Here Are 6 Simple Ways to Dress Up a Can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce (2024)

Holidays
Thanksgiving

You dress up for the holidays, so your can of jellied cranberry sauce should, too.

Samantha Leffler

Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture.

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Updated on October 17, 2023

For many households, serving up a can of jellied cranberry sauce is a long-held tradition, and no Thanksgiving meal is complete without it. There's really no reason to make homemade cranberry sauce if your family looks forward to enjoying slices of the store-bought stuff every year.

As comforting and nostalgic as that gelatinous can-shaped side is, there are ways you can dress up those slices without disappointing the jellied cranberry purists around your table. Read on for ways to impress guests by putting your distinctive spin on a humble can of jellied cranberry sauce.

Opening a Can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Fun fact: Most (if not all) cans of cranberry sauce have a rounded edge at the top and are meant to be opened from the bottom of the can. This configuration prevents vapor lock, helping the sauce slide out easily and retain its can-like shape.

After opening with a can opener, run a knife around the jellied sauce to loosen it from the can. Next, gently slide the jelly onto a platter.

Plating a Can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce

The traditional way of serving jellied cranberry sauce is sliced into rounds. With the column set on its side, slice into ¼-inch thick rounds and then arrange the slices on a serving platter. Serve the slices plain, garnished as desired, or read on for easy upgrades.

For an added personal touch, use cookie cutters to cut slices of canned cranberry sauce into cute fall shapes.

Simple Upgrades for Jellied Cranberry Sauce Slices

Try one of these tactics that elevate the flavor profile and appearance of a humble can of jellied cranberry sauce without losing that classic shape that guests look forward to.

Sugared Rosemary

Here Are 6 Simple Ways to Dress Up a Can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce (2)

Use a sparkly, festive sprig of sugared rosemary to dress up plain slices. They're so easy, you'll want to make extra to garnish holiday co*cktails, decorate a cake, or add to a charcuterie board.

To make sugared rosemary, dip a sprig in water and then sprinkle on (or roll it in) granulated sugar. Let sprigs dry on a parchment-lined baking sheet, 45 to 60 minutes, and then arrange atop jellied cranberry sauce slices.

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Toasted Walnuts

If you're looking to add texture to canned cranberry sauce, consider walnuts as an excellent accompaniment. Their earthy flavor and slight bitterness provide a delightful contrast to cranberry's sweet tartness. Simply throw some walnuts in the oven at 350° for 7 to 10 minutes, and then place those golden-brown nuts onto your cranberry rounds for the perfect crunch.

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Candied Ginger

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Arrange store-bought strips of candied ginger atop sliced jellied cranberry sauce. The ginger adds a spicy sweetness and a little bite to the sauce's texture.

What to do with the rest of your package of crystallized ginger? Use it to whip up a batch of our white chocolate chunk ginger cookies.

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Fresh Cranberries

We know doctoring up a can of jellied cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries might sound a bit funny, but trust us, it actually makes for a great topping. The tartness of the fresh fruit balances out the sweetness of the canned stuff. Plus, who doesn't love a good meta side dish at Thanksgiving dinner?

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Orange and Thyme

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The citrus-herb combination of orange and thyme is a great way to liven up a wide range of savory dishes. For our cranberry sauce upgrade, combine orange zest and thyme leaves on a cutting board, coarsely chop, and then sprinkle on slices as a colorful, flavor-boosting garnish.

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Stewed Apples and Cinnamon

There are few things better than stewed apples and cinnamon, especially when it comes to cranberry sauce toppings. To begin, dice your apples and then cook them in a pan with maple syrup, cinnamon, water, and vanilla extract. You'll end up with tender, spiced apples to top your cranberry sauce.

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