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Cranberry Salad
Cranberry salad is a sweet and colorful fruit salad dessert made with apples, pineapple, cranberries, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream.
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Cranberry salad is sweet and tart, with a delightful combination of crisp apples, juicy pineapple, tart cranberries, mini marshmallows, and fluffy whipped cream. While it’s called a salad, this creamy treat can be served as a side dish or a yummy dessert. Add it to your holiday table for a new holiday staple!
Tangy cranberries make mouthwatering desserts! Try making Cranberry Cake, Cranberry Upside-Down Quick Bread, and Pistachio and Cranberry Fudge for more cranberry desserts that are perfect for the holidays.
Cranberry Salad Ingredients
You will need:
- 3 cups cranberries roughly chopped and thawed frozen (reserve 6 to 8 for optional garnish)
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple drained
- 1 cup diced gala apple peeled and cored
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 cups mini-marshmallows
- 12 ounces whipped topping thawed
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
Substitutions and Additions
APPLES: You can substitute the gala apple for any other sweet apple.
NUTS: Any chopped nuts can be used in this cranberry fluff recipe to give it a bit of crunch.
FRUIT: You can add mandarin oranges, canned fruit salad, or other fruit in addition to the crushed pineapple for extra flavor and color.
CRANBERRIES: You can use fresh cranberries in place of the frozen ones if you are able to find them at the store.
COOL WHIP: If you would prefer to use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip in this easy fruit salad, check out our recipe here.
CREAM CHEESE: For a thicker dressing, you could mix in cream cheese with the Cool Whip.
How to Make Cranberry Salad
STEP ONE: Using a large mixing bowl, combine the cranberries, pineapple, and apples.
STEP TWO: Evenly sprinkle the granulated sugar over the cranberry mixture.
PRO TIP: If a sweeter cranberry salad is desired, you can use a full cup of sugar. This will offset the tartness of the cranberries.
STEP THREE: Pour the lemon juice over the cranberry mixture, and using a large spoon, stir to completely combine the mixture. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
STEP FOUR: Remove the cranberry mixture from the refrigerator and drain any extra liquid from the mixture.
STEP FIVE: Add the mini marshmallows, chopped walnuts, and whipped topping. Use a large spoon to completely incorporate all the ingredients
PRO TIP: Stir all of the ingredients together carefully as you don’t want to break apart the fruit pieces.
STEP SIX: If you are using the 6 to 8 reserved cranberries for a garnish, slice the cranberries in half. Add to the top of the salad.
PRO TIP: If you have the time, allow this apple cranberry salad to chill for at least a of couple hours in the fridge. This will allow the flavors to mingle together in your salad.
How to Serve Cranberry Salad
This beautiful salad would make a great addition to your holiday table, but you don’t have just serve cranberry salad at Thanksgiving! It’s also ideal for other holidays, celebrations, or just any time you want a tangy treat. You can also have this creamy cranberry salad any time of the year.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Cover any leftovers of this fresh cranberry salad tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Cranberry salad is a sweet and colorful fruit salad mixed with fluffy whipped cream. The whole family will be asking for seconds of this dessert salad made with apples, pineapple, cranberries, and mini marshmallows. Just one creamy bite and you’ll want to make this vibrant dessert a holiday staple.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
It is actually best to make this cranberry fluff salad recipe ahead of time. It gives the salad time to let all the flavors mingle and combine together for an even tastier dessert.
Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?
You could certainly substitute whipped topping with whipped cream. Check out our homemade whipped cream recipe for the details.
Can I add other fruit to the salad?
You could add mandarin oranges or chopped-up pears to your cranberry pineapple salad as well.
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Cranberry Salad
Cranberry salad is a sweet and colorful fruit salad dessert made with apples, pineapple, cranberries, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cranberries roughly chopped and thawed frozen reserve 6 to 8 for optional garnish
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple drained
- 1 cup diced gala apple peeled and cored
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 cups mini-marshmallows
- 12 ounces whipped topping thawed
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Using a large mixing bowl, combine the cranberries, pineapple, and apples.
- Evenly sprinkle the granulated sugar over the cranberry mixture.
- Pour the lemon juice over the cranberry mixture, and using a large spoon, stir to completely combine the mixture. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Remove the cranberry mixture from the refrigerator and drain any extra liquid from the mixture.
- Add the mini marshmallows, chopped walnuts, and whipped topping. Use a large spoon to completely incorporate all the ingredients
- If you are using the 6 to 8 reserved cranberries for a garnish, slice the cranberries in half. Add to the top of the salad.
Notes
PRO TIP: If a sweeter cranberry salad is desired, you can use a full cup of sugar. This will offset the tartness of the cranberries.
PRO TIP: Stir all of the ingredients together carefully as you don’t want to break apart the fruit pieces.
PRO TIP: If you have the time, allow this apple cranberry salad to chill for at least a couple of hours in the fridge. This will allow the flavors to mingle together in your salad.
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