Sweet and spicy, Drunken Cranberry Sauce pairs perfectly with a traditional holiday dinner of turkey, gravy and stuffing. Ready within 15 minutes, this lightning fast side dish adds sweetness to a meal. Fresh cranberries cook with spiced rum, orange juice and brown sugar to make this delightful recipe. Drunken Cranberry Sauce is what you’ll want to serve at the Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday party tables!
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This dish sounds a lot boozier than it actually is.
The cranberries aren’t really drunk.
They’re just jazzed up by a little rum.
Because rum jazzes us all up sometimes, right? Right.
This dish was conceived and executed about, oh, ten minutes before we sat down for our Peacock Thanksgiving dinner.
I’d purchased cranberries, knowing I wanted to make a simple cranberry sauce for the meal with them, and I completely forgot about them until everyone was at our home, and we were carving the turkey.
There’s something so sweet and lovely about a simple side, and this cranberry sauce is that to a tee.
It’s sweet. It’s simple. And it’s pretty darn tasty, too.
Drunken Cranberry Sauce Essentials
- Saucepan.
- Citrus juicer.
- Good, drinkable rum.
Get the look!
- Blue and white plaid napkins (Similar from Etsy.)
- Oneida Countess Servingware.
Looking for some more amazing holiday-centric side dishes? My Vegan Fresh Green Bean Casserole is always a hit (with the vegans and non-vegans alike), Bacon and Baguette Stuffing goes down easy and Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole is always a winner.
Interested in making this super simple, super flavorful cranberry sauce? Scroll on down to learn how you can make it at home!
Drunken Cranberry Sauce
Sweet and spicy, Drunken Cranberry Sauce pairs perfectly with a traditional holiday dinner of turkey, gravy and stuffing. Ready within 15 minutes, this lightning fast side dish adds sweetness to a meal. Fresh cranberries cook with spiced rum, orange juice and brown sugar to make this delightful recipe. Drunken Cranberry Sauce is what you'll want to serve at the Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday party tables!
Ingredients
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries, whole
- 2 tablespoons spiced rum
- ½ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the cranberries with the rum, orange juice and brown sugar.
- Cook about 10 minutes, or until cranberries have popped and the sauce has thickened.
- Serve as a side--either warm or cold--at the holiday dinner table.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 121Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 2gSugar: 25gProtein: 0g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Do you make cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving?
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The photos and recipe for this Drunken Cranberry Sauce were originally published on November 13, 2013. The photographs, along with the text of this blog post, were updated on October 12, 2017.
Katherine says
I have to admit that while I love cranberry sauce (more like the gel that comes from a can, let’s be honest), I have yet to make it myself. It just seems intimidating. Thanks for this recipe, which looks simple and delicious. And the rum can’t hurt. 🙂
Erin says
Girl, I hadn’t made cranberry sauce until two years ago, so I feel you on the nerves and being intimidated by it. (My grandmother’s homemade cranberry salad is the actual BEST, and making it under the guidance of my mom made it a little less scary.) If you give making your own a try, I’d love to know what you think of this… and you’re right, the rum does NOT hurt. 😉
Alli says
This looks yummy. My homemade cranberry sauce is probably what I’m most “known for.” It’s the one and only thing I make that I swear could go head to head with a professional chef. Funny enough your recipe, which really does look delish, is somewhat similar to mine.
Erin says
I love that you’re known for your cranberry sauce and that you’d go head-to-head with a professional chef with your recipe. I’m curious what yours calls for and how you make it now!
Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies says
I’ve always just eaten (and loved) the weird can go. I’ll have to try making this!
Erin says
Hey, nothing wrong with that! We’ve all got our own things. 🙂 If you do make this, I’d love to know your thoughts!
Prototype Mama says
I feel terrible but we eat cranberry sauce out of the can–yikes! My parents hate it but I just can’t make it 🙂 I’m going to have to try this out
Erin says
Pssh. Everybody does their own thing, and I know so many people who eat their sauce out of the can. But IF you do try out this recipe, let me know what you think!
Aubrey (@highheeledlove) says
This dish sounds amazing! I love how simple it is. Thanks for sharing.
Erin says
Thanks so much, Aubrey! Sometimes, the simple stuff is just the best.
Lindsay says
I love this recipe! I was searching for a little something different to do with cranberries this year and you had me at drunken 😉 I’m definitely going to try this!
Eleanor says
Hi there can you store this in sterilised jars and if so how long for?
Thank you xxx
Erin says
Hey Eleanor. I’ve never stored these in sterilized jars before, so I can’t say for sure what time this would work for, long-term. I would look up canning information for similar fruit-based sauces/jams and see how long those last. (And if you’re looking for short-term, we kept some in our fridge for a few days afterward!)
Emily says
Has anyone tried the recipe yet and if so how did it taste?? Not sure how the dark brown sugar will taste
Erin says
Hey Emily! I extensively test all the recipes that I share here at The Speckled Palate. The recipe will work if you substitute granulated sugar or light brown sugar, but I like the robustness that the dark brown sugar to them the best. This is a recipe we make yearly, and we think it’s absolutely delicious.
Maiya says
Omg this is the best! Added some raisins to make it more of a relish.
Erin says
Thanks so much, Maiya! Happy this turned out for you and that you added some pizzaz! ENJOY!
Susan Strange says
I made this for Thanksgiving, and it was a real hit. Maybe because I did exactly what the receipt called for except I put in SIX tablespoons of Gosling’s Black Seal 80 Proof Bermuda Black Rum!! We ran out of this cranberry sauce, so next year I’ll make a double recipe.
Erin says
I am SO thrilled to hear this, Susan! And I love that you added a bit more of the rum because it’s DELICIOUS. I’m gonna have to try that brand next time I’m looking for some rum and love to hear that this was such a hit! Well done!