Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

Name: Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10oz fresh cranberries; 1 cup apple cider; 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar; zest of one orange; juice of one orange; 1-2 tablespoons bourbon

This Bourbon Cranberry Sauce is a fun twist to traditional cranberry sauce and a must-have at your next Thanksgiving dinner. Say goodbye to the store bought stuff and introduce your guests to this bright and flavorful homemade version that pairs perfectly with your holiday side dishes. Check out our apple cranberry sauce for more sauce inspiration.

Bourbon cranberry sauce in a serving bowl on a table.

The Best Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

If you’re familiar with the gelatinous canned stuff that so many of us grew up with, we’re here to bring new life to your Thanksgiving table with this amazing homemade cranberry sauce recipe. All you need are a few simple ingredients to make a full flavored sauce that can be made days ahead of time, making your holiday dinner to-do list that much easier. Say hello to one of your new family favorites.

Love cranberries – try these Cranberry Bars for a fun, festive dessert option!

What You Will Need

fresh cranberries – A bright and tart fruit that helps even out the heavier dishes on the dinner table.
apple cider – Adds sweet, warming flavors.
brown sugar – Has a bit more caramel flavors than white sugar, making it the perfect addition to sweeten up the tart cranberries.
orange – We use this zesty flavored fruit for it’s fresh orange juice and zest to add a bit of citrus flavor to the entire dish.
bourbon – There are a lot of types of whiskey out there, but we love the slightly sweet and spicy bourbon flavor that pairs perfectly with the other flavors. But if you’re looking for a recipe without the liquor, check out our cranberry orange sauce recipe.

How To Make Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

Start by gathering all of your ingredients for easy assembly while cooking.

Individual bowls of fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, bourbon, brown sugar, and apple cider.

Then, simply add all of the ingredients to a 1-quart saucepan and stir to combine.

All of the ingredients added to a sauce pan.

Now bring the sauce ingredients to a boil and immediately reduce to a medium-low heat to achieve a simmer.

All of the ingredients stirred together in a sauce pan.

Let the mixture simmer, uncovered, for about 25-35 minutes. Cooking time with vary depending on how high your simmer temp is.

Cooked bourbon cranberry sauce in a sauce pan.

Remove the hot sauce pan from the stove, let cool it cool to room temperature, serve, and watch your guests dive into this amazing cranberry sauce. Save any leftover cranberry sauce for our delicious turkey cranberry wrap. Thanksgiving leftovers really are the best!

Recipe FAQs

What Type of Bourbon Should I use

Use your favorite brand/kind of bourbon. Start with 1 tablespoon and then add more, as desired.

How Long With Homemade Cranberry Sauce Keep

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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