festive homemade cranberry holiday liqueur

by Stacy

If you’re thinking of homemade holiday gifts, this is a fun and festive option. It involves the seasonally appropriate ingredients of cranberries (pretty!) and alcohol (coping mechanism!) to power through the holiday season.

making cranberry liqueur at home

You’ll need: cranberries, vodka, sugar, water, and jars. I made a double batch which was way more than we needed since we barely knew anyone nearby to give it away.

making cranberry liqueur at home making cranberry liqueur at home

First you need to make a simple syrup. Sugar, water, heat, done! Hooray! Let it cool while you prep the rest.

making cranberry liqueur at home making cranberry liqueur at home
making cranberry liqueur at home making cranberry liqueur at home

Blitz up a package of cranberries in the food processor until decently smashed.

making cranberry liqueur at home

Stir the cranberries, simple syrup, and vodka together.

making cranberry liqueur at home

Now comes the fun part. Put the mixture into jars, stick the jars in a dark cupboard, and leave them there for 3 weeks, shaking them every other day.

After 3 weeks, you strain out the solids and serve it up. We poured some into pretty glass bottles as gifts and saved some for ourselves. Our favorite methods are chilled in a cordial glass, or for dessert:

ice cream with cranberry liquer

Are you making food gifts for the holidays this year?

Cranberry Liqueur

Makes 4 1/2 cups
Adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 package (12 ounces) fresh cranberries
  • 3 cups vodka

Directions:

  1. For simple syrup — Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
  2. Place cranberries in a food processor; process about 2 minutes until finely chopped.
  3. Mix cranberries, simple syrup, and vodka together in a large bowl.
  4. Pour mixture into clean jars and secure lids. Set in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks, shaking them every other day.
  5. After 3 weeks, strain out solids in a fine sieve or colander lined with cheesecloth and discard. Pour liqueur into clean bottles or jars. Store for up to a year at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

    making cranberry liquer at home


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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Kate November 22, 2010 at 7:10 am

Love this idea, I will have to put on my list for future years. This year my husband is making limoncello for some family members.

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Bridget November 22, 2010 at 9:12 am

My sister made this to give away a couple years ago! I searched around a bit to find a good mixer for mine – I needed something to balance the sweetness. Oddly, seltzer water ended up working perfectly.

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