Here’s a fun holiday recipe – and if you pick up the ingredients this afternoon you can still be ready for the Christmas Eve festivities, or have a jump start on your New Year’s celebrations!
Homemade Cranberry Liqueur
This recipe came from Ted and Jamie Kilgore, of the fabulous Planter’s House
1/2 cup of chopped fresh cranberries
6 oz Everclear (I’ve also seen similar recipes with vodka)
7 oz water
Combine in glass container or jar with tight lid. Let steep for four days, shaking whenever you walk by and remember to, and then strain.
Add 13 oz simple syrup (1:1 ratio of sugar and water, bring to a boil on stove and simmer, stirring, until all sugar is dissolved – let cool) to the cranberry mixture.
Bottle for friends and family to enjoy. Include a tag with serving suggestions. The Kilgore’s suggest serving with club soda and an orange slice. I think a twist of lime would also be delicious. Or add a splash to your New Year’s Eve Champagne glass.
The key to mass producing this for gifts is that the end ratio is 1:1 for the cranberry mixture and the simple syrup. I purchased the 17 oz. glass bottles from The Container Store and put in just over 8 oz. of each, swirled gently to mix, and then added some greenery, candy cane striped ribbon, and a cherry wood tag to each one. We included giant gingerbread snowflakes for the kids in each family so that no one was left out of the treat.
There’s just enough leftover in a mason jar in the fridge for a few small cocktails as we wrap up the preparations for the season.
Enjoy!
The cranberry liqueur turned out great and so pretty!