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Make the most of cranberry season and turn those fresh berries into a delicious homemade cranberry liqueur! It’s extremely easy to make but requires a few weeks to infuse, so you’ll want to start it ASAP. Makes the cutest homemade Christmas gifts, too!
The second cranberries show up on the market, I’m in. I can’t help it…I always buy more and more and add them to all sorts of recipes.
Sure, you can buy cranberry juice and liqueur from the grocery store, but the flavor is so much fresher and deeper when you make it yourself!
If you have a bunch of fresh cranberries lingering around from canning cranberry sauce, make a big batch. Let it all cure and then store it in pretty bottles for the sweetest little homemade Christmas gifts. Your friends and family will love it!
Love cranberries, too? Try this Cranberry Apple Crisp recipe or make jars of homemade Cranberry Muffin Mix to gift for the holidays!
Why you’ll love this cranberry bounce recipe
- Beautiful ruby color for holiday cocktails
- Great flavor from the fresh cranberries and vanilla
- Versatile addition to different drinks and desserts
- Relatively inexpensive & much cheaper than storebought options
- Makes a great gift
- No need to make a sugar syrup – the sugar will dissolve in the alcohol!
- Surprisingly sippable – it’s so refreshing on a cool winter night!
Ingredients
- Fresh cranberries – Although I normally recommend infusing dried fruits and berries, cranberries are so dry that they don’t really have much moisture to dilute the alcohol. I do recommend only using fresh cranberries though, not frozen ones.
- Vodka – Choose a decent quality vodka you want to enjoy. I normally choose 100-proof vodka to help keep the liqueur shelf-stable.
- Sugar – For sweetness. Since cranberries are so tart and bitter, this is pretty key.
- Vanilla bean – Totally optional, but it adds extra depth of flavor. I get these 50-count packs of vanilla beans, which makes it easy to add them whenever. You can also throw in some spices, like cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cardamom pods, etc.
Equipment
To make your own cranberry liqueur, you’ll need:
- Large jar (I used a half-gallon jar)
- Cutting board and knife (or a food processor)
- Fine mesh strainer
- Extra glass jar (or jars, for bottling)
- Funnel
How to Make Cranberry Liqueur
- Add vodka, water, sugar, chopped cranberries, and vanilla bean to a large jar.
- Seal and shake daily for 1 week.
- Move to a cool, dark place and let the mixture infuse at room temperature for 4-6 weeks. Taste after a couple of weeks to check the flavor. If you like it, it’s ready. If you want it to be stronger, let it keep infusing.
- Once ready, strain the liqueur with a fine mesh sieve and store in a glass jar in the fridge (or cupboard if using all vodka).
- Serve chilled or add it to your favorite holiday cocktails!
Storing Suggestions
It’s always a good bet to store your homemade liqueurs in the fridge to keep them fresh, especially if you are using fresh fruit or diluting the vodka. If you are using all 100-proof vodka (no water), I’d be comfortable storing it at room temperature. Otherwise, fridge, please!
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How to Serve Homemade Cranberry Liqueur
That’s really up to you! I usually like to enjoy a small serving over ice or with a little ginger ale or cold hard cider, but you can also drizzle it over ice cream or stir it into countless cocktails.
Tips & Variations
- Play with add-ins. There are so many ways to adjust the flavor! Add a cinnamon stick or some allspice berries. Try lemon peel or orange zest. Use half brown sugar and half white sugar. Substitute gin for vodka. They all work!
FAQs
Yep! Dried berries are a great option for shelf-stable homemade liqueurs. If you do use dried berries, I recommend cutting the amount of sugar in half. Taste it after a few weeks and if you want it sweeter, add more sugar.
The thing that makes this a liqueur and not an infused vodka is the sugar. It’s entirely optional, but it’ll be quite tart without it. Feel free to use less sugar and add more to taste after the mixture steeps 1-3 weeks.
Most cranberry bounce or liqueur recipes out there call for 1-2 cups of cranberries, but I wanted this delicious liqueur to be flavorful enough to sip on its own and not lose its flavor when mixed in all sorts of cocktails. Feel free to use fewer cranberries, if that’s all you have!
Related Recipes
- Cherry Infused Bourbon
- Blackberry Infused Vodka
- Lavender Liqueur
- Vanilla Pear Liqueur
- Spiced Apple Liqueur
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
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Homemade Cranberry Liqueur Recipe
Equipment
- large jar
- Sharp knife
- funnel
Ingredients
- 2 cups vodka
- 1 cup water, or an additional cup of vodka (3 total)
- 3 cups fresh cranberries, sliced or chopped
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 vanilla bean , sliced open and cut in half
Instructions
- Add vodka, water, sugar, chopped cranberries, and vanilla bean to a large jar.
- Seal and shake daily for 1 week.
- Move to a cool, dark place and let the mixture infuse at room temperature for 4-6 weeks. Taste after a couple of weeks to check the flavor. If you like it, it’s ready. If you want it to be stronger, let it keep infusing.
- Once ready, strain the liqueur with a fine mesh sieve and store in a glass jar in the fridge (or cupboard if using all vodka).
- Serve chilled or add it to your favorite holiday cocktails!
Video
@milkglasshomekitchen Easy Cranberry Liqueur 'tis the season to chop some cranberries and then them into yummy things. This recipe needs time to infuse, so let's get to it! you'll need: 2 cups vodka + 1 cup water (or 3 cups vodka) 2 cups sugar 3 cups sliced cranberries 1 vanilla bean Shake daily for a week to help the sugar dissolve and keep the cranberries submerged. It's ready whenever you like it, so give it a taste after a few weeks. Once the flavor is strong enough, strain out the cranberries and bottle. Makes a great #homemadegift #holidaytiktok #homemade #cranberryseason #homesteadtoktok #cozyvibes #holidaygiftideas ♬ original sound – Rachael – Milk Glass Home 🌻
Notes
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I made this Cranberry Liquor back in December. I put it away and kind of forgot about it till yesterday. I got it strained and put in the fridge than my husband and I sampled it tonight with some Cranberry Sprite. It is luscious!!! I will certainly be making it again!
Rose, So glad you like it! It’s always fun to find little surprises like this in your cupboard. 🙂 We shared some of our stash as a gift a couple of weeks ago and it got rave reviews as well. Enjoy! – Rachael
Can I use cranberry sauce instead of cranberries and sugar?
Good question! I’ve never tried that and in theory, it should work. I just can’t totally attest to the quantities, final flavor, or how well it would work. Might be worth a try, though!