Cranberry Salad

Table of Contents

1. Cranberry Salad Ingredients
2. Substitutions And Additions
3. How To Make This Cranberry Salad Recipe
4. How To Serve
5. Storage
6. Why We Love This Recipe
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. More Recipes You’ll Love
9. JUMP TO RECIPE
10. Even More Recipes You’ll Love

Crisp apples, tropical pineapple, and cranberries combine with fluffy whipped cream in our easy cranberry salad. These simple ingredients create a sweet and colorful salad that is the perfect addition to your holiday menus this year.

Cranberry Salad Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

APPLES: You can substitute the gala apple for any other sweet apple. 

NUTS: Any chopped nuts can be used in this cranberry fluff recipe to give it a bit of crunch.

FRUIT: You can add mandarin oranges, canned fruit salad, or other fruit in addition to the crushed pineapple for extra flavor and color.

CRANBERRIES: You can use fresh cranberries in place of frozen ones if you are able to find them at the store. 

COOL WHIP: If you would prefer to use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip in this easy fruit salad, check out our recipe here.

CREAM CHEESE: For a thicker dressing, you could mix in cream cheese with the Cool Whip.

How To Make This Cranberry Salad Recipe

Let’s walk through the steps for making this easy dessert salad. Make sure to give it time to chill in the fridge before mixing in the dressing and serving.

STEP ONE: Using a large bowl, combine the cranberries, pineapple and apples. 

STEP TWO: Evenly sprinkle the granulated sugar over the cranberry mixture. 

STEP THREE: Pour the lemon juice over the cranberry mixture, and using a large spoon, stir to completely combine the mixture.

Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least four hours.

STEP FOUR: Remove the cranberry mixture from the refrigerator and drain any extra liquid from the mixture. 

STEP FIVE: Add the mini marshmallows, chopped walnuts, and whipped topping. Use a large spoon to completely incorporate all the ingredients. 

STEP SIX: If you are using the six to eight reserved cranberries for a garnish, slice the cranberries in half. Add to the top of the salad.

How To Serve

This beautiful salad would be a great addition to your holiday table this year.

Either as a side dish or as a dessert, your Thanksgiving and Christmas meal will be extra special with this fun treat to add to your plate.

Don’t forget to add our cranberry sauce to your table as well.

Try our ambrosia salad and Watergate salad for two more dessert salad recipes. Both are packed full of yummy fluff salad favorites.

Storage

Now that you’ve whipped up this scrumptious cranberry salad, you might be wondering how to store any leftovers or prepare it ahead of time.

MAKE AHEAD: If you’re planning ahead for a special occasion or simply want to get a head start on your meal prep, you can make this cranberry salad in advance.

I recommend preparing it up to 24 hours before serving. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container, and pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy.

This allows all those fantastic flavors to meld together, making it even more delicious.

IN THE FRIDGE: Cover any leftovers of this fresh cranberry salad tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this creamy salad. It is best enjoyed fresh.

Why We Love This Recipe

FLAVORFUL: This salad strikes a perfect balance between tart cranberries, sweet pineapple, and gala apples.

TEXTURE: The combination of soft mini marshmallows and crunchy chopped walnuts adds a delightful contrast in texture.

MAKE AHEAD: It’s a fantastic make-ahead dish, allowing you to prep in advance and free up your time on the day of serving.

This time of year, holiday recipes often feature the bright and vibrant colors of cranberries, and our creamy cranberry salad is a great way to highlight this tangy fruit. Add it to your holiday table, and I bet you won’t have any leftovers to save!

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Pistachio Salad
• Jello Salad
• Peach Pretzel Salad
• Orange Creamsicle Salad
• Overnight Fruit Salad
• Lemon Fluff

Even More Recipes You’ll Love

• Strawberry Pretzel Salad
• Tropical Cheesecake Fruit Salad
• Tomato Cucumber Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Cranberry Orange Cookies
• Taffy Apple Salad
• Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad
• Pudding Fruit Salad
• Peanut Butter Fluff
• Peach Fluff
• Hawaiian Pineapple Cookies
• Lemon Curd
• Banana Split Fluff
• Pina Colada Fluff
• Air Fryer Pineapple
• White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
• Grilled Pineapple