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How different can 21 different cans and jars of cranberry sauce really be? Very, very different. Some have spice. Some have a second or even a third fruit in the mix. Some are sweet, some tart, some runny, some chunky. And some of them are even good enough to sway an avowed-cranberry-sauce hater on our taste test panel to reconsider her long-held dislike for the stuff.
Out of the myriad cranberry condiments we tried in a recent blind tasting, our favorite was Williams-Sonoma's New England–Style Cranberry Relish, but we recognize some canned cranberry jelly purists would be satisfied with nothing but a gelatinous disc of corrugated red on their plates. We picked a best-in-category for them too. And one other for—well, you’ll see why. For our methodology and the full list of brands we tasted, scroll to the bottom. But first, the winners of our Best Cranberry Sauce awards.
Our favorite cranberry sauce: Williams-Sonoma New England Style Cranberry Relish
This jar from the kitchen supply stalwart hit the right balance of sweet and tart. It boasts bright citrus and warm spice without hitting you over the head with orange peel and clove as some other brands did. Senior editor Maggie Hoffman praised the texture, saying there were “pops of cranberry” that made her mouth water. Apples contribute wonderful texture, making this one of the chunkier choices. Finally—perhaps the highest compliment I can offer a jar of pre-made cranberry sauce—it tastes homemade in the best way possible.
The best plain cranberry sauce: New England Cranberry Colonial Cranberry Sauce
So maybe you don’t like “all that stuff” in your cranberry sauce. That’s cool. Preferences make the world go round. For you, there is this jar of just cranberries, sugar, and water. Despite the simple ingredients list, this brand rose above many other options, even those with similarly short lists. The fruit popped with texture and flavor, and the sauce hit the right balance of sweet and tart without any of the citrus or spice present in our ultimate champion. With its fresh, lively taste, this cranberry would be a great counterpoint to any of the rich dishes on your Thanksgiving plate.
The best cranberry jelly: Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce
The brand synonymous with cranberries came out ahead of the three other jellied cranberry sauces we tasted—and in fact, came out fifth overall. It offers a freshness and vibrancy of flavor that the other jellies lack. It holds together in sliceable form without being too rubbery and strikes a good balance of sweet and tart.
Sometimes you don’t have time to make homemade cranberry sauce. Hell, sometimes you flat-out don't like homemade cranberry sauce. And for some people, jiggling that red cylinder out of the can until they hear “splat!” is a holiday essential. We set out to find fantastic canned or jarred sauces that would appeal to all of these people.
A good cranberry sauce should be tart with balanced sweetness. It should have a distinct cranberry flavor—complementary notes like cinnamon, allspice, and citrus are welcome, as long as they don’t overpower the berry.
Oh, and about that word: sauce. We didn’t worry too much about it. We gathered containers marked cranberry jelly, cranberry relish, and cranberry sauce. For the record, a homemade cranberry sauce is usually cooked, while a homemade cranberry relish is usually uncooked. In a relish, the cranberries are usually broken down in a food processor. Many jarred and canned sauces—and even some recipes—use the names interchangeably.
A group of Epicurious editors and staff tasted these sauces blind. Sauces were divided into jelly, relish, and sauce according to brand designation, but otherwise arranged in random order. Sauces were stored at room temperature and opened just prior to tasting.
- Dickinson’s Premium Cranberry Relish
- Stonewall Kitchen New England Cranberry Relish
- Ballymaloe Cranberry Sauce
- Trader Joe’s Cranberry Sauce
- Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- Wild Thymes Cranberry Sauce
- Whole Foods 365 Cranberry Jelly
- Sarabeth’s Cranberry Relish
- Williams-Sonoma Jellied Cranberry
- Whole Foods 365 Whole Cranberry Sauce
- Woodstock Organic Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
- Woodstock Organic Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- Crate & Barrel Traditional Cranberry Sauce
- Mrs. Bridges Cranberry Sauce
- Wildly Delicious Muskoka Cranberry Sauce
- Fortnum & Mason Cranberry Sauce
- Harry & David Country Cranberry Relish
- Sur la Table Classic Cranberry Sauce
