A Homemade Christmas: Vodka Cranberry Sauce Recipe

One of the things that I like to think makes my curated grazing tables extra special is that I always include delicious relishes and spreads made with love in my own kitchen. In the same way, a homemade cranberry sauce will really elevate your Christmas spread. Cranberry sauce is an essential part of any festive table – the tartness of the cranberries cuts through the heaviness of the turkey, and adds a dash of colour to every bite. But as good as it is, you will be so surprised at how easy it is to make, and more importantly, how much better it tastes than any shop-bought version! This vodka cranberry sauce recipe is quick and foolproof, and can also be used to make a lovely homemade gift. Enjoy!

340 g fresh cranberries
200 g sugar
45 ml vodka
75 ml water

1. Put all of the ingredients into a pan and bring to a boil. Cook until the berries start to burst open, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
2. Once most of the berries have burst, give the mixture a good thrashing stir to help crush the berries.
3. Carefully (the mixture will be scolding hot) taste and add a little more sugar if required, or if too sweet, add a squeeze of lemon.
4. Let cool. The sauce will look runnier than you might expect, but will thicken as it cools. If gifting, spoon the sauce into a sterilised preserve jar whilst still hot and seal.
5. If making the sauce to accompany your Christmas dinner, you can make it up to a week ahead, and kept it in the fridge in a dish. Give it a stir with a fork before serving if it has jellified a little.