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  4. 10 Best Cranberry Sauces of 2023 (Chef-Reviewed)
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10 Best Cranberry Sauces of 2023 (Chef-Reviewed)

Not only does cranberry sauce add a festive pop of color to the table, but this scrumptious sauce can also deliver a burst of tangy flavor that can balance the savory flavor of meat. It can also bring something special to your pies, cakes, or vanilla ice cream. But with so many options out there, how can you choose?


That's why we did our research and found 10 of the best cranberry sauces on the market right now. Our favorite is Stonewall Kitchen's New England Cranberry Relish. It's crafted with cranberries, warming spices, and orange peel, to give you a more interesting texture and deliver a homemade appeal. Want to explore more options? Read on! There's also a buying guide and a classic cranberry sauce recipe awaiting you.

Last updated 10/03/2023
Jim Quast
Expert
Executive R&D Chef
Jim Quast

Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef that loves everything food-related and the tools both big and small to make those great food memories. He's a super huge BBQ, grill, and kitchen gadget fanatic. JQ has spent the last 30+ years trying to figure out what works to make your kitchen life easier and fun. If you can use it to slice it, dice it, cook it, smoke it or store it, he's been there checking it out. Food = Life! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-quast-59769011/

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Table of Contents

How to Choose Cranberry Sauces

With all of the options in mind, let's see which one works the best for you. There are many factors that you might want to take into consideration, including the flavor of the sauce, and your dietary restrictions. But don't worry, this buying guide will walk you through it step by step! 

1

Decide Between a Traditional or Flavored Cranberry Sauce

Decide Between a Traditional or Flavored Cranberry Sauce

The perfect combination of sweet and tangy that cranberry sauce offers can complement your veggie or meat dishes, or take your desserts to a whole new level. However, you'll be surprised to know that there are various tantalizing twists on the traditional cranberry sauce! 


The traditional recipe that involves simple ingredients such as cranberries, water, and sugar is always hard to beat. It goes well with virtually anything, from roasted meats to sandwiches and to desserts. But if you want to veer away from the conventional flavor, try out sauces with added spices.


If you want some fiery kick, look for sauces that have added chili, jalapeno, black pepper, or horseradish. And have you ever tried cranberry sauce with port wine? With a fruity and sweet note, this kind of wine will add a sophisticated touch to your sauce!


Cranberry chutney is another option you might want to take into consideration. This Indian-inspired sauce boasts a delicious blend of warming spices such as ginger, cloves, and cinnamon and can surprise your taste buds. Serve this cranberry chutney alongside some crackers with cream cheese or brie, or together with roast meats.


There are sauces that include fruits such as orange, apple, and pineapple for a brighter and more refreshing taste. They pair really well with Thanksgiving turkey, chicken, pork chops, or ham. You can also add these fruity sauces to a pie filling, or add it to cream cheese for a delicious dip.

2

Pick a Smooth or Chunky Consistency

Pick a Smooth or Chunky Consistency

Cranberry can come either in a jam-like form or as a firm jelly. Crafted with a high amount of pectin, cranberry jelly is smooth and solid. It retains its shape well and can be sliced. Jellied cranberry sauce is great for spreading on sandwiches, crackers, or any other food. 


Unlike its jiggling counterpart, whole cranberry sauce doesn't contain any pectin and has a more liquid consistency. There are usually chunks of cranberries to give the sauce a more interesting texture. You can use it to top baked goods, accompany your main dish, or as a pie filling. 


It's totally up to preference which consistency you want to go for. For those who don't like a chunky texture and prefer a smooth consistency, the jelly form is surely the way to go. But if you like to taste whole cranberries and are looking for a sauce with a somewhat chewy texture, whole cranberry sauce is for you. 

3

Check the Sugar Content to Determine Tartness

Check the Sugar Content to Determine Tartness

An ingredient that is indispensable in a cranberry sauce recipe is sugar. Cranberries are particularly tart, so they need sugar to counteract the tartness. If you're making a sauce from scratch, you can always adjust the level of sugar as you like, but that's not the case with store-bought cranberry sauce. 


If you're trying to limit your sugar intake, check the nutrition facts to see how much sugar a serving has and regulate your consumption amount to fit your dietary needs. Usually, the sugar content per serving ranges from 6 to 40 grams. If you're afraid that the sauce might taste cloyingly sweet, read through reviewers' comments to see what they think.


There are some products with no sugar added. They are a great choice for those who are trying to cut down on sugar, but do keep in mind that those sauces can be really sour. So you might want to add your own zero-calorie sweeteners to reduce the pucker. 

