This Easy Fresh Cranberry Salad is an old school side dish for Thanksgiving dinner! An easy cranberry fluff recipe that’s full of fluffy whipped cream and fresh fruits.

I LOVE Thanksgiving side dish recipes that I can start the day before. This is a great recipe that is a make ahead side dish, and a delicious side dish, to boot!

a photo of easy cranberry salad in a white container with mint garnish

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.

An overhead photo of cranberry salad in a white dish garnished with mint and whole cranberries

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, itcan be either the perfect side dish or a dessert.

a photo of cranberry fluff salad in a white dish

Need another Thanksgiving Salad Recipe? This harvest salad recipe is one of the best Thanksgiving recipes on my blog!

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 pecan or walnuts when you add the cool whip.
  • 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? Yes, you can. Drain the orange segments and add them when you add cool whip.
a photo of chopped cranberries, sugar and pineapple in a white bowl

What Ingredients do I need for this Easy Cranberry Salad?

To make this Cranberry Fluff, you will need fresh cranberries, crushed pineapple, sugar, cool whip and marshmallows.

fresh cranberries with marshmallows and cool whip

What equipment will I need for this Easy Cranberry Salad?

You will need a food processor or blender and a large mixing bowl.

Storage

Store leftover Cranberry Fluff in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to four days. If the juice has risen to the top, stir the leftovers and it will fluff right back up!

A photo of mixed cranberry salad in a pyrex bowl with a spatula

Need more holiday recipes? Check out this list of Thanksgiving recipes! It including Thanksgiving turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and leftover turkey sliders. Happy Thanksgiving!

a photo of cranberry fluff salad in a small container with mint garnish

Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe

Yield: Serves 8-10
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Additional Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 11 hours 15 minutes

This Easy Fresh Cranberry Salad is an old school side dish for Thanksgiving dinner! An easy cranberry fluff recipe made with whipped cream and fresh fruits.

Ingredients

Combine and rest overnight:

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained
  • 1 cup sugar

Add the day of:

  • 24 ounces Cool Whip
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions

  1. Chop fresh cranberries in food processor or blender.
  2. 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.
  3. The next day, combine cranberry mixture, cool whip and mini marshmallows.
  4. Refrigerator for 1-3 hours to allow flavors to blend.
  5. Serve cold.
Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 355Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 0mgSodium 26mgCarbohydrates 51gFiber 1gSugar 46gProtein 1g

The nutrition for this recipe is calculated by an app and may be incorrect.

Did you make this recipe?

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