Description
This Bourbon Vanilla Cider Cranberry Sauce is a delightful twist on the classic holiday condiment, combining fresh cranberries with bourbon, apple cider, and a fragrant vanilla bean for a rich and flavorful accompaniment perfect for festive meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- 3 tablespoons apple cider
- 1 vanilla bean, split
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, add the fresh cranberries, sugar, bourbon, apple cider, and the split vanilla bean. Stir well to mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Simmer the Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar and to blend the flavors evenly.
- Cook Until Thickened: Let the cranberries simmer gently for about 15 minutes, or until they start to break down and the sauce thickens to your preference.
- Cool and Store: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the cranberry sauce to cool. The sauce will thicken more as it cools. Leave the split vanilla bean in the mixture to infuse extra flavor if desired.
- Serve and Reheat: Serve the cranberry sauce chilled or gently reheat it before serving. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- The sauce will thicken further as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems a bit runny immediately after cooking.
- Keeping the vanilla bean in the sauce intensifies the vanilla flavor, but you can remove it before serving if preferred.
- This sauce pairs perfectly with turkey, chicken, pork, or as a festive spread for sandwiches and appetizers.
- Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.