4

Get a Can for a Classic Look or a Jar for Easy Serving

Get a Can for a Classic Look or a Jar for Easy Serving

Cranberry sauce is often packed in cans or glass jars. Jellied sauce can come out of a can looking like the can, which is a fun way to serve (or slice) it! But once opened, you should store the leftovers in an airtight container to preserve the freshness. 


You may also want to check the material of the can to ensure that it's not crafted with BPA (bisphenol A.) This chemical is usually found in the lining of canned foods but has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor.


Glass jars can look fancy on your table, and you don't have to transfer the contents to a separate container. Simply spoon out the amount of sauce you want and close the lid after you're done!

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10
Best Cranberry Sauces Ranking

Here are the best Cranberry Sauces, ranked according to 10 Best Cranberry Sauces (as of 11-04-2022). The products are ranked independently by mybest.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Stonewall Kitchen

New England Cranberry Relish

Stonewall Kitchen New England Cranberry Relish 1枚目

Best Cranberry Sauce With Plenty of Warming Spices

2

Ocean Spray

Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce 1枚目

Best Jellied Cranberry Sauce for Spreads or Slices

3

Terrapin Ridge Farms

Premium Cranberry Relish

Terrapin Ridge Farms Premium Cranberry Relish 1枚目

Best Sauce With Grand Marnier

4

Stonewall Kitchen

Hot Pepper Cranberry Jelly

Stonewall Kitchen Hot Pepper Cranberry Jelly 1枚目

Best Jalapeño and Pepper Sauce for a Fiery Kick

5

Mrs. Miller's

Homemade Cranberry Jelly

Mrs. Miller's  Homemade Cranberry Jelly 1枚目

Best for the Simple Ingredients and No Corn Syrup

6

Ocean Spray

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce 1枚目

Best for the Well-Balanced Flavor That Goes With Many Dishes

7

Harry & David

Country Cranberry Relish

Harry & David Country Cranberry Relish 1枚目

Best for the Addition of Walnuts for a Rich Taste and Texture

8

Stonewall Kitchen

Apple Cranberry Chutney

Stonewall Kitchen Apple Cranberry Chutney 1枚目

Best Apple Cranberry Chutney With Succulent Fruits and Aromatic Spices

9

Mrs Bridges

Cranberry Sauce With Port

Mrs Bridges Cranberry Sauce With Port 1枚目

Best Scottish Cranberry Sauce With a Dash of Port

10

Stonewall Kitchen

Cranberry Horseradish Sauce

Stonewall Kitchen Cranberry Horseradish Sauce 1枚目

Best for the Horseradish That Adds a Spicy Kick to the Classic Recipe

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Stonewall KitchenNew England Cranberry Relish

New England Cranberry Relish Image 1
Source:amazon.com
New England Cranberry Relish Image 2
Source:instacart.com
Reference price
$7.25
Reference price
$7.25

Best Cranberry Sauce With Plenty of Warming Spices

Pros:

  • Combines cranberries, orange peel, and spices together for an aromatic, sweet, and tart flavor 
  • Enhances the taste of dishes such as baked chicken and roasted turkey
  • Texture is chunky with pieces of cranberries and orange zest

Cons:

  • Some buyers thought the flavor was too sweet

The recipe from Stonewall Kitchen includes sweet and tangy cranberries, aromatic orange peel, and spices to give you an irresistible cranberry sauce. Just pair it with some baked chicken or spread a teeny bit on freshly baked bread!


A couple of reviewers thought the taste was a tad too sweet for their preferences. Meanwhile, the majority loved the use of spices in this sauce and further mentioned that the orange flavor was the highlight. Most people also loved the slightly chunky consistency and added the relish went well with turkey and chicken dishes.  

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No.2

Ocean SprayJellied Cranberry Sauce

Reference price
$1.69

Best Jellied Cranberry Sauce for Spreads or Slices

Pros:

  • Has a sweet and tart flavor that pairs nicely with both meat and veggie dishes 
  • Can be used for pie filling 
  • Firm jelly texture makes it easy to slice 

Cons:

  • Some reviewers say it was too liquid and not at all tart

This cranberry sauce from Ocean Spray is a refreshing side to complement your chicken, turkey, casseroles, veggies, and other main dishes. This sauce holds together well without being too rubbery, so you can slice it for sandwiches or crackers. The flavor is quite balanced as well; not too tart or too sweet.


A couple of buyers said it's sometimes thin and watery. Nonetheless, besides being a star on the holiday table, various buyers enjoyed it as a part of everyday meals as well. Some used it with their pancakes and also as a filling for pies.

