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Home » Holiday Recipes » Cranberry Salad

Cranberry Salad

Published: Nov 6, 2019 · Modified: Nov 11, 2021 by Allison · 4 Comments

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Creamy Cranberry Salad made with a mixture of fruit and marshmallows tossed with freshly whipped cream. This easy and festive side dish is perfect for the holidays; ready in under 30 minutes.

Creamy cranberry salad in a white bowl with a gold spoon.We’re tossing fruit and marshmallows with whipped cream and calling it a “salad”! I guess this officially means we are in the holiday season?

This Cranberry Salad is part dessert, part side dish, part morning-after-Thanksgiving breakfast. It’s loaded with tart cranberries, crunchy apples, chewy marshmallows, and crushed pineapple tossed with freshly whipped cream. This recipe is inspired by a retro ambrosia fruit salad with one major update: no cool whip! This dish is easy, festive, and sure to be a crowd pleaser.

MORE HOLIDAY RECIPES:

  • SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE
  • MAPLE PECAN PIE
  • APPLE CIDER CRANBERRY SAUCE
  • SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
  • CRANBERRY BLISS BARS
  • PUMPKIN PIE BARS
  • PECAN PIE BARS
  • CRANBERRY CRUMB BARS
  • CANDIED SWEET POTATOES

Cranberries, apple, pineapple and marshmallows in a glass bowl.

How To Make Cranberry Salad

This Cranberry Salad comes together in minutes. Here’s how to make it:

  1. Start by making the whipped cream: Beat heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer to your refrigerator while you assemble the fruit.
  2. Pulse fresh cranberries and sugar in a food processor until the cranberries are broken down into small pieces (this makes the salad much more palatable; no biting into tough, tart cranberries).
  3. Combine the cranberries with chopped apple, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and nuts (optional).
  4. Fold the whipped cream into the fruit.

Creamy cranberry salad in a white bowl with a gold spoon.

Tips for Making Cranberry Salad

  1. Keep the whipped cream cold. Since we’re using fresh whipped cream it is less stable than cool whip. As long it’s kept cold it will hold up well. Store in your refrigerator and pull it out just before serving.
  2. Drain the crushed pineapple really well. Before adding crushed pineapple to the salad, dump it into a strainer and press out the excess liquid. This will keep the fruit salad thick and creamy, not watery.
  3. Adapt to suit your taste. Add extra marshmallows, omit the nuts, stir in some shredded coconut, add another fruit – play around with the ingredients to get your favorite version.
  4. Serve within 24 hours. This salad is best served within one day of assembly. Leftovers will keep for a couple days, but it will thin out the longer it sits.

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Creamy cranberry salad in a white bowl with a gold spoon.

Cranberry Salad

Creamy Cranberry Salad made with a mixture of fruit and marshmallows tossed with freshly whipped cream. This easy and festive side dish is perfect for the holidays; ready in under 30 minutes.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 16 half-cup servings (approximate)
Calories: 163kcal
Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 3 generous cups fresh cranberries
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 20 oz can of crushed pineapple*, drained really well
  • 2 medium apples, chopped
  • 1-2 cups mini marshmallows
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

  • Using a hand mixer, or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip cream and ⅓ cup powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer to the refrigerator while you assemble the fruit.
  • Place cranberries and ½ cup granulated sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse several times until the cranberries are roughly chopped (this should only take a few pulses). Scrape down the side and bottom of the bowl as needed, and make sure not to puree the cranberries, you want to maintain some of their texture.
  • Combine the cranberries, crushed pineapple (see note), apple, and marshmallows. Fold in the whipped cream and nuts (if using). Transfer to the refrigerator to chill completely. Best served within 24 hours of assembly.

Notes

* Place the crushed pineapple in a strainer and stir it around until all of the excess juice has been drained out. Don't skip this step, adding too much liquid will make the fruit salad watery.

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 101mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home Grandma’s Best Holiday Recipes magazine.

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Maple Butter »

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Comments

  1. Beth

    November 08, 2019 at 10:01 am

    5 stars
    Delicious yet simple! Just what my holidays need!

    Reply
  2. Nellie Tracy

    November 08, 2019 at 10:58 am

    5 stars
    This salad is absolutely amazing! Perfect for holiday parties!

    Reply
  3. Sabrina

    November 19, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    This recipe is almost exactly like the pistachio (green) salad. With that said would it work with not draining the pineapple & using powder jello flavoring – strawberry or cherry? I haven’t seen cranberry flavored jello, it would be perfect!!!

    Reply
    • Allison

      November 22, 2020 at 9:34 am

      I think you might need a bit more liquid. I guess it depends how much powder jello you use. You’re welcome to play around with it. Enjoy!

      Reply

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aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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