What Are the Ingredients in Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberries?

January 1, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the product label, the classic Ocean Spray jellied cranberries are made with just four main ingredients: cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and water. This straightforward list has created the sweet and tart, jiggly sauce that is a staple on many holiday tables.

Quick Summary

Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce contains cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and water. The natural pectin in the fruit provides the classic jiggly texture when processed and canned.

Key Points

Four Main Ingredients: Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce is made with cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and water.
Natural Pectin for Jellied Texture: The sauce's jiggly consistency comes from the natural pectin found in the cranberries, which is released during the cooking process.
Sweetness Balances Tartness: The high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup are added to counteract the intense tartness of the cranberries, creating the signature sweet and tart flavor.
Labeling Trick: Cans are often labeled upside down to help the jelly settle and allow the solid cylinder to easily slide out when opened.
Simple Formula, Iconic Result: The combination of simple ingredients and a specific heating and cooling process creates the beloved holiday staple known for its consistent flavor and unique texture.
High Sugar Content: A significant portion of the sauce's content is added sugars, primarily from the corn syrups, which is important for health-conscious consumers to consider.

The Four Main Ingredients of Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberries

At first glance, the ingredients list for Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce appears remarkably short, a characteristic that often surprises consumers. This simplicity is key to its consistent flavor and texture.

1. Cranberries

As the name suggests, cranberries are the star of the show. Ocean Spray is a grower cooperative, meaning the company uses cranberries grown by its member farmers across North America. These fresh, high-quality berries are the source of the sauce's distinctively tart flavor, vibrant red color, and natural pectin, which is the gelling agent that gives the sauce its signature jiggly consistency. When the berries are cooked, they release this pectin, which is crucial for the final product.

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup & Corn Syrup

The sweetness in the jellied cranberry sauce comes from a combination of high fructose corn syrup and regular corn syrup. While the two are often confused, they are slightly different in composition, but both serve the primary purpose of sweetening the sauce to balance the intense tartness of the cranberries. The addition of these sweeteners also plays a role in the sauce's texture and preservation, ensuring a long shelf life and consistent taste year after year.

3. Water

Water is the final ingredient, used to rehydrate and cook the cranberries. It works with the sugars and pectin to create the jelly-like substance. The cranberries and sugars are cooked with water until the berries burst, releasing their pectin and creating the desired sauce consistency.

How the Iconic Canned Sauce is Made

The process of creating Ocean Spray's jellied cranberry sauce is a large-scale manufacturing operation that has been perfected over many years. It is what transforms the simple list of ingredients into the holiday staple so many people recognize.

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

Harvesting and Sorting: The cranberries are harvested from bogs, then washed and sorted for quality control.
Pureeing: The berries are sent through a machine that purees them, removing the skins and seeds to ensure a smooth texture.
Adding Sweeteners: The cranberry puree is mixed with the corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and water to achieve the desired flavor and consistency.
Heating and Canning: The mixture is heated and poured into cans while still hot. The cans are then sealed and cooled, which allows the natural pectin to set, forming the jelly.
Upside-Down Labeling: A fun fact: the cans are often labeled and stored upside down. This allows the jelly to settle and an air pocket to form at the bottom, making it easier to remove the sauce as a single cylinder when opened.

Jellied vs. Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

While the jellied version holds a special place in holiday tradition, Ocean Spray also offers a whole berry sauce. The difference lies in the processing and final texture.


Feature	Jellied Cranberry Sauce	Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients	Cranberries, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water	Cranberries, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water
Texture	Smooth, firm, and molded; the berries are pureed and strained.	Contains visible, whole or broken berries, giving it a more rustic texture.
Setting Agent	Natural pectin from the pureed and cooked cranberries creates the jelly.	Relies on the natural pectin from the whole berries and doesn't require straining.
Appearance	A solid, cylindrical shape that holds its form.	A looser, more sauce-like consistency with suspended berries.

Nutritional Considerations

While Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce is low in fat and sodium, it's important to be mindful of its high sugar content. According to nutrition labels, a single serving can contribute significantly to a person's daily sugar intake, primarily from the added high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. For those looking to reduce sugar, Ocean Spray offers low-sugar juice options, though their classic jellied sauce remains a high-sugar product. For those interested in making a less processed version at home, there are many recipes available, often with fewer ingredients and less sugar, such as the ones featured on the official Ocean Spray website.

Conclusion

What are the ingredients in Ocean Spray jellied cranberries? The answer is simple and concise: cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and water. This classic four-ingredient formula, combined with a unique manufacturing process that utilizes the fruit's natural pectin, results in the iconic, gelatinous holiday side dish. While the simplicity is appealing, the sugar content is noteworthy, leading some to seek out or make their own whole berry versions for a more natural flavor and texture. Ultimately, the canned sauce is a testament to how basic ingredients and clever processing can create a long-standing culinary tradition. For those who love the wobbly, sweet-and-tart sauce, its straightforward composition is part of its nostalgic charm.

Resources

Homemade Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Note: Ingredient lists can vary slightly by country, so it is always recommended to check the specific product label for the most accurate information.

Frequently Asked Questions

The four main ingredients in Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce are cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and water.

The jiggly texture comes from the natural pectin that is released from the cranberries when they are cooked. The pectin acts as a natural gelling agent.

Yes, the jellied cranberry sauce is high in sugar due to the use of both high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup to balance the cranberries' tartness.

The cans are labeled upside down to allow the jellied sauce to settle and create a vacuum at the end that is typically opened. This makes it easier to remove the solid cylinder from the can.

For the jellied sauce, the cranberries are pureed and strained to remove skins and seeds before canning. The whole berry sauce uses the berries intact, resulting in a more rustic texture.

The sauce is made with real cranberries, but the presence of high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup means it is a processed product, not a purely natural one.

Yes, you can make a homemade version by cooking cranberries, sugar, and water. The natural pectin in the berries will cause the mixture to thicken as it cools, though the texture and sweetness may vary.