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Home » Holiday » Everyone’s Favorite Cranberry Salad

Everyone’s Favorite Cranberry Salad

By Lauren Allen on November 22, 2019

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An easy Cranberry Salad made with fresh cranberries, pineapple, cream cheese, and whipped cream. It’s a fluffy holiday side dish or dessert that people go CRAZY for! 

There isn’t anything on my Thanksgiving menu that my kids love more than this Cranberry Salad.  Let’s be honest, I LOVE it too; almost as much as homemade stuffing and sweet potato casserole.

A clear cup full of cranberry salad fluff with three fresh cranberries on top.

Did your Grandma ever make this Cranberry 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 marshmallow “salads,” but I absolutely love them. It’s like eating dessert during your meal, but it’s acceptable!

We affectionately refer to this salad as “cranberry fluff”. I friend made the recipe years ago from here and it’s been a family favorite ever since!

Only SIX simple ingredients!

  1. Fresh cranberries
  2. Sugar
  3. Crushed pineapple
  4. Mini marshmallows
  5. Cream cheese
  6. Whipping cream

Fluffy Cranberry Salad in a bowl with a spoon.

Cranberry Salad in 5 steps:

1. Chop cranberries. Add the cranberries to a food processor and pulse until they are well chopped, but not mushy.

2. Mix fruit and sugar. Pour the cranberries into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and pineapple and mix well.

A food processor with chopped cranberries and a mixing bowl with the cranberries, crushed pineapple and sugar.

3. Refrigerate. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or longer. Drain most of the juice.

4. Whip cream and cream cheese.  In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Pour in the cream and whip until stiff peaks.

Crushed cranberry mixture in a bowl and then whipped cream added on top.

5. Combine and refrigerate.  Fold the creamy mixture into the salad. Fold in marshmallows. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Marshmallows added to the top of a cranberry salad in a mixing bowl.

Tips for Success:

  1. Stiff peaks. Before folding in the whipped cream, make sure to beat it to very stiff peaks. The cream cheese also helps to stabilize the mixture.
  2. Refrigerate cranberry salad for several hours (or overnight) before serving to allow it to set up.

Cranberry fluff salad in a cup with a handle.

Make ahead and storing cranberry salad:

To make ahead: I definitely recommend making cranberry salad ahead of time.  In fact, for best results, make it 1 day before serving.

To store: Store cranberry salad covered, in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

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A clear cup full of cranberry salad fluff with three fresh cranberries on top.

Cranberry Fluff Salad

An easy Cranberry Salad recipe made with fresh cranberries, pineapple, cream cheese, and fresh whipped cream. It's that holiday side dishes that people go CRAZY for! 
5 from 26 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 6
Calories: 569kcal
Author: Lauren Allen

Video

Ingredients

  • 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 ounce can crushed pineapple , undrained
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • Add the cranberries to a food processor and pulse until they are well chopped, but not mushy.
  • 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 most of the juice.
  • 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.
  • Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Notes

To Store: Store cranberry salad covered, in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Make ahead Instructions: I definitely recommend making cranberry salad ahead of time.  In fact, for best results, make it 1 day before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 1475IU | Vitamin C: 11.6mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram #TastesBetterFromScratch!
Have you tried this recipe?!

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

I originally shared this recipe November 2015. Updated November 2019 with new process photos and improved instructions and tips.

Recipe adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

Cranberry Fluff Salad is an easy holiday side dish that's always a crowd favorite! It's creamy, sweet and delicious! | Tastes Better From Scratch

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Christmas· Holiday· Salads· Side Dishes· Thanksgiving
69 Comments

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Comments

  1. Francesca P Surowiec says

    October 26, 2019 at 7:22 am

    Can I use fat free 1/2 and 1/2 instead of the heaving whipping cream?

    Thank you!
    Francesca

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      November 24, 2019 at 8:45 pm

      No, sorry 1/2 and 1/2 will not whip up like is needed for this recipe.

      Reply
    • Krista S says

      November 28, 2019 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      Loved it! So creamy and a delicious use of cranberries. Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Penny says

    November 3, 2019 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    My new favorite cranberry recipe!

    Reply
  3. Janet Mascia says

    November 19, 2019 at 7:00 am

    5 stars
    DELICIOUS!!!!! Made this for Thanksgiving two years ago, it is now a family tradition. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

    Reply
  4. Charlotte K. Galant says

    November 22, 2019 at 8:05 pm

    Family tradition for years passed on from an Aunt.
    Always for Thanksgiving and once more thru the year.

    Reply
  5. Naomi Winkel says

    November 23, 2019 at 9:37 am

    5 stars
    We make a salad with 1 tub of whip topping, pistachio pudding,and 1 can of crushed pineapple. Yummy.

    Reply
  6. Heather says

    November 25, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe, it is a family favorite!

    Reply
  7. Vicky says

    November 27, 2019 at 2:54 pm

    Can I use marshmallow cream in place of mini marshmallows?

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      November 27, 2019 at 7:35 pm

      No, just omit the marshmallows if you don’t have them.

      Reply
  8. Katie says

    November 27, 2019 at 9:23 pm

    Have you ever tried chopped pecans on top?

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      November 27, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      I’m sure that would be delicious!

      Reply
  9. Brianna C says

    November 28, 2019 at 6:58 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe and so did all of our extended family for our Thanksgiving feast!

    Reply
  10. Elyse Wilson says

    November 28, 2019 at 7:02 pm

    5 stars
    So simple to make, beautiful, festive, and absolutely delicious! The perfect balance is sweet, tart and creamy! Huge hit this year for thanksgiving!

    Reply
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Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos. Read More
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