Cranberry sauce
A sweet-tart sauce of cranberries, often served with turkey at holiday meals
Cranberry sauce is a tangy fruit condiment made from cranberries and sugar, sometimes with orange juice or spices. It is a traditional side for turkey at Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada, and at Christmas dinners in the United Kingdom and Canada. The sauce can be homemade or bought ready-made, and is mostly enjoyed during these festive meals.
- Made from cranberries, sugar, and water
- A classic side for turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Commercially canned cranberry sauce has been sold since 1941
- North American versions are usually sweeter than European ones
What is Cranberry sauce?
Cranberry sauce is a fruit-based condiment made by cooking cranberries with sugar and water until the berries break down and the mixture becomes thick. Some versions add orange juice, spices like clove, or other flavorings. The sauce ranges from chunky to smooth, and its taste can be more tart or sweet depending on where it is made. It is usually served as a side dish, especially with roast meats such as turkey.
Where does Cranberry sauce come from?
Cranberries are native to North America, and the Mi'kmaq people introduced them to French settlers in Nova Scotia in the early 1600s. The first American cookbook to mention cranberry sauce as a partner for turkey appeared in 1796. While cranberries grew wild in Massachusetts, it is unlikely that the earliest Thanksgiving meals included cranberry sauce, as sugar was rare at the time. Commercial production began in Massachusetts in 1912, and canned versions have been available since 1941.
How is Cranberry sauce made?
To make cranberry sauce, cranberries are simmered with sugar and water until the fruit softens and the mixture thickens. Some recipes add orange juice, zest, or spices such as clove or ginger. The sauce can be made at home or purchased ready-made, either as a loose sauce or a jellied form that holds its shape when sliced.
How and when is Cranberry sauce eaten?
Cranberry sauce is most often served with roast turkey at Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada, and at Christmas dinners in Canada and the United Kingdom. It is typically eaten as a side dish, adding a sweet and tart contrast to savory meats. While it is most common at holiday meals, it can also be paired with other meats like pork or chicken, though this is less usual.
Kinds of Cranberry sauce
In North America, cranberry sauce is generally sweeter, while European versions tend to be more tart. Homemade recipes may include additions such as orange, nuts, or spices. Commercially, it is available as a loose sauce or as a jellied product that can be sliced. Some families have their own traditions for preparing or serving it.
What Cranberry sauce means
Cranberry sauce is closely tied to Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is rarely eaten outside these occasions in these countries. Its commercial production helped make it a staple of holiday meals, and the canned version is a familiar sight on many festive tables.
When Cranberry sauce is on the table
Questions people ask about Cranberry sauce
What is cranberry sauce made of?
Cranberry sauce is made by cooking cranberries with sugar and water. Some recipes add orange juice, spices, or other flavorings.
Where does cranberry sauce come from?
Cranberry sauce has roots in North America, where cranberries are native. It was first mentioned as a turkey accompaniment in an American cookbook in 1796.
When is cranberry sauce usually eaten?
It is most commonly served at Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada, and at Christmas dinners in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Is cranberry sauce always homemade?
No, cranberry sauce is available both as a homemade dish and as a commercially produced product, including canned versions.
Is cranberry sauce sweet or tart?
The taste varies: North American cranberry sauce is typically sweeter, while European versions are often more tart.
Good reading and sources
- Cranberry sauce on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cranberry sauce", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More from the United States
All the food of the United States
GuacamoleVegan
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreAvocado mashed with lime, salt, and herbs, served as a dip or spread
Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks, Lunch
Foie grasMeat
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreFattened duck or goose liver, a French delicacy served whole or as a spread
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
MuesliMüesli
🇨🇭 Switzerland and 1 moreSwiss cold cereal of soaked oats, fruit, and nuts, eaten for breakfast or supper
Main dish, Breakfast, Supper
Its cousins elsewhere
All sauces, pickles and ferments
Chocolate
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast and 5 moreA sweet or bitter food made from processed cocoa beans, enjoyed in many forms worldwide
Sweet or dessert, Snacks
Easter egg
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreEggs dyed or decorated for Easter, symbolizing resurrection and new life
Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks
SauerkrautVegan
🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreFinely shredded cabbage preserved by natural fermentation in salt
Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner
Chutney
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreA spiced relish or sauce made from fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices
Sauce, pickle or ferment