Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

Bourbon Cranberry Sauce is a tantalizing symphony of rich bourbon and tart cranberries that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. Experience the warm, smoky notes of bourbon melding with the zesty cranberry tang.

Homemade cranberry sauce is the ultimate side to Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast and is a unique addition to your Thanksgiving recipes. Leftovers can even be used to make Cranberry Meatballs or Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread.

What I Love About This Recipe

• Easy to Prepare: Despite its gourmet appeal, bourbon cranberry sauce is relatively easy to prepare, making it accessible to both novice and experienced cooks.
• Family Favorite: It’s a crowd-pleaser at gatherings and holiday celebrations, impressing guests with its sophisticated and unforgettable taste. It will quickly become a family favorite.
• Seasonal Delight: It’s a seasonal delight that adds a touch of warmth and comfort to your holiday meals. Everyone will remember it for years to come.

How to Make Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

1. Dissolve the sugar. Heat the water and sugar over medium heat until they come to a rolling boil, allowing the sugar to completely dissolve, about 1 minute.
2. Simmer. Add 3/4 of the cranberries into the mixture, along with the maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Allow the mixture to simmer for an additional minute while maintaining a gentle boil. Then, reduce the heat to a low simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes, giving the cranberries time to burst with flavor.
3. Blend. Use an immersion blender to create a sauce by blending approximately half of the cranberries, making sure to retain some whole berries for texture and depth of flavor.
4. Add the remaining cranberries and bourbon. Add the remaining berries and allow them to cook in the mixture for 5 remaining minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and bourbon.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Freezing Information

• Make-Ahead Instructions: Prepare the recipe as directed and allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely. Transfer the sauce to an airtight container, refrigerate it, and store it for up to several days before serving.
• Storage Instructions: To store bourbon cranberry sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and seal it properly. Refrigerate the sauce, where it can be safely stored for up to a week.
• Freezing Information: Transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container once cooled, leaving some space at the top for expansion. Seal the container tightly to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use it, thaw the sauce in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.

Recipe Variations

• Blend all of the cranberries. For a smoother sauce, you can add all of the cranberries initially. Then when ready to blend them using an immersion blender, blend the sauce until almost smooth.
• Make a thicker sauce. Allow the mixture to simmer further until it reaches a thicker consistency.

Bourbon Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Bourbon Cranberry Sauce effortlessly combines the opulence of bourbon with the lively tartness of cranberries in a quick preparation that takes under 20 minutes. Revel in the harmonious infusion of smoky bourbon nuances and zesty cranberry tang, crafting a truly exquisite flavor fusion.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes minutes

Total Time: 26 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 Servings

Calories: 122kcal

Author: Aimee Mars

Equipment

• ▢
  Immersion Blender or food processor or blender.

Ingredients

• ▢ 3/4 cup Sugar
• ▢ 1 cup Water
• ▢ 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
• ▢ 24 ounces Fresh Cranberries
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon Salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ▢ 3 tablespoons Bourbon

Instructions

• Dissolve the sugar. Heat the water and sugar over medium heat until they come to a rolling boil, allowing the sugar to completely dissolve, about 1 minute.
• Simmer. Add 3/4 of the cranberries into the mixture, along with the maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Allow the mixture to simmer for an additional minute while maintaining a gentle boil. Then, reduce the heat to a low simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes, giving the cranberries time to burst with flavor.
• Blend. Use an immersion blender to create a sauce by blending approximately half of the cranberries, making sure to retain some whole berries for texture and depth of flavor.
• Add the remaining cranberries and flavor. Add the remaining berries and allow them to cook in the mixture for 5 remaining minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and bourbon.

Notes

• Make-Ahead Instructions: Prepare the recipe as directed and allow the cranberry sauce to cool completely. Transfer the sauce to an airtight container, refrigerate it, and store it for up to several days before serving.
• Storage Instructions: To store bourbon cranberry sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and seal it properly. Refrigerate the sauce, where it can be safely stored for up to a week.
• Freezing Information: Transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container once cooled, leaving some space at the top for expansion. Seal the container tightly to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use it, thaw the sauce in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

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This post was originally published on Nov 8, 2019, updated on Oct 19th, 2022, and again updated in October 2023.