Cranberry Liqueur

By mhatkinson

Drench homemade fruitcake with the liqueur. Drizzle it over ice cream and fruit for an instantly glamorous dessert. Give it away in small decanters or glass bottles. Or just sip it, chilled, in liqueuer glasses or make into cosmopolitans.

Ingredients

• For liqueur:
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries
• 3 cups vodka
• For Cosmopolitans:
• 1/2 cup cranberry liqueur
• 1/4 cup Cointreau
• 2 tablespoons lime juice

Preparation

Step 1

1) Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan, cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and cool completely.
2) Place cranberries in a food processor; process 2 minutes or until finely chopped. Combine sugar mixture and cranberries in a large bowl, stir in vodka.
3) Pour the vodka mixture into clean jars; secure with lids. Let stand 3 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking every other day.
4) Strain the cranberry mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl, and discard solids. Carefully pour liqueur into clean bottles or jars.

Note: Liqueur can be stored refrigerated or at room temperature for up to a year.


For Cosmopolitans - Place crushed ice in a martini shaker. Add liqueur, Cointreau and lime juice; strain into martini glasses. Makes 2 cocktails.