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Let’s be honest, cranberry sauce often gets sidelined on the holidays, but not this one. This Bourbon Cranberry Sauce refuses to play second fiddle. With fresh cranberries, orange juice, and a splash of bourbon, it brings bold, sweet-tart flavors that command attention.
This isn’t the cranberry sauce you push to the side of the plate, it’s the one you keep coming back for, spooning onto turkey, stuffing, or even biscuits the next day. Trust me, once you try this, the canned stuff won’t even be a thought.
Pair this with my Dry Brine Turkey Breast and other Holiday delights.
Ingredients for bourbon cranberry sauce
- Water: Helps dissolve the sugar and create the base for the sauce.
- Orange juice: Adds a bright, citrusy flavor that balances the cranberries’ tartness.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the sauce while giving it a rich, caramel-like depth.
- Orange peels: Infuse the sauce with a subtle citrusy bitterness that complements the sweetness.
- Cinnamon sticks and powder: Bring warm, cozy spice to the mix.
- Bourbon: Adds a bold, smoky flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Fresh cranberries: The star of the show, tart, vibrant, and bursting with flavor.
How to make orange cranberry sauce
In a saucepan, simmer water and orange juice, then stir in brown sugar until dissolved.
Add orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and bourbon.
Then add in the cranberries and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir occasionally as the cranberries pop and soften, and add a dash of cinnamon powder.
Remove the orange peels, cool the sauce, and refrigerate.
Serve chilled alongside your Thanksgiving favorites.
The full written recipe with measurements is below on the recipe card.
Recipe Tip
This is a great side dish to make ahead. No need to try and make it the day of the holiday! Save yourself some time.
Commonly Asked Questions
Absolutely. If you prefer to keep it alcohol-free, just leave it out or replace it with a splash of vanilla or rum extract.
Yes, frozen cranberries work perfectly. No need to thaw them first—just toss them straight into the saucepan.
Go for a bourbon you enjoy sipping. The flavor will shine through, so quality counts!
Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- Juice of medium sized orange
- 1 1/4 cup brown sugar, light or dark is fine
- 3 orange peels
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 – 2 tbsp bourbon
- 12 oz package of fresh cranberries
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, or skillet, bring water and orange juice to a simmer. Add in the sugar and stir to dissolve. Add in cinnamon sticks, orange peels, cloves, bourbon and cranberries.
- Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer. Let cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, add a dash of cinnamon powder halfway. The cranberries will begin to pop and get softer. Remove the orange peels when finished.
- Transfer to a serving dish. Let cool then put it in the fridge.
- Serve with your favorite Holiday foods!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
When do you add bourbon?
Sorry about that, I had wrote it under the “how to make bourbon cranberry sauce” section of the blog post but not on the recipe card. I just updated it. Add in the bourbon with the cinnamon sticks, orange peels, cloves, and cranberries.