No.3

Terrapin Ridge FarmsPremium Cranberry Relish

Reference price
$8.50

Best Sauce With Grand Marnier

Pros:

  • A blend of cranberries, apples, orange peel, and Grand Marnier 
  • Tastes especially great with brie 
  • It's said that the sauce enhances the flavor of all meat dishes 

Cons:

  • None (based on reviewer comments)

Terrapin Ridge Farms' cranberry sauce features a delicious combination of cranberries, apples, and orange peel, as well as a dash of Grand Marnier for notes of vanilla and toffee. It goes well with brie and is also great on turkey sandwiches or turkey casseroles. Try adding this to your stuffing, too! 


The majority of reviews are positive. Most buyers found this cranberry sauce tasty and further said that it tasted great with all dishes, including ham and turkey sandwiches. 

No.4

Stonewall KitchenHot Pepper Cranberry Jelly

Reference price
$8.25

Best Jalapeño and Pepper Sauce for a Fiery Kick

Pros:

  • Contains jalapeños and pepper sauce
  • Many buyers comment that the tartness, spiciness, and sweetness of this sauce are just right
  • Goes great with crackers and cheese as well as holiday dishes 

Cons:

  • It's reported that this product is not jelly and more of a sauce 

Want to spice things up a little bit and make your meal even more special? Besides the traditional ingredients such as whole cranberries and cranberry purée, this product is infused with jalapeños and a pepper sauce blend to give your foods an irresistibly fiery kick. Spread it on some crackers with cheese or pair it with your holiday dishes.


Some buyers said the label was misleading, as this product has the thick, chunky texture of a preserve and isn't a smooth jelly. Nonetheless, the majority commented that it had a perfectly balanced sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor and blends well with cream cheese or goat cheese to make a dip. 

No.5

Mrs. Miller's Homemade Cranberry Jelly

Reference price
$11.30

Best for the Simple Ingredients and No Corn Syrup

Pros:

  • Made from basic ingredients and free from corn syrup
  • Works well as a pie filling 
  • Pairs nicely with savory dishes like turkey or sandwiches
Cons:
  • Too sweet for some buyers
  • Too watery for a few others

Mrs. Miller's cranberry sauce is crafted from all-natural ingredients to give you a sauce that tastes and feels the closest to homemade. Whether you want to top your toast or biscuits, use the sauce as a pie filling, or drizzle it on savory dishes, this product will work wonderfully!


A couple of reviewers found the sauce too sweet for their liking. Nevertheless, most loved this sauce on toast or sandwiches, and of course, turkey. They say it has a smooth consistency that's easy to spread, and also works well for cookie recipes.

No.6

Ocean SprayWhole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Reference price
$1.58

Best for the Well-Balanced Flavor That Goes With Many Dishes

Pros:

  • The sweetness and tartness are just right
  • Versatile and pairs well with many dishes, including turkey sandwiches, roast beef, and chicken pot pie

Cons:

  • According to some buyers, the sauce doesn't have a lot of whole cranberries  

In search of a cranberry sauce that looks and tastes just like homemade? This cranberry sauce from Ocean Spray might do the trick. Made with chunky whole cranberries, this sauce has a satisfying consistency and just the right amount of sweetness, tartness, and juiciness.


A few buyers complained that the sauce contained only a few whole cranberries. On another note, many enjoyed its delicious flavor and added it to anything that needed a touch of tartness, from some vanilla ice cream to potatoes, or dishes like turkey, roasts, or chicken pot pie. Some used it to make drinks as well. 

No.7

Harry & DavidCountry Cranberry Relish

Reference price
$7.99

Best for the Addition of Walnuts for a Rich Taste and Texture

Pros:

  • Contains a lot of walnuts for extra flavor and texture
  • The inclusion of orange peel, port wine, and cinnamon gives the overall flavor profile more depth
  • Tastes great with all kinds of meat and cheeses 

Cons:

  • Some reviewers think the taste is too sweet

Besides the juicy cranberries, this cranberry sauce is crafted with orange peel, port wine, and cinnamon to deliver a flavor that is aromatic and truly stands out. The addition of walnuts also gives the sauce some richness and texture. Serve this sauce with sweet potatoes, turkey, or your favorite desserts! 


Some reviewers found the sauce too sweet. Yet, according to many buyers, this cranberry sauce accompanied roast meats and turkey sandwiches nicely and made a great dip for crackers as well. Buyers loved serving it with cream cheese or brie for an appetizer.

