Name: Creamy Cranberry Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups Cranberries, fresh or thawed frozen; 1/4 cup Sugar, granulated white sugar; 1 cup Pineapple, crushed; 3 cups Marshmallows, mini; 1 tub Cool whip, thawed

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Cranberry salad is a chilled, sweet, creamy blend of sugar, marshmallows, pineapple, and cool whip. Enjoy it as a delicious holiday side dish or a quick and easy dessert.

If you are looking for sweet holiday desserts, try my Eggnog Tres Leches Cake or Grandma’s Sweet Potato Pie next!

overhead view of two bowls of cranberry salad

This creamy cranberry salad is a delicious fruity treat. I usually serve it during the holidays because that is when everyone is craving cranberries. But this is also the perfect way to satiate a sweet tooth at any time!

Cranberry salad is like ambrosia for cranberry lovers. The sweetness of the other ingredients mellow the tart flavor of the cranberries. And the creaminess will have you scooping up spoonful after spoonful.

Jump to:

Why We Love This Cranberry Salad Recipe:
Ingredients you need:
Instructions to make Cranberry Salad:
Alternatives and Variations:
Pro-Tips:
Storing:
FAQ:
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Why We Love This Cranberry Salad Recipe:

Perfect for the Holiday Season! I prefer this instead of homemade cranberry sauce. This light, sweet treat will complement a heavy, savory meal like a Thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas dinner roast.

An Easy Dessert! Prep for this snack is super simple. Whip this up in just minutes so it can be enjoyed whenever the craving strikes!

Delicious! This yummy cranberry mixture is tossed with sugar, fluffy marshmallows, whipping cream and juicy pineapples so it is a mouthwatering treat.

Ingredients you need:

Cranberries: You can use fresh cranberries or thawed frozen cranberries.
Sugar: Use granulated white sugar.
Pineapple: Use crushed pineapples.
Marshmallows: Use bite sized mini marshmallows. They are perfect because they do not overpower the dish.
Cool whip: Thaw it for easy mixing.

full cranberries in a fruit chopper with other ingredients in the background

Instructions to make Cranberry Salad:

Rinse and Dice Cranberries

Rinse the cranberries in order to remove all debris.

Then use a food processor or a knife to finely dice up the whole cranberries. You do not want them to turn into a sauce, just a very fine dice.

Mix Ingredients

Then add the diced cranberries into a medium bowl. Next add the sugar, the crushed pineapples and mini marshmallows.

Mix it together until everything is combined. Now fold in the cool whip topping. Gently combine it until everything is coated and mixed thoroughly.

Chill Cranberry Salad

Finally, refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Alternatives and Variations:

Play around with the flavor and texture of this cranberry salad recipe.

Cranberry Jello Salad: Add cherry or raspberry jell-o (although cranberry jell-o is great if you can find it).
Other fruits: You can add more fruits like pears, raspberries, green apples, and mandarin oranges.
Nuts: For a bit of crunch, top your cranberry salad with chopped pecans or walnuts. I also suggest toasted peanuts, pistachios, or shaved coconut.
Creamy Base: Instead of whipped cream, you could use cream cheese, sour cream or even Greek yogurt.

Pro-Tips:

In order to streamline the process, prepare the simple ingredients ahead of time. Rinse and dice the cranberries. If using fresh pineapples, slice and crush them in advance. Then refrigerate them until you are ready to make the salad.
Drain any added fruits so this dish is not watery.
Do not skip the chilling process because the fruit salad needs time for the flavors to set.

Storing:

Store leftover cranberry salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. I do not recommend freezing it because it will lose its creamy texture.

FAQ:

Can cranberry salad be made ahead of time?

Yes. It has to be made at least an hour in advance so the flavors have time to set in the fridge. But you can also make it up to 3 days in advance. Simply cover it and store it in the fridge.

Do cranberries need to be cooked for cranberry salad?

No. Raw cranberries are edible.

What is the difference between ambrosia and cranberry salad?

While ambrosia salad and cranberry salads are both fruit salads, ambrosia usually contains a variety of citrus fruits.

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4 Servings