice than store bought!
Ilona
Thank you Dini! And Happy New Year to you too!
Georgiana
Thank you for this recipe! I am fine with no sugar–and the commercial ‘unsweetened cranberry only’ juice is so expensive. Can’t wait to check out more of your recipes.
Ilona
Thank you Georgiana!
Judy
Hi.
Can I use dried sugarfree cranberries, since we don’t have fresh ones where I live? If it’s possible – do the quantities of the ingredients remain the same? Does the nutritional value of the juice remain the same?
Thank you.
Ilona
Hello Judy! No, dried cranberries won’t be good for this recipe. How about during winter time? Can you find fresh cranberries in the store at winter? We don’t have it all year long too, but once they are sold in stores in winter I buy more and freeze them. Then during the year I make the juice from frozen cranberries.
Judy
Thank you so much for your detailed answer. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately we don’t have fresh cranberries ever, but I’ll look for frozen ones in the supermarket.
Only last week – “by mistake” – I got to know your blog, and I love it.
I’m sure I’ll benefit from your knowledge and information.
Judy.
Ilona
I am so happy to hear that Judy:) It made my day!
Sandy
I love cranberry juice but way too much sugar. I am borderline diabetic so really have to watch sugar. I dilute and drink. I’m making homemade unsweetened tomorrow. Thank you.
Ilona
Definitely to sweet. I drink this unsweetened cranberry juice all year long. It doesn’t bother me there is no sugar in it. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do:) If you prefer You can always sweeten a little with your own sweetener.
Emily
Hi! How long does the juice last in the fridge, and do you know how much to reduce the water in the recipe to create a concentrate? I’m thinking about trying it, except making a concentrate of it so I can store it in the freezer.
Ilona
It will be good for about 5-7 days. You can reduce the water to 5 cups to make a concentrate.