Cranberry sauce never tasted so good -- bursting with warm spices, lively fresh orange and rich dark brown sugar, this boozy brandied cranberry sauce makes for one show-stopping holiday side dish and adds an elegant touch to your holiday table. You'll never need another cranberry sauce recipe again.
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Why This Recipe Works
Is anyone else a huge "Friends" fan? Do you remember the Thanksgiving episode during the last season where Chandler offers to help Monica cook dinner, and she responds, "The cranberry sauce -- it's easy to make, and no one really cares about it." I always laugh, but at the same time, I think, "Awww, come on. That's not true."
Because I'll go ahead and brag: My spiced-brandied cranberry sauce is awesome, and it's a must-have for your Thanksgiving table.
In fact, I've been making this spiced-brandied cranberry sauce for years, and it's always met with rave reviews. Friends and family who have tasted it have told me it's the best cranberry sauce they've ever tried. Some have even told me that they don't normally like cranberry sauce but love this recipe.
See? Everything about this spiced-brandied cranberry sauce is delicious. No disrespect to Monica, but it’s time to start giving cranberry sauce more love.
Ingredients
Spices: For this spiced-brandied cranberry sauce, we use a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Cranberries are tart little numbers, so adding some spice adds a nice complexity and warmth.
Dark brown sugar: Some cranberry sauce recipes only use white sugar, which adds sweetness but no additional flavor. Brown sugar, however, gives a beautiful richness with its molasses, so we use both. While you can use light brown sugar, I prefer the dark brown variety because the molasses is even more prominent.
Orange juice and fresh orange zest: Orange and cranberries are a classic flavor combination, and you’ll love the pop of brightness it adds. Feel free to use a pulp or no-pulp orange juice. I’ve used both and haven’t noticed a difference in the final product.
Brandy: Of course, we can’t forget the brandy because cooking with alcohol is always more fun and delicious. I typically grab E&J brandy, which is widely available. That said, feel free to use brandy from your favorite local distillery or even a flavored brandy. An apple brandy, for instance, would be a lovely addition for extra fall flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
As if being delicious weren’t enough, this spiced-brandied cranberry sauce is also ridiculously simple to make. So let's get to it, shall we?
Step 1: To start, we add orange juice, dark brown sugar, white sugar and a mix of warm holiday spices to medium saucepan (photo 1), boil, reduce the heat and then give it a couple minutes to simmer (photo 2).
Step 2: From here, we add a bag of fresh cranberries (photo 3) and let them boil until they break down (photo 4).
Step 3: Once the cranberries thicken to a gel-like consistency, we turn off the heat and stir in orange zest, lemon juice and a punch of brandy (photo 5).
And that's it! You now have the most delicious cranberry sauce that’s perfect for Thanksgiving dinner through Christmas and New Year’s. Serve it with my smoked turkey thighs or maple-braised turkey legs and bourbon-pumpkin ice cream for dessert, and you're in for a real treat.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely. Homemade cranberry sauce should keep for 10-14 days as long as it’s stored properly. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and you’re good to go.
You sure can. Once cranberries start hitting the stores, I usually pick up a bag or two and throw it in the freezer, so I always have some on hand. When you’re ready to make the sauce, just dump the bag in the saucepan — no need to thaw.
Fresh cranberries are typically available from October through January. Cranberry season is short, so let’s take advantage and make as many festive recipes as possible!
Oh, so many ways! Cranberry and Brie go well together, so there are lots of recipes combining the two. I especially love these holiday pretzel bites stuffed with cranberry and Brie. You could also slather it on a round of Brie and bake or use in a Brie grilled cheese with some leftover turkey.
Beyond the Brie combination, you could swirl it in a cheesecake, add to your morning yogurt parfait, top on some waffles or spoon over ice cream. Oh, and let's not forget drinks — try it in this leftover cranberry sauce cocktail.
You have some many options, so feel free to get creative!
Expert Tips
- Once the cranberries start simmering, they turn to a rapid boil quickly. If you don’t keep an eye on it, the mixture could boil over, so make sure you pay attention.
- To grate the fresh orange zest, I prefer to use a microplane grater rather than a citrus zester. It’s quicker, more efficient, creates a finer peel and extracts more delicious citrus oil.
- You can either serve this super easy cranberry sauce recipe warm or chilled. I like it both ways, but for Thanksgiving dinner, I prefer it warm. For a warm cranberry sauce, you can obviously serve it right away, or you can gently reheat it on the stove or in the microwave. But cold is traditionally, so that's just as delicious.
Perfect Pairing
Rather than give pairings for this specific brandy cranberry sauce, let me offer you options that work well with an entire Thanksgiving meal.
