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Cranberry Salad
Make our delicious cranberry salad a holiday staple. The whole family will love the sweet fruit combination mixed with fluffy whipped cream.
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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
Tart cranberries are balanced by the sweetness of pineapple, gala apples, and granulated sugar, while lemon juice adds a refreshing tang to this dessert salad.
Mini-marshmallows provide a soft contrast, chopped walnuts offer a satisfying crunch, and whipped topping adds creaminess to the dish.
You’ll need:
- 3 cups of roughly chopped, thawed frozen cranberries (reserve 6-8 for optional garnish)
- 1 (20-ounce) can of crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup of diced gala apple, peeled and cored
- ¾ cup of granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
- 2 cups of mini-marshmallows
- ¼ cup of chopped walnuts
- 1 (12-ounce) tub of whipped topping, thawed
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.
PRO TIP:
If a sweeter cranberry salad is desired, you can use a full cup of sugar. This will offset the tartness of the cranberries.
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.
PRO TIP:
Stir all of the ingredients together carefully as you don’t want to break apart the fruit pieces.
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.
PRO TIP:
If you have the time, allow this apple cranberry salad to chill for at least a couple hours in the fridge. This will allow the flavors to mingle together in your 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.
MORE SWEET SALAD RECIPES
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
It is actually best to make this cranberry fluff salad recipe ahead of time. It gives the salad time to let all the flavors mingle and combine together for an even tastier dessert.
Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?
You could certainly substitute whipped topping with whipped cream. Check out our homemade whipped cream recipe for the details.
Can I add other fruit to the salad?
You could add mandarin oranges or chopped-up pears to your cranberry pineapple salad as well.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Pistachio Salad
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- Orange Creamsicle Salad
- Overnight Fruit Salad
- Lemon Fluff
Cranberry Salad
Make our delicious cranberry salad a holiday staple. The whole family will love the sweet fruit combination mixed with fluffy whipped cream.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 16
Ingredients
- 3 cups cranberries, roughly chopped and thawed frozen (reserve 6 to 8 for optional garnish)
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup diced gala apple, peeled and cored
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 cups mini-marshmallows
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
- 12 ounces whipped topping, thawed
Instructions
- Using a large mixing bowl, combine the cranberries, pineapple and apples.
- Evenly sprinkle the granulated sugar over the cranberry mixture.
- 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 4 hours.
- Remove the cranberry mixture from the refrigerator and drain any extra liquid from the mixture.
- Add the mini marshmallows, chopped walnuts and the whipped topping. Use a large spoon to completely incorporate all the ingredients.
- If you are using the 6 to 8 reserved cranberries for a garnish, slice the cranberries in half. Add to the top of the salad.
Notes
- If a sweeter cranberry salad is desired, you can use a full cup of sugar. This will offset the tartness of the cranberries.
- Stir all of the ingredients together carefully as you don’t want to break apart the fruit pieces.
- If you have the time, allow this apple cranberry salad to chill for at least a couple hours in the fridge. This will allow the flavors to mingle together in your salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 49IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Gloria says
My kids love this! Definitely a classic!
ROSE REYNOLDS says
I LOVE THE AMBROSIA SALAD SO MUCH I HAVE MADE TWICE IT MY FAVORITE ONE