This Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce is an amazingly delicious side dish! And you can quickly throw it together in less than 30 minutes!
Are you tired of the same old Cranberry Sauce?
After I made same green beans for years, I was ready for some change. So I made this amazing Ultimate Green Bean Casserole in a Skillet. And it was only a matter of time trying something different with the cranberry sauce.
I don’t know why we haven’t made it this way before. With tart and sweet flavors complementing each other beautifully, it’s a winner!
In this Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce, you simmer fresh berries with orange juice and Grand Marnier. And within 15 minutes they become a jammy sauce full of tart, juicy berries. Just beautiful!
Can you impress your guests with Grand Marnier cranberry sauce?
I’m not sure about you, but in my family cranberry sauce has always been an afterthought kind of thing. Of course, we always had it on our holiday table. But we sort of jammed it onto our plates after they were already full with all the other good stuff. Asa result, it was always more of a runner up to all the other dishes on the table. Now it’s the star of the show!
Are you ready to improvise?
Cranberry sauce can be so much fun! Because you can play around with adding various other flavors, besides Grand Marnier. For example, cinnamon, red wine, cinnamon, or even jalapeño.
You can also substitute the sugar with honey, blue agave syrup or even maple syrup. But keep in mind that they will produce slightly different flavors and textures in the final sauce.
Can you make it ahead?
You can make Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce up to three days ahead. I actually found that it tastes much better if I made it ahead. Especially if I allowed it to sit in the refrigerator for at least one day.
You just made a cranberry cocktail cleverly disguised as a holiday table side dish! By the way, I really like the taste of liquor in this sauce. You can definitely taste Grand Marnier and orange flavors against tartness of cranberries.
I cannot wait to have more of this in the weeks to come!
Not only did I try a different cranberry sauce, but also a different kind of turkey. I made Garlic Butter Roasted Turkey Breast instead of the traditional turkey this year!
I cooked a couple more amazing holiday recipes this year. All are delicious and easy to make.
Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Gratin
Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.
And if you like pinning, follow me on PINTEREST to get more recipe ideas!
Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 bags cranberries, fresh or frozen (12 oz each)
- 1.5 cups cane sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 4 tbsp Grand Marnier or Cognac
- 1 tbsp zest of fresh orange
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and orange juice.
- Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring often until syrupy, about 10 minutes.
- Add 4 tbsp Grand Mariner and orange zest. Continue to cook on low heat for 10 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and serve with freshly grated orange zest.
Could you use Xylitol or Stevia instead of sugar? Trying to cut down on processed sugar this year.
Yes! You could use that and in much lesser amounts than the recipe caLls for.
Could you freeze this? I know you could can it but not sure about the freezing
Maryann
Yes, you can freeze it.
Can this be canned?
I would think yes, even though I have not canned it. But because it does have enough sugar, which will serve as a preservative – I believe it will work.
I also add chopped walnuts to this, yummy
Sounds really good with chopped walnuts!
Just made this to put over brie tarts. It’s so easy and so delicious!! Hoping I can stop dipping into it so I leave enough for the tarts!!
Haha! Poor tarts.
Is this served hot or cold?
Cold.
hello this looks amazing and I am definitely going to make it for Christmas. what is the longest it can stay in refridgerator if we dont use it all Christmas dinner. could it stay a week? thank you
Lorenza, it will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks in the air tight container. It can even be frozen for 1-2 months. Just make sure to put it in the fridge within an hour (don’t let it sit on the table at room temperature for more than an hour – to keep it fresher longer).
This sounds amazing! I’d love to give this one a go.
Thanks Stine Mari – I hope you will enjoy it.
Can you freeze it?
Hi Pauline. Yes, homemade cranberry sauce can definitely be frozen! Just make sure to use it within a month.