If you're reaching for a beer, I recommend a bière de garde, which is a French-style farmhouse ale. Bière de garde pairs beautifully with roasted meat and savory herbs, so it's a great match with everything on your Thanksgiving plate. Plus, bière de garde is bold enough to stand up to each dish with plenty of carbonation to cleanse your palate between bites.
However, if you feel like a glass of wine, I love a pinot noir with Thanksgiving dinner. Pinot noir is on the fruity side, which naturally matches the brandy cranberry sauce while offering contrast to the more savory dishes. I also love that pinot noir boasts plenty of acidity to help cut through all those hefty sides and turkey.
Or maybe you prefer a cocktail. My best Thanksgiving cocktails and Christmas cocktails are full of seasonal options. Some of my favorites include a chai-cranberry bourbon smash and cranberry bourbon sour.
With the holidays upon us, I hope you add this spiced-brandied cranberry sauce to your dinner table. I promise this recipe will be your new favorite cranberry sauce.
Cheers!
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📖 Recipe
Spiced-Brandied Cranberry Sauce
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Microplane grater
Ingredients
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 (12-ounce) bag of fresh cranberries
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Zest from an orange
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add orange juice, sugars and spices and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat so that the mixture simmers for a couple minutes.
- Bring heat back up to medium-high and add cranberries. Boil the cranberries until they pop and the mixture thickens to a gel-like, jammy consistency. If the mixture starts to boil too much, turn the heat down to medium. Stir occasionally.
- Remove from heat and stir in brandy, lemon juice and orange zest. You can serve it warm or cold. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can make 10-14 days ahead of serving time as long as you store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to use frozen cranberries. No need to thaw -- add them straight to the saucepan frozen.
- Once the cranberries start simmering, they turn to a rapid boil quickly. If you don’t keep an eye on it, the mixture could boil over, so make sure you pay attention.
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutrition
Google Web Story: Boozy Cranberry Sauce
Mirlene says
Well now we are talking! Adding Brandy to the cranberry sauce is an epic idea! I might have to sip a little brandy before adding it to the sauce first!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I think that sounds like a lovely way to enjoy some holiday cooking!
Adriana Lopez Martin says
What a lovely idea to add brandy to a cranberry sauce, I use red wine, but brandy is a great pairing too. You have given me an excellent idea for my Thanksgiving menu as I introduce a new cranberry sauce every year.
Krista Price says
I hate to admit this, but my family is accustomed to canned cranberry jelly during the holidays... ? but this recipe will definitely be on our Thanksgiving table this year! Everything about this sounds lovely.
Anna Hettick says
Cranberry sauce to me is a staple at Thanksgiving dinner, but it is pretty easy for it to be the most boring side dish. EXCEPT NOW!!! I love the idea of adding to it! Your recipe looks amazing!!
Chef Mireille says
love all the spices you used - this is definitely my kind of cranberry sauce. I make mine different every year experimenting with different flavorings . This is one more version I have to try
April says
I am a huge 'Friends' fan! And that episode was super fun. But you got me all excited about your sauce now so I definitely need to give it a try - thank you!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks, April! The Thanksgiving episodes are some of my favorites. Hope you love it!
Jacqueline Debono says
Your cranberry sauce looks and sounds so flavourful. I've actually never made my own cranberry sauce. Really want to give your recipe a go! Pinning for later!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks, Jacqueline! Hope you enjoy it.
Karyl Henry says
I always have cloves in my spice collection, but I never really know much to do with them. This cranberry sauce is a wonderful idea, and the warming spices will make the house smell wonderful!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Oh, for sure! It smells ah-mazing!
Linda says
Yes and yes! Yes to Friends fan (big fan) and yes to cranberry sauce. In fact, I always look forward to cranberry sauce more than the turkey itself. And that brandy? Double yes, please!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Haha, love that sentiment! ?
Sharon says
Just in time for Thanksgiving! Oh Yum. You had me with the addition of brandy. I'll be trying this next week!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Yay! Hope you love it.
Maddy says
I love that episode of friends!! And I agree, it’s not thanksgiving without cranberry sauce. I can’t wait sit to try yours, it sounds so good!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
It's such a good episode! Hope you love it.
Renu says
OMG this is stunning. looks so so delicious and yum. The pics are making me drool, Would love to indulge in this.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Stine Mari says
You are speaking my language with this delicious cranberry sauce. Adding alcohol is always more fun!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Haha, always! Boozy food is the best.
Michelle Minnaar says
Everything you make always looks so fancy and yummy, this sauce will be perfect for next weeks' dinner!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Aww, thank you so much!
Gloria says
Once you make homemade cranberry sauce, the canned stuff is a thing of the past. What a great addition to the holiday dinner table. Love the addition of brandy, I also use bourbon. You can't buy this stuff in the stores.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Oh, for sure. Love the idea of bourbon!