No.8

Stonewall KitchenApple Cranberry Chutney

Reference price
$6.50

Best Apple Cranberry Chutney With Succulent Fruits and Aromatic Spices

Pros:

  • Indian-style cranberry chutney with spices and fruits such as apple, curry powder, ginger, and garlic 
  • Pairs nicely with both savory and sweet dishes 

Cons:

  • Tastes a bit too sweet for some reviewers
  • Some say it's more of a paste texture than a chunky chutney

Unlike traditional cranberry sauce, this product follows an Indian-style recipe that boasts a flavorful blend of spices, fruits, and vinegar to create a sophisticated taste. The sweet apples and tart cranberries along with warming spices such as ginger, garlic, chipotle, and curry powder will make your appetizers and main dishes extra special. 


Some reviewers noted that this sauce had a spicy note, but tasted a little bit too sweet. Still, for the majority of buyers, the sauce was a fantastic addition to dishes sweet or savory. They specified that this sauce went well with cheese and crackers, apple slices, turkey sandwiches, and roasted meats. 

No.9

Mrs BridgesCranberry Sauce With Port

Reference price
$6.89

Best Scottish Cranberry Sauce With a Dash of Port

Pros:

  • Includes port wine for a complex taste with hints of berries, chocolate, and caramel 
  • Tastes great with all kinds of meats, or dishes like mashed potatoes and casseroles

Cons:

  • Taste is a bit too sweet for some reviewers 

Quite different from other simple cranberry sauces, this product from Scotland is enriched with port wine for some extra depth of flavor and mouth-watering aroma. This boozy sauce is a great twist on your holiday favorite and pairs perfectly with dishes like well-seasoned turkey, mashed potatoes, or casseroles


Some buyers said the flavor was overwhelmingly sweet. Nonetheless, most buyers commented that the sweet and tart taste complemented sandwiches and all kinds of meat, from pork to turkey. They said the port flavor stood out and also praised the smooth, jelly-like texture.

No.10

Stonewall KitchenCranberry Horseradish Sauce

Reference price
$7.25

Best for the Horseradish That Adds a Spicy Kick to the Classic Recipe

Pros:

  • Made with horseradish and oranges for a unique flavor profile
  • Manufacturer recommends pairing it with smoked meats and seafood, in addition to more traditional uses

Cons:

  • For a couple of reviewers, the horseradish flavor was weak

Crafted with real cranberries, horseradish, spices, and orange juice, this cranberry sauce is a blend of sweet, spicy, and savory to add more flavor to your roasts, seafood or smoked meats. Mix this sauce with some cream cheese for a delicious dip! 


Most buyers mentioned that the horseradish added a teeny bit of spice and tang that contrasted nicely with the cranberries, and all the ingredients blended well without overwhelming each other. Many used it as a spread on toast or together with meat dishes like pork roast or turkey.

Want to Make Your Own Cranberry Sauce?

Want to Make Your Own Cranberry Sauce?

It's not too much to say that cranberry sauce is quintessential to the traditional American holiday table. It helps enhance the flavor of your turkey and many other dishes. And it's not difficult at all to make this scrumptious sauce from scratch. You'll need: 


  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of water 
  • 4 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries (about 12 ounces) 
  • Additional spices: orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins


Remember that you can always adjust the sugar level to your taste. If you use less sugar, make sure to add less water as well. Also, if you want a strong hint of orange, substitute water with orange juice.


  1. First, rinse your cranberries with water.
  2. Transfer them into a saucepan together with the sugar, water, and orange zest and cook over low heat. Stir the mixture continuously to prevent burning until the sugar completely dissolves and the cranberries turn soft.
  3. Turn the heat to medium and stir occasionally until the cranberries burst.
  4. Lower the heat and continue cooking until the sauce thickens. 

Want to Make Your Holiday Meal Complete?

If you're rushing to prepare for your holiday feast, we have some ideas for products that will help you whip up something quickly with time to spare. 

Amazon's Best Selling Cranberry Sauces

Still haven't found the right product for yourself? Take a look at Amazon's best-selling cranberry sauces! 

Buying Guide Reviewed by Executive R&D Chef Jim Quast

Jim Quast
Executive R&D ChefJim Quast

This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.

Top 5 Cranberry Sauces

No. 1: Stonewall KitchenNew England Cranberry Relish

No. 2: Ocean SprayJellied Cranberry Sauce

No. 3: Terrapin Ridge FarmsPremium Cranberry Relish

No. 4: Stonewall KitchenHot Pepper Cranberry Jelly

No. 5: Mrs. Miller's Homemade Cranberry Jelly

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The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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