Homemade cranberry sauce with oranges and orange liqueur
Photo/Suzanne Pitner

There are many cranberry sauce recipes on the Internet, all claiming to be the most delicious. Some of the most popular recipes for homemade cranberry sauce include orange juice or orange zest, and some include brandy or whiskey. This recipe is just a bit different, because it uses mandarin oranges and orange liqueur, known by the brand names Triple sec, Cointreau, and Grand Marnier. The alcohol dissipates while the cranberry sauce cooks, so there is no need to worry about how much alcohol is in the final dish.
Homemade cranberry sauce can be prepared up to three days in advance of a holiday dinner. This particular recipe is the secret to the special flavor in Roast Pork with Cranberry Gravy. It also makes a delightful appetizer served over warm brie cheese with crackers. Leftover sauce can be turned into a Cranberry Fool made with pudding.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 can of mandarin oranges with the juice (6 ounce size)
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• 1 tablespoon of homemade orange liqueur or commercially made orange liqueur
• ¼ cup crushed pecans

How to make cranberry sauce

• Drain the oranges and reserve the juice. Mix the juice with enough water to make one cup of liquid.
• Pour the orange juice, water, and sugar in a pan. Add the oranges.
• With a potato masher, mash the oranges slightly.
• Bring the liquid and oranges to a boil.
• Add the cranberries, the allspice, and the orange liqueur.
• Bring back to a slow boil and cook, stirring constantly for ten minutes.
• Pour the cranberry sauce into a pretty bowl and place in the refrigerator to cool.

Tip: Serve cranberry dishes with a crisp red wine such as Finca El Retiro Barrica Syrah 2006.

Another recipe to try with no alcohol is the Fresh cranberry sauce in minutes in the Holiday Food Guide.