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Orange Bourbon Cranberry Sauce

Orange bourbon cranberry sauce simmers fresh or frozen cranberries with orange juice, zest, and sugar until the berries burst and the sauce thickens. A splash of bourbon rounds out this tart, glossy side dish, which thickens further as it cools.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
cooling 20 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 112
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

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

Equipment

  • 1 2- to 3-quart saucepan

Method
 

  1. Combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, water, and orange zest in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce begins to thicken.
  4. Stir in the bourbon and simmer for 1 minute.
  5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool for at least 20 minutes; it will thicken as it cools.

Notes

For a thicker sauce, let it cool fully before serving, since it thickens as it cools. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 10 days; freeze for up to 2 months. For an alcohol-free variation, replace the bourbon with an equal amount of orange juice.