Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays

A festive bowl of amaretto cranberry sauce garnished with orange zest and fresh cranberries, surrounded by rosemary and holiday greenery.

This Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays is a flavourful and aromatic twist on the classic holiday condiment. Infused with warm spices, orange zest, and a splash of almond-scented Amaretto, it’s a beautifully fragrant addition to any festive table – elegant, bold, and just the right balance of sweet and tart.

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A bowl of festive amaretto cranberry sauce topped with orange zest, sliced cranberries, and rosemary, surrounded by holiday greenery and dried orange slices.

Hey folks!

I hope you’re enjoying the cheerful rhythm of the season! Today, I’m thrilled to share a cozy and slightly boozy condiment that’s sure to add sparkle to your holiday feast. So, let’s dive into this Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays.

Why You’ll Love This Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce

  • Elegant twist: The Amaretto brings a delicate almond aroma that perfectly complements the tart cranberries.
  • Warmly spiced: Cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom create depth and comfort in every spoonful.
  • Easy to make: Ready in under 20 minutes, with minimal effort and big flavour payoff.
  • Perfect pairing: Ideal for turkey, ham, or even over baked brie for a festive appetiser.

Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce: Flavour and Texture Profile

This sauce is luxuriously thick, glossy, and bursting with vibrant red colour. The tartness of cranberries balances beautifully with the citrus and almond notes, creating a sophisticated sweet-tart harmony. Once cooled, it sets to a luscious, spoonable consistency that tastes even better the next day as the flavours deepen.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe

  • Cranberries: The star of this sauce, providing bright tartness and vibrant colour perfect for the holidays.
  • Amaretto Liqueur: The secret twist – this almond-scented liqueur adds richness, depth, and a touch of sophistication.
  • Sugar: Adds balance and sweetness without overpowering the natural tang of the berries.
  • Orange Zest and Juice: Bring citrusy freshness, subtle sweetness, and festive aroma to the sauce.
  • Cinnamon: Adds warmth and a classic holiday touch that complements the fruit beautifully.
  • Ginger and Cardamom: Provide gentle spice and complexity, giving the sauce a fragrant, layered flavour.
A bowl of festive amaretto cranberry sauce topped with orange zest, sliced cranberries, and rosemary, surrounded by holiday greenery and dried orange slices.

How to Make This Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce

In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, spices, orange zest, and juice. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 5–7 minutes until the berries begin to soften and burst. Stir in the Amaretto and cook for another few minutes until thickened to your liking – it will continue to set as it cools. Taste and adjust the sweetness or add an extra splash of Amaretto for a more pronounced flavour. Cool completely before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to one week.

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I’d love for you to try this Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays. If you give this festive condiment recipe a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts!

Cheers!

Festive Amaretto Cranberry Sauce for the Holidays

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: Christmas, Festive Cheese and Appetizers, Condiments Sauces and Compound Butter
Servings

10-14

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes

Festive Amaretto cranberry sauce with orange zest, cinnamon, and almond liqueur – a bright, aromatic, and elegant holiday condiment.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

  • 6 cups (~700 gr.) fresh cranberries

  • 2/3 cup (for tarter version) to 1 cup of granulated or light-golden sugar

  • Zest and juice of medium orange

  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

  • 1/2 tsp. ginger and cardamom, each

  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup amaretto

Directions

  • In a medium pot (saucepan) combine the cranberries, sugar, spices, zest, and orange juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the berries start to soften and burst, stirring occasionally. While the sauce is simmering, I suggest you to try and adjust the sweetness, if necessary (this version is rather tart), but keep in mind the sweetness of Amaretto.
  • Stir in the 1/3 cup of Amaretto and cook for another 5 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken noticeable (it will thicken even more once fully cooled). Try and add another good splash (or few) of Amaretto, if desired.
  • Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature and enjoy. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Hi - I'm Ben, a blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer. I'm glad you're here! I hope you will enjoy hundreds of delicious recipes and a pinch of havoc in the kitchen.

16 Comments

  1. Now, that’s taking cranberry sauce to a whole new level of sophistication! The addition of amaretto, along with orange zest and spices, must bring a delightful depth of flavor to the sauce. I appreciate that it’s not overly sweet, letting the natural tartness of the cranberries shine

  2. Mike Linquist - XON CBD gummy distributor

    We did not have time to pick up some Cherry Brandy for a recipe we had for Cranberry Sauce, but we checked our liqueur cabinet and saw the DiSaronno there! Problem solved. Just had to pick up an orange (and we live in Florida) the cardamom & Ginger. Can’t wait to try it!????????????????

  3. What a great idea to pair amaretto with cranberries! I’m going to keep this in mind next time we make cranberry sauce. Well done, sir!

  4. The addition of amaretto sounds really delicious in the cranberry sauce! The flavors must be amazing. I’ll be keeping this recipe in mind!

  5. Marissa

    All of the above for us! I’m not a fan of cranberry sauce from a can, so this recipe is definitely calling my name. Love the amaretto!

  6. Ben, this my kind of cranberry sauce during the holidays ( why do we eat cranberry sauce only during the holidays, hmmm.). This looks luscious.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you!

    Velva

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