Tequila Lime Cranberry Sauce blends the flavors of a classic margarita with fresh cranberries and bakes them low and slow for a delicious whole berry sauce perfect for your holiday meal.

This easy homemade Tequila Lime Cranberry Sauce is a fresh twist on traditional cranberry sauce for something a little different this holiday. Just as easy to make and even better if you make it a day or two before to simplify your holiday meal preparations.

bowl of cranberry sauce on a table with text overlay "tequila lime cranberry sauce"

This recipe is a twist on my mother-in-law's Brandied Whole Cranberry Sauce served at every holiday meal since my husband can remember.

But, I wanted to switch things up a bit and was inspired by one of my favorite holiday cocktails: the cranberry margarita.

A simple swap of tequila for the brandy, plus a splash of triple sec and some fresh lime and you have a beautiful bright colored and flavored cranberry sauce.

Simplify your holiday meal preparation: Make it ahead.

Who has the time, or oven space, to bake the cranberry sauce for an hour on the big day? No one!

But, Cranberry Sauce is better made a day or two ahead of time to give the sauce time to gel a bit and for the flavors to fully develop. It might taste good right after cooking, but it becomes amazing after chilling in the fridge.

Put it straight into your serving dish and cover it before chilling to make things even easier at serving time.

Does the Alcohol Cook Away?

There are quite a few factors involved in the burning off of the alcohol including the temperature, length of cooking time, size of the pan, etc.

You can get more details here, but I calculate that a ½ cup serving with tequila and triple sec at 40-50% (80-100 proof) alcohol comes out to less than half a teaspoon of alcohol per serving, or about 0.7% ABV. Which is really close to the US Food and Drug requirement of less than 0.5% ABV to be considered "trace" amounts of alcohol.

BUT, that can still be too much for people that abstain from alcohol for health, religious or personal reasons.

Family Friendly Cranberry Sauce Options

For an alcohol free option you can use a true alcohol-free tequila alternative. Yes, there are now varieties that taste like tequila (or other spirits) without any alcohol. I have not tried it personally, but have heard good things about Ritual and ArKay.

Or use a combination of lime juice with a splash of orange juice.

Or try this easy Gingered Pear Cranberry Sauce.

bowl of cranberry sauce with text overlay gingered cranberry pear sauce

More Make Ahead Holiday Recipes from #OurFamilyTable

Whether it is side dishes for the big day or breakfast or dinner casseroles we've got some simple recipes to take some of the stress out of the holiday season.

Breakfast Enchiladas from Devour Dinner
Caramel Apple Pecan Cheesecake from The Spiffy Cookie
Cheesy Potato Casserole from Cheese Curd In Paradise
Easy Make Ahead Sausage Balls from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Everything Bagel Breakfast Casserole from Jen Around the World
Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole from Fresh April Flours
Make-Ahead White Whole Wheat Poppy Seed Buns from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Slow Cooker Hashbrown Casserole from Hostess At Heart
Tequila Lime Whole Cranberry Sauce from That Recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Halwa from Magical Ingredients
Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping from Blogghetti

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