Easy Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family. A time for gratitude. A time for adding alcohol to as many food items as possible. The holidays always go down a little easier with a little booze, and this Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry Sauce is no different.
Growing up, my Thanksgiving dinner included the easy-to-slice jellied Cranberry sauce…you know the one that comes in a can. And to this day, it is still hands down one of my favorites…maybe for sentimental reasons, maybe because it’s just delicious.
But occasionally, you have to fancy it up with some cranberry sauce made from scratch. Thanksgiving is the time to show off your domestic culinary skills and this recipe is sure to impress your guests. So why not fashion your cranberry sauce after an Old Fashioned?! Or maybe fashion your Old Fashioned after cranberry sauce? (yes that’s worth trying too!)
While your at it, serve up some refreshing Cranberry Margaritas ahead of dinner to grease the wheels and put everyone in a festive Thanksgiving spirit.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
This recipe for Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry sauce is so easy to make and will have your guests going back for seconds, thirds, and fourths. The tart juicy cranberries mixed with sweet, candied cherries perfectly complement the smoky kick of the Bourbon. Not only is it perfect for your Thanksgiving meal, but also goes great with breakfast, baked into desserts, or mixed with drinks.
Ingredients for Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry Sauce:
- Cranberries. Fresh whole Cranberries, rinsed.
- Brown Sugar
- Granulated Sugar
- Zest of one Tangerine. You can also use an Orange.
- Tangerine Juice. Fresh squeezed is best. You can substitute with Orange juice if needed.
- Maraschino Cherries & Syrup. Not the bright red ones, but high-quality candied cocktail cherries. The absolute best ones are Luxardo Maraschino Cherries. I’ve tried them all, and these win by a long shot.
- Bourbon or Whiskey. Use a high-quality version if possible. I use Wild Turkey 101 for this recipe.
Tools you will need:
- A medium saucepan. If you need a good set of cookware I highly recommend this set from Cooks Standard. This rivals All-Clad in quality yet is a fraction of the price. I’ve had my set for over 10 years and have not been disappointed yet.
- A spatula for stirring and squeegeeing every last drop out of the pan.
- A zester to zest the orange. This high-quality USA made stainless steel zester is my favorite.
- A fancy dish for your fancy cranberry sauce.
How to make Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry Sauce:
- Zest your Tangerine first, then cut and squeeze the juice out.
- Over medium heat dissolve the sugars in the juice and zest.
- Add the cranberries and cherries and cook until the cranberries start to pop.
- Turn the heat to low and add the Bourbon/Whiskey and the cherry syrup. Cook for another minute.
- Remove from heat and let cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Add to your fancy dish and serve.
FAQ’s
Can this be made ahead of time?
Oh yes. You can easily make this 1 or 2 days in advance if needed. Once it is made, simply store it in an air-tight container in the fridge. Thanksgiving morning remove it from the fridge and let it come up to room temperature. Fluff with a fork and add to your serving dish.
How long will Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry Sauce keep?
If stored in a proper airtight container you can store the sauce in the fridge for up to 10 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.
Can I use frozen cranberries?
Yes, frozen will work too. You can add them to the saucepan right out of the freezer…they will just take a little longer to cook.
Can this be made non-alcoholic?
Yes, this is still a flavorful and delicious cranberry sauce without the booze. Just omit the Bourbon/Whiskey.
Can this be made with a different spirit?
If you are short on Whiskey this recipe is also fantastic with Brandy, lending more of a Sidecar vibe. A dark Rum like Myers’s or Kraken is also quite good.
You might also like
- Leftover Thanksgiving Stuffing Hot Dogs
- Decadent Einkorn Salted Butterscotch Cookies
- Apple Cinnamon Bourbon Sour
What is your favorite cranberry sauce? Made from scratch or canned? Let me know in the comments below.
Old Fashioned Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 bag Fresh Cranberries (about 12 oz.)
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 cup Candied Cocktail Cherries, chopped (I recommend Luxardo)
- 1 tbl Cocktail Cherry Syrup
- 1/2 cup Fresh squeezed Tangerine Juice
- Zest of one Tangerine
- 3 tbl Good quality Whiskey or Bourbon
Instructions
- Zest your Tangerines first, then cut and squeeze the juice out.
- Over medium heat, dissolve the sugars in the juice and zest.
- Add the cranberries and chopped cherries and cook until the cranberries start to pop.
- Turn the heat to low and add the Bourbon/Whiskey and the cherry syrup. Cook for another minute.
- Remove from heat and let cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Serve once cooled, or cover tightly and store in the fridge until ready.
