Looking for a unique seasonal recipe using cranberries that can also be an easy holiday kitchen gift idea? Homemade Cranberry Vinegar is the ticket! The color alone is worth making it.
As the cyberwaves are packed to the gills with Thanksgiving recipes I'm taking a step to the side to bring you something different: Homemade Cranberry Vinegar. It's actually a vinegar infusion (though I do love making homemade vinegar from scratch too). The vinegar is very easy to make and its beautiful ruby red color makes it a star choice for holiday gifts from the kitchen!
I feel like the fall and early winter months have very distinct flavors. Pumpkin, cinnamon, cranberry and peppermint lace through the change of seasons like culinary sign posts letting us know the holidays and cooler months are upon us.
Sadly, cranberries feel to be short changed in the versatility department. It's the Pumpkin Spice Lattes people are announcing on Facebook as soon as Starbuck's releases them (it seemed like August this year). Pumpkin covers the gamut from soups, to pumpkin pie, smoothies, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin hot chocolate, spicy pumpkin pasta sauce and so on. I don't recall seeing a cranberry in a pasta sauce. Ever.
Homemade Cranberry Vinegar lets the cranberry spread its wings a bit. The vinegar is an infusion with apple cider vinegar, sugar, water, cinnamon and fresh cranberries creating a tasty vinegar for the season and beyond.
How to Use Cranberry Vinegar
It would be wonderful for:
- fall and winter salads
- drizzled in soups
- in slaws
- barbecue sauce recipes
- in beans
- quick pickling
- in beef stews
- for marinating raw vegetables
- to make into a reduction to sauce other foods.
It can also be infused a second time with herbs to flavor it further for salad dressings.
Printable Gift Tags
One of my favorite things to make for the holidays are edible gifts. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Hoarders but I personally like things I can use up and enjoy thinking of the maker in the process.
With the holidays afoot, I have created some simple gift tags in the event you want to make Homemade Cranberry Vinegar for your gift giving. Just print them out, cut them out and attach to the bottles or jars of vinegar!
EQUIPMENT/WHERE TO BUY:
A key piece of equipment for this recipe is a fine gauge sieve or strainer. If you don’t already own one, it is an inexpensive kitchen tool that fill the bill when straining liquids with smaller particles that might pass through a larger strainer. I use both the regular rounded style and the conical style for everything from straining tea to making ice cream!
The bottles used in this post are Limoncello bottles from World Market.
Recipe
Homemade Cranberry Vinegar
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
- ¾ cup Water
- 1 3- inch Cinnamon Stick
- 12- ounces fresh Cranberries , rinsed
- Optional: Printable Gift Tags
Instructions
- Sterilize the jars or bottles which will hold the vinegar by rinsing them out with boiling water and allowing them to dry.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil then lower the temperature to reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the cranberries burst, approximately 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool fully in the saucepan. Strain through a fine gauge sieve (discard the cranberries and cinnamon stick) into bottles or jars for storage; seal and store in a cool place. May be stored for up to 3 months in a cool, dark place OR for 6-8 months in the refrigerator.
Louise Bishop says
I had no clue there was flavored vinegar! This sounds and looks amazing!
Nancy Polanco says
Love this! I can’t wait to make and try it for the family and I. By the way, love the pictures! 🙂
Toni Dash says
Thank you Nancy! I hope you’ll love it. You’ll certainly love how easy it is!
Jeanine says
Wow this is really neat. I had no idea there was even such a thing as Cranberry Vinegar. How interesting. I would love to try it!
Georgeanna Shepherd says
Thank you for your reply,
Toni Dash says
You bet! Thanks for the reminder so I could share it!
Georgeanna Shepherd says
Love it .can’t wait to make this. How long would it last?
Toni Dash says
I just updated the post with this info (sorry not to have included it!): 3 months if stored in a cool, dark place or 6-8 months in the refrigerator.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
This looks very interesting.
I have never tried cranberry vinegar before.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I like cranberries, but my mom LOVES them, I am going to show her this I know for a fact she would love it and will definitely do it!
MaryB says
This looks lovely. Should it be refrigerated? How long does it keep? If I give it as a gift I’d like to know how long ahead of time I could make it and still have enough shelf life (or fridge life) left for the recipient. Thanks so much. What a fun idea.
Toni Dash says
Hi Mary! The vinegar may be kept in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months or in the refrigerator for 6-8 months. I’ll add this to the post. I might let your lucky recipients know that but would probably make it and keep it at room temperature before gifting it.
Sarah says
What an awesome idea! This would be perfect for Christmas as gifts, love this idea! The red from the cranberry is just so pretty.
Kristin says
I love the vivid color. I bet it tastes even better than it looks too!