Push the easy-button this holiday season with this Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce with Chardonnay. It’s the perfect compliment to your holiday feast!

Thanksgiving is hands-down one of my favorite holidays. The pomp and circumstance is minimal and the meaning significant. Plus, it’s an event that’s mostly about the food. Food and family. Ok, and an occasional glass of vino. 😉

Just because I heart Thanksgiving, however, doesn’t mean that I have ample time to prepare. I used to get stressed out about hosting big dinners. I’d pick recipes without consideration for the number of ingredients or the cooking process. I’d go to two or three stores so that I could get specialty ingredients. Then I’d leave all the cooking to the very end.

Luckily, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve learned a thing or two (the hard way), and now I’ve figured out how to host a stress-free and delicious holiday meal.

It starts with picking out great recipes with minimal (quality) ingredients. It involves pushing the easy-button on the shopping process, and I make sure to spread out the cooking process over the week prior.

I always try and order online when I can, then shop at specialty stores as needed for anything extra. Those items I buy in bulk! 🙂

And since I picked out smart recipes, like my Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce with Chardonnay, that allow me to cook ahead of time, Thanksgiving will be a breeze.

One of my favorite recipes that I use for both Thanksgiving and Christmas is a boozy Cranberry sauce. I started making it back in 2013 when I shared the recipe here. I’ve updated the recipe to not only make it less expensive, but easier to make.

Want to give it a go?

First, combine 12 ounces of fresh cranberries (so much less expensive than dried!), 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of Chardonnay, 1/2 cup of sugar, a spring of fresh rosemary, 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice and the zest of a lemon.

Don’t cry over pouring your glass of wine in the pot. There’s more where that came from.

Bring to a gentle simmer and allow to cook, stirring occasionally until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.

Remove the rosemary sprig and with an immersion blender, blend until you get the consistency you desire.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, process in a food processor or blender with the cap removed to allow hot air to escape. Cover the hole loosely with a towel to prevent splatters.

Allow the sauce to cool completely, then transfer to a storage container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce with Chardonnay

Yield: 0

Push the easy-button this holiday season with this Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce with Chardonnay, plus online grocery shopping and free pickup with the new Walmart Grocery service. $10 coupon included!

Ingredients

12 ounces of fresh cranberries
½ cup of water,
½ cup of Chardonnay,
½ cup of sugar
1 spring of fresh rosemary
½ cup of fresh lemon juice
Zest of a lemon

Instructions

First, combine 12 ounces of fresh cranberries (so much less expensive than dried!), ½ cup of water, ½ cup of Chardonnay, ½ cup of sugar, a spring of fresh rosemary, ½ cup of fresh lemon juice and the zest of a lemon.
Bring to a gentle simmer and allow to cook, stirring occasionally until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.
Remove the rosemary sprig and with an immersion blender, blend until you get the consistency you desire.
If you don't have an immersion blender, process in a food processor or blender with the cap removed to allow hot air to escape. Cover the hole loosely with a towel to prevent splatters.
Allow the sauce to cool completely, then transfer to a storage container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.