Cranberry Sauce with Grand Marnier

Let's take a classic Thanksgiving side dish up a notch with this gourmet cranberry sauce with Grand Marnier orange liquor! This cranberry sauce recipe is full of holiday flavors, like cinnamon, allspice, and freshly squeezed orange. Elevate your Thanksgiving dinner menu with a splash of Grand Marnier!

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A few years ago, my mom found a Thanksgiving recipe in the newspaper for a homemade cranberry sauce and she decided to give it a go. Every year, the recipe changes with a little more of this and a little pinch of that. This year, I’ve added some flare to the dish with a unique cranberry sauce twist. Orange liquor really makes this recipe feel fun and fancy, elevating your entire holiday menu.

This super easy gourmet cranberry sauce takes only 35 minutes to prepare. Having a no-fuss cranberry side dish recipe on the menu frees you up, giving you more time to focus on other, more complicated Thanksgiving recipes.

Check out the recipe card below for more details but to make this Grand Marnier cranberry sauce recipe on the stovetop, you just lightly simmer cranberries, sugar, water, juice from an orange, and a cinnamon stick. After 15 minutes, add orange zest, Grand Marnier, and allspice, then continue to simmer for another 15 minutes. Lastly, take out the cinnamon stick and chill before serving. Yes, this fancy cranberry sauce is that easy!

And guess what?! This gourmet cranberry sauce recipe just got even easier. If you are running low on stovetop space (because.. Thanksgiving!), I added slow cooker instructions to the recipe card below! The slow cooker recipe card instructions are very similar to the stovetop instructions, just with modified times and temperatures.

Recipe Tips:

• SAUCE TEXTURE: If you want a sauce with more texture and semi-intact cranberries, keep the simmer low. The more aggressive the simmer, the higher the likelihood your cranberries will burst.
• STORING: This Grand Marnier cranberry sauce recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. When storing, make sure the cranberry sauce is properly sealed, dated, and labeled. All cranberry sauces should be stored in a non-metallic glass container.
• FREEZING: Yes, can freeze homemade cranberry sauce! This homemade cranberry sauce can last up to 3 months in the freezer, just let thaw in the refrigerator before using. You can also freeze any leftover fresh cranberries for up to 18 months. Just place in a label and dated sealable bag, then lay flat in the freezer until fully frozen. When you are ready to use your frozen cranberries, just pop them into the recipe - no need to defrost.

Recipe FAQ:

Will the alcohol burn off after cooking?

To put it simply, when fully prepared, there will be some alcohol left in this cranberry sauce recipe. For measuring heat and alcohol evaporation, there isn't really an exact formula but the higher the temperature and the longer something cooks, the higher the rate of alcohol evaporation. Based on USDA research, I can estimate that about 60% of alcohol in this recipe will burn off if prepared on a stovetop and even more alcohol will evaporate if prepared in the slow cooker.

Stovetop vs. Slow Cooker - Which method is best?

Cooking this Grand Marnier cranberry sauce on the stove creates a more congealed jam, while the slow cooker makes a more loose sauce. The slow cooker is also better able to keep the shape of the whole cranberries, which tend to burst if on too high of a heat on the stove. Having whole cranberries in your sauce really makes the dish feel very gourmet and fancy! Whichever cooking method you choose, your cranberry sauce will taste the same.

Is this cranberry sauce healthy?

This Grand Marnier cranberry sauce recipe has cranberries and oranges, both of which are full of inflammation-flighting antioxidants. The specific antioxidants found in cranberries also have the unique ability to stop harmful bacteria and fight infections, which can be helpful during cold and flu season.

Worried about gaining a few extra pounds during the holiday season? Cranberries can also trigger your fullness cues, signaling to your brain that you are no longer hungry. Cranberries won't stop you from indulging in your favorite holiday dishes (which you should shamelessly enjoy!), but they might stop you from overeating or taking one too many second helpings. (Source 1, Source 2)

For this particular cranberry sauce recipe, I only added the minimum amount of sugar needed to take away the bitter cranberry taste without overloading the sweetness. This healthy cranberry sauce recipe is also sweetened with a freshly squeezed orange, which adds even more beneficial nutrients to this cranberry sauce recipe.

SHOP MY EXACT INGREDIENTS

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Cranberries, Sugar, Cinnamon Sticks, Allspice

OTHER HOLIDAY RECIPES YOU’D LOVE: Semi-Homemade Pumpkin Pie Trifle  //  Port Poached Pears  //  Spiked Holiday Cider

If you made this Grand Marnier cranberry sauce recipe, let me know in the comments section below or tag me on Instagram @mymillennialkitchen. I’d love to see your pictures, comments, or recipe questions!

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