The first year I made Thanksgiving dinner, I found the most wonderful Cranberry sauce recipe on a blog. Up until this point I my life, cranberry sauce had always been that gelatinous stuff that came out of the can, shaped like the can (rings and all). This was because that is exactly the “stuff” my Dad loved on his turkey, and my mom, not really being a cranberry sauce fan herself, dutifully ensured that the log of cranberry goo was present every year, usually set right Infront of my dads seat at the table. So when I came across this Bourbon Vanilla Cranberry sauce (from real cranberries) it was both a revolution and a revelation! I absolutely fell in love. It is now a non-negotiable staple of our Thanksgiving dinner.
This cranberry sauce very rarely has left overs, as it is sooooo very tasty. I will eat it by it self out of the fridge for a treat if I’ve had the good sense to make a double batch, yes, it is that good! It’s also lovely on ice cream. I can’t stress enough how much we enjoy this sauce!
BUT, what I really want to share with you today is the very recent discovery of my new favorite Thanksgiving “Leftover” Cocktail recipe! Honestly it’s so good I make a batch of the sauce ahead and serve this drink as an aperitif for guests with appetizers on Thanksgiving day now.
Cheers to you this Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for you all!
Bourbon Vanilla Cranberry Cocktail
Ingredients
For the Cranberry Sauce
- 1 12-14 oz. Bag Fresh Cranberries
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Bourbon
- 2 Tbsp Vanilla
- 1 Cup Water
For the Cocktail
- 1 Tbsp Cranberry Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tsp Bourbon
- 4-5 oz Prosecco
Instructions
Cranberry Sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a pot on the stove. Bring to a boil then reduce to a summer and cook for 10-15 min until all of the cranberries have popped and formed a beautiful mush. The sauce will thicken as it cools
"Leftover" Cocktail
- Place 1 Tbsp of Cranberry sauce in the bottom of a glass, add a splash of vanilla extract and bourbon and top with 4-5 ounces of your favorite prosecco! You can Garnish with rosemary or thyme, or just leave it plain!NOTE: You can use this with the canned cranberry sauce as well, simply double the vanilla and bourbon 🙂
Looks so good! I wish I was at your house😉
Another great idea—— the left over cocktail! Sounds so tasty.
I love a good cranberry sauce after graduation from the conned one , rings and all.
My stepdaughter Lisa makes a fantastic spiced cranberry sauce. It will go perfectly with the cocktail recipe!
This blog is fantastic! The bourbon vanilla cranberry sauce sounds divine, and pairing it with a creative “leftover” cocktail is such a clever idea. I can already picture serving that cocktail in elegant brandy glasses to elevate the presentation. It’s the perfect way to add a touch of sophistication to holiday leftovers!
The elegant brandy glasses are a brilliant idea! If you decide to try it out, we’d love to hear how it turns out and see how you style the presentation. ❤️ As fans of all things pewter we are so very pleased you found our little corner of the internet!