Did your Grandma ever make this Cranberry Fluff “salad” for Thanksgiving? Or maybe another relative? This is kind of an old-school recipe that I secretly really, really love. I sometimes pretend I’m too good for the fluff, marshamallow “salads” (why do we call them that?!) but really I absolutly love them. It’s like eating dessert during your meal, but we all pretend it’s totally normal.
This Cranberry Fluff Salad was a staple at our Thanksgiving. I tried this recipe on Mel’s Kitchen Cafe, which is the same recipe I’ve always used except that she added cream cheese to help stabilize the whipped cream. And it makes the dish that much creamier and more delicious.
This is just about the easiest holiday side dish to throw together and it’s always a crowd favorite! A
A few tips:
Make sure to refrigerate it for several hours (or overnight) before serving to allow it to set up. m
Make sure to beat the whipped cream to very stiff peaks.
- 12- ounce package fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 8- ounce can crushed pineapple undrained
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
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Add the cranberries to a food processor and pulse until they are well chopped, but not mushy.
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Pour the cranberries into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and pineapple and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or longer. Drain a bit of the juice.
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In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Pour in the cream and whip until stiff peaks form. Fold the creamy mixture into the salad. Fold in marshmallows.
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Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Judy Westmoreland says
Pictures look delicious. Can’t wait to make the cranberry fluff and then eat it.
Pat says
can you use cool whip instead of whipping cream?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Pat, you could definitely use cool whip instead. (I just like the taste of fresh whipped cream better). Hope you enjoy it!
Julie says
You’re pouring the heavy cream over the beaten cream cheese and then whipping it into peaks? Not whipping it in a separate bowl? Thanks!
Lauren Allen says
Hi Julie, That’s right! You could whip it separately if you want, but you’ll save doing dishes this way and it works the same 🙂
Amie says
How long will this last in refrigerator ?
Lauren Allen says
It should be great for 2-3 days in the fridge 🙂
Holly says
My boyfriend accidentally bought dried cranberries. Should I go out and buy fresh cranberries or try the recipe using what I have?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Holly, the recipe wont work very well with dried cranberries–the taste and texture would be off…
colleen says
Hello Lauren,
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I need to serve 22 people a 4oz. sample size of this salad. Will one batch be enough?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Colleen, If we were to say 4oz was about 1/2 cup, this recipe will make about 20 (1/2 cup) 4 oz servings. So it would be cutting it a little bit close…. You could always 1 and 1/2 the recipe. Good luck–I hope everyone loves it!
colleen says
That is extremely helpful, Lauren. I greatly appreciate your response and recommendation.
Nancy Hill says
I have made this recipe for probably 25 years and it is a family favorite! Interestingly my recipe does not have the word ‘fluff’ in the title! I use the old school hand crank grinder to grind the cranberries. We have issues in our family with lactose intolerance so I substitute the whipping cream with cool whip. Obviously adding cream cheese would also be a no no for us. I know these days people are moving to natural products but when there are issues with said products you have to improvise in order to keep making a favorite cranberry salad. A lot of people have varying degrees of lactose intolerance so cool whip provides an option that allows you to make this tasty salad. It works great and tastes just fine.
jan says
Step 1 says to process until the cranberries are mushy? Really? Mushy??
Lauren Allen says
Hi Jan, sorry for the typo–the cranberries should be well chopped, but “not” mushy!
Julie says
I am making this salad for the first time ever. I have ALWAYS made the wonderful Watergate salad. But, after 30 years I wanted to try something new. I hope I do it right! Lol. Can’t WAIT to try it.
Lauren Allen says
Thanks Julie! I hope you love it as much as we do!
Julie says
Looks amazing! There are so many cranberry fluff recipes. But this one just looked and sounds like the best.
Diane says
Loved this recipe!
Salma says
-hi Looks great! could I used other berries than cranberries?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Salma, that should work fine..I would just make sure to drain some of the juice if you’re using a juicy fruit (like berries)