Looking for something to add a little wow to your holiday table? Want to make a delicious homemade cranberry sauce? This vanilla bourbon cranberry sauce will wow your taste buds and its so easy to make!
It is my humble opinion that on Thanksgiving the most important food is the side dishes. I mean really, who needs turkey?? Mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes… yum!! I love love love the deliciousness that is Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes.
One of my favorites is cranberry sauce. I’ve always been a fan of that fun can shaped chunk of cranberry jelly that pops out onto a plate to grace our holiday tables. However, several years ago I decided to make some from scratch. I’ve tried a few recipes over the years and this one has stuck around as a favorite. Even though my dear sweet super hubby makes most of our Thanksgiving dinner I pride my self on a kick ass cranberry sauce as an addition.
I’d love to give credit to where ever this recipe came from but I have no idea. It is written in pencil on a yellow post it and stuck in a folder of all of my hubby’s favorite recipes along with his turkey brine recipe and an amazing sweet potato soup. So I cannot give credit to the original source, but I thank them wholeheartedly for coming up with this recipe!
A couple of things before we get started. Yes, you need that much vanilla, I know it seems like a lot. And yes the alcohol cooks out of the sauce. No worries for having kiddos eat this up, which they will! The bourbon gives this such a rich delicious taste and brings out the flavor of the vanilla and cranberries beautifully. I can eat the whole bowl myself!!
Here’s what you’ll need for this Vanilla Bourbon Cranberry Sauce-
1- 12- 14oz. Bag of Fresh Cranberries
1- Cup Sugar (I used cane sugar)
1- Cup Water
2-Tbsp. Bourbon
1- Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
Put your cranberries into a large pan, and pour in your sugar and water. Over med/high heat bring it to a rolling boil. Reduce to a simmer and add in your bourbon and vanilla.
Let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until its a nice jam like consistency. If you want it a little thicker boil longer, a little soupier boil a little less!
Let cool and serve!!
See? Super simple and the end result is an amazing addition to your holiday (or everyday) dinner!!
What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Have you ever made cranberry sauce from scratch? Come back and let me know if you try this vanilla bourbon cranberry sauce!
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Just heads up the picture is inaccurate Jack Daniel’s is a whiskey not Bourbon. Bourbon can only be from Kentucky and will say its Bourbon. Either way in sure this is something in going to try either way….
OMG! The cranberry sauce is so easy and DELICIOUS.
Made this today. As usual, I put my own spin on the recipe. Added a cinnamon stick, some fresh orange peel, & a bay leaf. I was afraid to add the full 2 tbsp. of bourbon in fear of it tasting too alcholish, so reduced it to 1 tbsp. I think I could have used the whole 2 tbps, because it didn’t taste of alcohol, one bit! I make cranberry sauce every year, but this is the very best recipe, hands down!!! Delish ❤️
So glad you loved it! Your additions sound amazing! I’ll have to try that with my next batch!
So glad you love it! It is our favorite!
I didn’t have bourbon, so I substituted brandy, and subbed 1//3 cup of the water with orange juice. It’s amazing! You were absolutely right about the vanilla. Thanks for the recipe!
I didn’t have bourbon, so I substituted brandy, and subbed 1//3 cup of the water with orange juice. It’s amazing! You were absolutely right about the vanilla. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for the post – this sounds epic. Love your blog name BTW, I’m diabetic and we have GF eaters and yeast allergies in the family too, so meal planning is tricky, and usually results in sourcing far from normal ingredients!
I’m gonna try this for Xmas day – I’m doing Moroccan Meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce for the main dish, served with Cauliflower rice, but I’m also making a turkey-mince meatloaf with a chickpea (no bread) sage & onion stuffing core, so this sounds perfect to go with that!
I’m going to try using coconut palm sugar instead though (it’s not quite as sweet but a LOT lower GI, so better for me) and I might try Staci’s suggestion with subbing 1/3rd of the water for fresh squeezed OJ to help sweeten things up a bit.
Thanks for the ideas guys! Merry Xmas (or happy holidays / Hanukkah or Id-E-Milad) to you all 🙂
I’m back, and….
O.M.(F.)G!! That has got to be the BEST Cran Sauce I’ve ever tried!
I did it as I said, with the coconut-palm-sugar and 1/3rd OJ (well it turned out to be Clementine juice actually, hubby picked up the wrong bottle at Tesco’s) and I used a full 50ml mini bottle of JD I had (so 3 tblsp + 1tsp) and reduced it all down for a good 20+ minutes.
It’s already made an appearance (still hot from the pan) on a couple of chicken wraps ( I had some shredded chicken in the fridge from yesterday) and the rest of it is cooling in a pyrex jug before I tub it up to go in the fridge. Made just over a pint of sauce (according to the markings on the pyrex jug)
I can see it’s going to take some will-power for there to be any left for Christmas day!! LOL
That sounds like an amazing meal!! I actually just discovered coconut palm sugar myself and am going to be doing a lot more experimenting with it! Glad to know it worked in this recipe! Thanks so much for letting me know how it worked out for you! Come back again!
Can this be prepared the day before and warmed the day of?
Absolutely! A day in the fridge helps the flavors blend together even more, it will be delicious!
This sounds amazing! I love anything and everything cranberry! I make my own vanilla. I actually made a bottle of bourbon vanilla. So, question is, since my bourbon and vanilla is all one, would you recommend 3 tbsp?? Thanks
This sound delish. Was wondering if this would be safe to can using water bath method. That way u could have it year round.
How far ahead can you make this?
It keeps well so I’d say 3 or 4 days!
Can I make this a day ahead of time?
So I’m going to try this tomorrow. I have a vanilla burbon do you think it would be to much vanilla?
Made this for thanksgiving and I am making again for Christmas! Thanks for a wonderful recipe. Totally different from my usual cranberry relish and such a nice change it is,.