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Bourbon cranberry sauce served in a small bowl with lemon peel on top

Kentucky-Style Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

5 from 2 votes
A bold, tangy, homemade cranberry sauce made with fresh orange zest, real orange juice, and a Kentucky splash of bourbon.
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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: 89
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb cranberries fresh or frozen
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup orange juice fresh squeezed
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 orange zest from 1 orange
  • 1-2 tbsp bourbon to taste
  • Pinch salt

Equipment

Saucepan
1 Saucepan
Wooden Spoon
1 Wooden Spoon
Microplane Zester
1 Microplane Zester
Measuring Cups
1 Measuring Cups

Method
 

  1. Zest the orange first, then juice it. Set zest and juice aside.
  2. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, brown sugar, white sugar, orange juice, water, zest, and salt. Heat over medium-high until boiling.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon bourbon and simmer 1–2 minutes. Add more to taste if desired.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Sauce will thicken significantly as it cools.
    Bourbon cranberry sauce served in a small bowl with lemon peel on top

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 82mgFiber: 2gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 56IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.3mg

Video

@bakedlean

KENTUCKY BOURBON ORANGE CRANBERRY SAUCE A little bourbon never hurts — especially when you’re from Kentucky. Sweet, tangy, and perfect for Thanksgiving. Ingredients Fresh cranberries Water Bourbon White sugar Brown sugar Fresh orange juice + zest How to make Simmer everything until the berries burst and it thickens. Cool completely — it sets as it chills. Full recipe is on my website. Link in bio or in my story. https://bakedlean.com/kentucky-bourbon-cranberry-sauce/ #cranberrysauce #thanksgivingrecipes #bakedlean #kentucky #bourbonrecipes

♬ Luna, amore e no - Piero Piccioni

Notes

Add extra sugar for a sweeter sauce. For stronger bourbon flavor, add a splash off the heat. Sauce keeps 7–10 days refrigerated.

Tried this recipe?

Mention or tag @bakedlean!