Go Back

Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

Orange bourbon cranberry sauce simmers fresh cranberries with orange juice, zest, and sugar until most berries burst and the sauce thickens. A splash of bourbon goes in off the heat, and the sauce thickens further as it cools.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Cooling 30 minutes
Total Time 47 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 107
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 0.5 cup orange juice
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp orange zest finely grated
  • 1 bag (12 oz) fresh cranberries picked over and rinsed
  • 2 tbsp bourbon

Equipment

  • 1 2-quart saucepan

Method
 

  1. Combine the orange juice, sugar, and orange zest in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Stir in the cranberries and bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened.
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the bourbon.
  5. Cool the sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving; it will thicken further as it cools.

Notes

For the best texture, let the sauce cool fully before serving. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days; freeze for up to 2 months. For an alcohol-free version, replace the bourbon with orange juice.