Easy Cranberry Fluff Salad
This Easy Fresh Cranberry Fluff Salad is an old school side dish for Thanksgiving! An easy cranberry fluff salad with whipped cream, marshmallows and fresh fruit.
I LOVE Thanksgiving side dish recipes that I can start the day before. This Cranberry Fluff Salad recipe is a great make ahead side dish for your holiday table, and a delicious dessert, to boot!
This simple dessert salad can replace traditional cranberry sauce or cranberry Jell-O salad! My favorite part of this recipe is the fluffiness, and the combination of sweet and tart.
There’s no doubt this dish is a Thanksgiving favorite. But, the best part is that it’s not only for your Thanksgiving table!
It’s suitable for any holiday; Thanksgiving meal, Christmas dinner or New Year’s Eve! Since it’s a fruit salad, it can be either the perfect side dish or a dessert.
Need another Thanksgiving Salad Recipe? This harvest salad recipe is one of the best Thanksgiving recipes on my blog and uses dried cranberries!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cranberry Salad Recipe Additions and Substitutions
- Can I use fresh pineapple? Yes! You can use fresh pineapple for this recipe. You will need about one cup of chopped pineapple.
- Can I add nuts? Yes! Add 2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts when you add the cool whip. Nuts add a nice crunch!
- Can I skip the overnight step? No, I recommend that you don’t! Giving the pineapple, fresh cranberries and sugar time to meld in the fridge is critical. If skipped, the tartness of the cranberries get a bit lost in the mix.
- Can I add mandarin oranges or grapes? Yes, you can. Drain the orange segments and add them when you add cool whip.
What Ingredients do I need for this Easy Cranberry Fluff Salad?
To make this Cranberry Fluff, you will need fresh cranberries, crushed pineapple, sugar, Cool Whip and marshmallows.
What equipment will I need for this Easy Cranberry Salad?
You will need a food processor or blender and a large mixing bowl.
Serving Suggestions
This Easy Cranberry Fluff Salad is just like Grandma used to make! I recommend serving it alongside traditional turkey and cozy casseroles like my green bean casserole, corn casserole or sweet potato casserole!
Storing Leftover Cranberry Fluff
Store leftover Cranberry Fluff in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to four days. If the juice has risen to the top, stir the leftovers and it will fluff right back up!
Need more holiday recipes? Check out this list of Thanksgiving recipes! It includes Thanksgiving turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and leftover turkey sliders.
Happy Thanksgiving! If you make this easy cranberry fluff, let me know how it turned out in the comments.
Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Combine and rest overnight:
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- 8 ounces pineapple, canned, crushed
- 1 cup sugar
Add the day of:
- 24 ounces Cool Whip, or whipped topping
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Chop fresh cranberries in food processor or blender.
- In a large bowl, add chopped cranberries, pineapple and sugar. Stir, scraping the bottom of the bowl to make sure the sugar is evenly distributed.
- The next day, combine cranberry mixture, cool whip and mini marshmallows. Use a spatula to fold the ingredients together.
- Refrigerate for 1-3 hours to allow the salad to chill and flavors to blend.
- Serve cold.
