RECIPE — What’s The Bloody Point Of Comparing Cranberry Juice To Cranberry Cocktail? Are You Trying To Confuse Your Taste Buds Or Just Being Utterly Clueless?

Laughter is brightest where food is best. — Irish Proverb

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What a disgrace! Comparing cranberry juice to cranberry cocktail is like comparing a fine dining experience to a greasy fast-food joint. Cranberry juice is pristine, pure, and unadulterated, while cranberry cocktail is nothing more than a sugary, diluted version of the real thing. If you have any ounce of culinary sense, you’d stick to the genuine article — pure, unsweetened cranberry juice. Now, let’s get to the bottom of this and whip up a recipe that showcases the true essence of cranberry juice.

Cranberry Glazed Roast Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, about 4 lbs
• 1 cup pure cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a small saucepan, combine the cranberry juice, honey, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and thyme. Heat over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10–15 minutes until the glaze thickens slightly. Set aside to cool.
3. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season the cavity with salt and pepper. Truss the chicken if desired.
4. Place the chicken in a roasting pan and rub the skin with olive oil. Season the outside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper.
5. Pour half of the cranberry glaze over the chicken, ensuring it’s coated evenly.
6. Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, basting with the remaining cranberry glaze every 20–30 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden brown and crispy.
7. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before carving.
8. Serve the cranberry glazed roast chicken with the pan juices and any remaining cranberry glaze on the side.

Wine Pairing: I’d recommend pairing this delightful cranberry glazed roast chicken with a glass of Pinot Noir, such as the 2018 Belle Glos Dairyman Vineyard Pinot Noir from California. The bright acidity and fruit-forward profile of the wine will complement the tangy sweetness of the cranberry glaze beautifully. Cheers!

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Bon Appétit

If you’ve got it in your head to pit cranberry juice against cranberry cocktail, then you must be on a mission to make your taste buds suffer. Cranberry juice is the real deal, pure and simple. As for cranberry cocktail, it’s nothing more than a sugary imposter trying to pass itself off as the genuine article. If you’ve got any sense, stick to the pure, unsweetened cranberry juice for a tart and refreshing experience. If you’ve still got questions about this, I suggest you hit the books, or should I say, the juice aisle, and educate yourself on the difference.