This vibrant condiment takes its inspiration from the popular cocktail the Cosmopolitan. The alcohol heightens the sauce's flavor, but for kids and nondrinkers, the recipe can easily be made nonalcoholic by substituting orange juice for the water and deleting the vodka and liqueur.
Ingredients
Makes 3 cups
Step 1
In heavy medium saucepan over moderate heat, combine cranberries, sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to boil, stirring often to dissolve sugar, then reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened and reduced to about 3 cups, about 15 minutes.
Step 2
Transfer to medium bowl and cool, stirring often, until tepid, about 30 minutes. Stir in vodka and liqueur. Transfer to serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 2 hours. (Sauce can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and refrigerated.) Serve chilled or at room temperature.
•Thanks to its high acidity, which discourages bacteria growth, cranberry sauce keeps very well. It can be made and refrigerated at least two weeks before serving, and leftovers are likely to keep for another two weeks.
•Buy extra fresh cranberries during their season to freeze and add to baked goods. Do not defrost them before use, but do allow an extra few minutes baking time, as the frozen berries will chill the batter.
Leave a Review
Reviews (75)
Back to TopWe love this cranberry sauce! It's been my go-to for many Thanksgivings now, and it always gets rave reviews. Perfect reason to keep some Grand Marnier on hand (which I use similarly to make fruit salad extra festive, too!)
CBCcooks
Tampa, FL
11/26/2021
Once I made this I’ve never looked back! Simply amazing!
Sheila
11/20/2021
A Thanksgiving staple at our house for years. Scrumptious and a snap to prepare. Can be done 2 weeks ahead of time. Double the recipe so there's plenty leftover for those midnight raids of the refridgerator after the big day.
Anonymous
New York, NYC
11/14/2021
This is the best cranberry sauce I've ever made and have been making it since first saw it here. Even people who don't like cranberry love it
pattywb
New York
11/13/2020
I made this for Christmas day (no kids!) but only used 1/2 the sugar. Guests loved it and kept eating it. Very easy to make.
Anonymous
Huntington Beach, CA
12/26/2019
I love this recipe! It’s a must at Thanksgiving dinner! I could eat the whole thing myself! Truly special.
tlprunty405
NY, NY
11/24/2019
This is a legend in its own time at my house, and there would be a riot if I didn't make it for Thanksgiving, but beware that it DOES NOT make anywhere near three cups. It makes about a cup and a half. I double the recipe for eight to ten people, and it all gets devoured.
Anonymous
在特定的
11/21/2014
Best cranberry sauce ever. And beautiful. I have made it several times and it is always a hit. I too add the alcohol at the end of the cooking time and it has never been "boozy". I add a bit of lime zest to make it own.
peiff
Princeton, NJ
12/21/2013
This was a superb recipe, it worked perfectly and was more delicious than any cranberry sauce I've ever had. I followed the advice of another reviewer and added the vodka and triple sec while the cranberry sauce was still simmering, to burn off some of the alcohol. I added some orange zest, the juice of that orange, and I put in a cinnamon stick, which I removed before putting in the fridge. I was especially happy to find some orange flavoured vodka, Grey Goose, in the cabinet so used that.
becksbrady
Bermuda
12/2/2013
At Thanksgiving, Boyfriend said he thought it was best cranberry sauce he'd ever tasted. Other folks liked it too. I liked it, but actually my favorite was another one from this site: Cabernet & Figs: //m.fonts4kids.com/recipes/food/views/Cabernet-Cranberry-Sauce-with-Figs-51138020 What's nice about this sauce is that it really comes off as a standard cranberry sauce that has just something extra that cuts the sweetness...and you can't quite figure out what it is.
lulamaebroadway
Los Angeles, CA
12/1/2013
I have made this several years in a row and it's always a hit. I don't add the alcohol but instead put in some cinnamon sticks to boil with the berries. Super yummy!
Edevin74
11/26/2013
This "adults only" cranberry sauce is fabulous with just enough bite!I added a bit of grated orange peel this time! and 3/4 sugar not 1 cup!
Pattywb
New York
11/25/2013
Fantastic! This is the fourth year in a row that I'll be making this and it is always a huge hit both at thanksgiving and beyond!
ethanallen
Hamburg, Germany
11/15/2013
Made this last year for Thanksgiving and it was the first to go. Will make again this year and the year after!
cajunmomma
Albuquerque, NM
11/13/2013
Delicious! I have now done this recipe twice. Once as written and then again with reduced vodka and instead used Sorrel, a really nice liquor. Just a dash. Was a big hit.
heatherNYC
New York City
8/24/2013
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