This easy Homemade Bourbon Cranberry Sauce is a festive twist on the classic holiday side dish. Simmered with brown sugar, bourbon, and warm spices, this sauce balances sweet, tart, and boozy flavors for a condiment that will truly stand out on your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
And don’t worry! You won’t get tipsy at the holiday table (unless Aunt Linda’s spiked bourbon eggnog is particularly strong this year). The alcohol mostly cooks off, leaving behind that deep, caramel-oak flavor bourbon is famous for, without the buzz.
Perfect for your holiday table, alongside bourbon glazed carrots and bourbon chocolate chip cookies, this homemade sauce is made with sweet and tart cranberries simmered in a brown sugar bourbon sauce!
The 200-year-old cranberry sauce recipe needs an upgrade. So we created a cranberry sauce recipe with bourbon. Our cranberry sauce has bourbon, brown sugar, and fall spices. Honestly, if you are not making fresh cranberry sauce for the holidays you are missing out. This boozy cranberry recipe will not disappoint.
Be sure to make this popular Thanksgiving in advance as it needs to sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Bourbon Recommendations
The best bourbons for boozy cranberry sauce are the ones you don’t like to drink straight. Keep the smooth delicious bourbons in Glencairn glasses and not in recipes.
We recommend the following bourbons for cranberry sauce:
- Jim Beam
- Knob Creek
- Woodford Reserve
I also use these bourbons in my bourbon candied yams and glazed bourbon frozen meatballs. Obviously, these are also fantastic for bourbon cocktails like my Kentucky mule.
Preparing the Cranberries Before Getting Started
Before cooking, rinse your cranberries and remove any that are soft, discolored, or bruised. This ensures your sauce has the best texture and vibrant ruby color!
Top Tips to Make Bourbon Cranberry Sauce from Scratch
- Adjust the sweetness: Cranberries are naturally tart. If you like your sauce sweeter, add 2–3 tablespoons more brown sugar. For less sweet, reduce by ¼ cup.
- Control the texture: For a smooth cranberry sauce, blend with an immersion blender after cooking. For chunkier sauce, just lightly mash the berries.
- Enhance the flavor: Add orange zest or 2 tablespoons of orange juice for brightness. A pinch of ground cloves or allspice also pairs beautifully with bourbon.
- Make ahead: This sauce tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Make it 1–2 days before your holiday meal and store in the fridge.
- Too thin or too thick? If it’s runny, simmer a few minutes longer. If it’s too thick, stir in a splash of water or orange juice before serving.
Storage Instructions:
How long does homemade cranberry sauce last?
Fresh cranberry sauce will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I store mine in a mason jar next to the rest of my jellies and jams.
Can you freeze homemade cranberry sauce?
Yes! Place cooled cranberry sauce in a freezer bag removing as much air as possible. Vacuum seal if you can.
Frozen cranberry sauce is good for up to 3 months. Label the freezer bag and save it for these leftover cranberry recipes.
Making Homemade Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
Bourbon Cranberry Sauce made with brown sugar, bourbon, and spices. Make the best bourbon cranberry sauce with this easy recipe. Perfect for your holiday table.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. Fresh Cranberries, rinsed
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ½ cup Bourbon
- ¼ cup Water
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, bourbon, and water.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce to medium-low heat. Whisk occasionally; making sure the sugar dissolves.
- Add cranberries and continue to simmer until cranberries are soft and burst. You can use a wooden spoon or potato masher to help the cranberries burst.
- Allow the bourbon cranberry sauce to thicken. (About 15 minutes)
- Remove from heat and allow to cool in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- If you don't have any bourbon you can substitute it with water.
- Rinse cranberries and pick out any cranberries that are bad.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 106Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 0g
All amounts are estimates and DailyAppetite takes no responsibility for actual figures since calculations vary by packaging and supplier.
