Homemade Cranberry Liquer

This is as close as I come to making my own "moonshine".... You will need to plan ahead for this one... allow 2 weeks.... 12 days if you're really pressed for time. The prep time is quick, the wait time before bottling holds you up.

12 days
20 min prep

Makes 1 Quart - You'll probably want to make more!

• 1 lb cranberries

• 4 cups superfine sugar, divided

• 1 cup water

• 3 cups 80 proof vodka

Combine cranberries with 2 cups sugar.

Add water and boil 4-5 minutes until skins start to pop.

Remove from heat and cool.

Put in a mixing jar, one of those large glass sun tea jars works great!add vodka and shake vigorously.

Cover and leave to infuse at least 7 days, shaking or stirring occasionally. Refrigerate.

Pour thru a coarse strainer and discard berries.

Let rest 3-4 days.

Without shaking the jar, decant only the clear liquor into another jar, leaving white residue in the original jar.

The white residue can be put thru a paper strainer (I use an unbleached coffee filter) until liquid is clear; add the strained liquor to the already decanted liqueur.

Combine liqueur with 2 more cups of sugar and shake vigorously until sugar is absorbed.

Let clear overnight and bottle.

Spiced Cranberry Apple Cider for Adults

This is a fabulous adult drink for cold weather. Spiced rum is a great alternative to the dark rum.


12 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon orange zest
8 cups apple cider
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup dark rum or spiced rum (Captain Morgan's)
1/2 cup apple brandy

Use a tea ball or a piece of cheesecloth to make a bundle of the cloves, allspice, cinnamon sticks and orange peel - put all other ingredients in a large saucepan with this and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes or until the cider is reduced to about 4 cups. Remove and discard the cheesecloth bundle of spices. Keep warm to serve - crockpot works great