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Kid-Friendly Bourbon Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

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This isn’t your standard holiday cranberry sauce. It’s a beautiful, sticky-sweet-tart mess of a sauce with a whisper of warm bourbon and bright orange zest that converts even the biggest cranberry haters.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340 g) fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons packed orange zest
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) orange juice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients (5 minutes): Rinse cranberries and pick out any soft ones. Zest oranges using a microplane, avoiding the white pith. Juice the oranges into a small bowl.
  2. Combine the Base Ingredients (2 minutes): In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, water, and orange juice. Stir until sugar dissolves.
  3. Add the Cranberries and Cinnamon (10 minutes): Add cranberries and cinnamon stick. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop and sauce thickens.
  4. Test for Doneness (1 minute): Dip a spoon in the sauce and run your finger down the back. If the sauce holds a clean path, it’s done. If too runny, simmer 2 more minutes.
  5. Finish with Bourbon, Vanilla, and Zest (1 minute): Remove from heat. Stir in bourbon, vanilla extract, and orange zest. Discard cinnamon stick.
  6. Cool and Serve (30 minutes to 2 hours): Let cool in saucepan for 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl or jar. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

Notes

The alcohol in the bourbon cooks off completely, leaving behind a warm, nutty flavor. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute with 1 teaspoon bourbon extract mixed with 2 tablespoons water. The sauce can be made up to two weeks in advance and stored in the refrigerator. It also freezes well for up to three months.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry sauce, bourbon cranberry sauce, orange zest, Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday side dish, kid-friendly

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/kid-friendly-bourbon-cranberry-sauce-with-orange-zest/