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Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

Orange bourbon cranberry sauce made with a quick stovetop boil and simmer until the berries burst and the sauce turns thick and glossy. Bright orange juice and zest plus bourbon create a rich, spoonable side that chills beautifully.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 235
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cranberry sauce
  • 12 oz fresh cranberries Use fresh for the best burst and texture.
  • 0.75 cup brown sugar Packed for a deeper sweetness.
  • 0.75 cup orange juice Fresh-squeezed if available.
  • 0.25 cup bourbon Divided; add part during simmer and remainder off heat.
  • 1 tbsp orange zest Stir in after cooking for stronger aroma.
  • 1 cinnamon stick For warm spiced flavor; discard after simmering.
  • 1 pinch salt Balances sweetness and boosts fruit flavor.

Equipment

  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Cook the base
  1. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, orange juice, 2 tablespoons bourbon, cinnamon stick, and salt, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat with bubbles that hold at the surface.
  2. Add the fresh cranberries and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the sauce thickens to a spoon-coating consistency.
Finish, cool, and chill
  1. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining bourbon and orange zest until fully incorporated and fragrant.
  2. Discard the cinnamon stick and cool the sauce to room temperature, about 20 minutes, until no longer steaming.
  3. Chill before serving so the sauce sets and becomes thicker, at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the sauce at a true simmer (not a rolling boil) so the cranberries break evenly and you don’t scorch the sugar. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 5 days; freeze for up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). For a non-alcoholic version, replace the bourbon with additional orange juice or a splash of orange-infused nonalcoholic spirit, and simmer the same amount of time.