Whether you prefer it jellied and cut into slices, on the side as a chunky relish or something in between, it just isn’t Thanksgiving without cranberries on the table. And, as tempting as it is to simply open a can and wiggle that jiggly tube of premade cranberry sauce onto a serving plate and declare it a Thanksgiving side dish, we’re here to tell you that it’s so worth it to make your own. Not only is cranberry sauce incredibly easy to whip up but it will leave you with the absolute best leftovers. You can stir it into oatmeal for breakfast, spread it on bread for an upgraded turkey sandwich, spoon it over pan-fried pork chops—the possibilities are near endless. Best of all, when you make your own you give it your own special twist. That’s where these recipes come in handy. You’ll find everything from spiked versions to citrus-infused ones, which makes it easy to put something extra special on your Thanksgiving table. If you’re not sure where to start, try Tyler’s recipe. It’s flavored with orange zest and cinnamon for a sweet-tart treat that’s perfectly spiced—and ready in a matter of minutes.

Warm mulling spices (like cinnamon, peppercorn, clove and orange zest) turn ordinary homemade cranberry sauce into a show-stopping Thanksgiving side masterpiece.

Ina Garten’s Cranberry Fruit Conserve brings a bright, elegant twist to the classic sauce with sweet oranges, tart cranberries and crunchy walnuts. It’s the perfect balance of fresh and festive.

A simple maple-almond brittle, flavored with a bit of rosemary, adds a welcome crunch to classic cranberry sauce.

Two different types of chile peppers (guajillo and ancho) give this Thanksgiving staple a sweet-and-spicy kick.

A sweet cream cheese topping is the perfect way to balance out the natural tartness of cranberries.

Ree takes canned cranberry sauce to the next level by adding maple syrup, fresh thyme and orange zest — and just a little port.

Our classic cranberry sauce has the ideal texture of tart whole berries suspended in a sweet jammy sauce; we added citrus peel for a little extra brightness. Don't be tempted to skip the salt and and pepper at the end. It may seem a bit odd, but salt brings out the fruitiness of the berries while pepper gives the sauce a warm and spicy finish.

Maple syrup and raisins bring extra sweetness to this ancho-spiced Thanksgiving classic.

Ree Drummond prepares a traditional cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving by using fresh cranberries and orange juice, plus a generous dose of maple syrup in place of sugar, for a more natural flavor.

While you may be busy cooking up the turkey on the big night you won’t have to worry about this cranberry side dish! You can actually make this one week ahead and refrigerate up until it’s time to eat.

This traditional recipe only requires four ingredients: cranberries, sugar, lemon and orange.

Tyler adds a touch of Grand Marnier liqueur to make all the flavors pop.

This festive looking dish brings a ton of texture to the classic dish by adding crunchy pistachios to the mix.

Using pure cranberry juice, rather than cranberry juice cocktail, is a sure way to get your sauce naturally tart and sweet.