Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

Fluffy Cranberry Salad is made with fresh cranberries, crushed pineapple, cream cheese, marshmallows, and cream. It's the perfect side dish or dessert for your holiday meal!

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (1)

Our fresh fluffy cranberry salad is a staple in our family’s Thanksgiving dinner. It could also work as a dessert!

Speaking of Thanksgiving dinner, here our are best Thanksgiving recipes to make an amazing dinner:

  • How To Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey
  • 30 Minute Dinner Rolls
  • Grandma’s Thanksgiving Stuffing
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Slow Cooker Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • How To Make Turkey Gravy From Scratch
  • Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
  • Strawberry Jello Fluff Salad
  • Easy Sweet Cornbread
  • Simple Pumpkin Pie
  • Pumpkin Dump Cake

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Ingredients:

  1. 12 ounce package of fresh cranberries
  2. Sugar
  3. 8 ounce can of crushed pineapple
  4. 4 ounces of cream cheese
  5. 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
  6. 2 cups of mini marshmallows

We have only made this cranberry pineapple salad recipe using fresh cranberries, but you could probably use frozen as well (just make sure to thaw them first).

  • Food processor (check THIS one out)
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Can opener
  • Cling wrap (any of THESE will work wonderfully!)
  • Stand or hand mixer

How to make fluffy cranberry salad recipe for Thanksgiving:

With a food processor or a blender, you are going to add the fresh cranberries and pulse them until they are finely chopped.

However, if you like bigger pieces, you can pulse the fresh cranberries as much or as little as you like.

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (2)

Then, move the chopped cranberries into a large mixing bowl and add the sugar and pineapple chunks to the bowl.

Mix it all together until they are well combine and then cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for at least an hour to let all of the flavors meld together. THIS IS KEY!!

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (3)

While you are waiting for the cranberries mixture to essentially marinate, let’s make up everyone’s favorite part, the whipped topping!

Take the room temperature cream cheese and beat it in your mixer until it is smooth.

Then, add in the whipped cream and continue mixing until the cream cheese and whipped cream are completely combined.

You’ll know the whipped topping is done when it begins to create stiff peaks.

This should normally only take 3-4 minutes.

If your cranberries are not ready yet cover the whipped topping and put it into the fridge until the hour is up.

Once the cranberries have been chilling for at least an hour add in the cream cheese mixture and mix it very well.

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (4)

Then fold in the mini marshmallows and put the fluffy cranberry salad back into the fridge for another 3-4 hours to let the salad set up.

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (5)

PRO TIP: You can also make this fluffy cranberry salad a day in advance – just give it a quick stir before serving it.

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (6)

A little more information

  • Fluffy cranberry salad makes enough for 12 but can be doubled if you need more than that!
  • Make sure to give yourself adequate prep time when making this recipe and then extra time to allow for the salad to set up.
  • This is a great recipe to make the day before Thanksgiving to help your day be less crazy!
  • If you want to add another texture to this fluff salad, consider making this Easily Toasted Almonds recipe to chop up and sprinkle on top just before serving.

Related Recipe: Looking for another delicious side dish? Try our Classic Green Bean Casserole.

Watch how to make another amazing fluff salad!

We have a YouTube channel where we show you how to how to make a recipe from start to finish in our kitchen.

Our recipes are even picky eater approved! Our video on how to make strawberry jello fluff salad is a favorite recipe of ours and gets great reviews all the time!

If you made our recipe be sure to tag us on Instagram so we can see your hard work using #sixsistersstuff.

Related Recipe: Don’t miss out on our new Raspberry Fool Easy No Bake Dessert!

Looking for more side dishes? Here are 60 of our favorite Christmas Dinner Sides to eat with Beef Tenderloin!

Get your kids involved with dinner time!

Our latest cookbook – Six Ingredients with Six Sisters’ Stuff – is all about using a few ingredients to make a delicious dinner! With only 6 ingredients or less per recipe in this cookbook, cooking has never been easier!

Every recipe has a beautiful mouth-watering photo and has been picky-eater approved. The directions are simple, easy to follow, and do not require any strange ingredients.

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (7)

Whether you are a cook just starting out or a busy parent looking to save time in the kitchen, this cookbook is for you! It’s full of entrees, side dishes, and desserts.

With our favorite one-pot wings dish or a no-bake peanut butter bar, this cookbook is a fool-proof solution to meal planning. It also features kid-friendly chapters such as Kid Favorites and Kids Can Cook.”

We are so excited to share these recipes with you. Order your copy today!

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Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!

Need more Fluffy Salad recipes?

  • ORANGE FLUFF JELLO SALAD RECIPE
  • 5 MINUTE FLUFFY YOGURT FRUIT SALAD
  • OREO FLUFF
  • RASPBERRY FLUFF JELL-O SALAD
  • BLUEBERRY FLUFF SALAD
  • RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE FLUFF SALAD
  • BERRY CHEESECAKE PUDDING SALAD

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (8)

Serves: 12

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Fluffy Cranberry Salad is made with fresh cranberries, crushed pineapple, cream cheese, marshmallows, and cream. It's the perfect side dish or dessert for your holiday meal!

Prep Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 8 ounces crushed pineapple do not drain
  • 4 ounces cream cheese room temp
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions

  • Add fresh cranberries to a food processor or blender and pulse until they are finely chopped (if you like bigger pieces, you can pulse as little or as much as you desire)

  • Place the chopped cranberries into a bowl and mix in sugar and pineapple. Cover bowl and place in the fridge for at least an hour to let the flavors meld.

  • While the cranberry mixture is in the fridge, beat the cream cheese until smooth and then add in the whipped cream. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form (usually takes 3-4 minutes).

  • Add the cream mixture to the cranberries and mix well. Fold in the marshmallows and then place back in the fridge for 3-4 hours to let salad set up.

  • You can also make this salad a day in advance – just give it a quick stir before serving.

Notes

  • YOU CAN ALSO MAKE THIS FLUFFY CRANBERRY SALAD A DAY IN ADVANCE – JUST GIVE IT A QUICK STIR BEFORE SERVING IT.

Nutrition

Calories: 285 kcal · Carbohydrates: 31 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 18 g · Saturated Fat: 11 g · Cholesterol: 65 mg · Sodium: 53 mg · Potassium: 90 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 26 g · Vitamin A: 736 IU · Vitamin C: 6 mg · Calcium: 40 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

  • Food processor/blender

  • Mixing Bowl

Recipe Details

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American


Recipe source: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (her recipes are amazing!

Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (9)

Join The Discussion

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  1. UNKNOWN says:

    Seems yummy, but some thing off about the look. Love to try it. I eat lots of cranberry.

  2. Mary says:

    This has been a dish served at every holiday in my family for decades, but we serve it frozen. It's one of my favorite recipes!

  3. Leslie says:

    I made this for Thanksgiving! It tasted so good ! It did not set up though. I followed directions and left overnight. I even added cool whip before serving. Darn it 😊

  4. Momma Cyd says:

    I'm sorry it didn't work for you. We just made it yesterday for Sunday dinner. Did you beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks? Mine was quite thick when I beat it with the cream cheese. I pulsed my cranberries until they were very finely chopped. No big chunks at all.

  5. Linda says:

    This is absolutely delicious. This will replace regular cooked cranberries at our holiday meals going forward. My family always wants cranberries but don't really eat them. I did not mix the marshmallows in because husband doesn't like them. I put them in a bowl so people could add to their serving, if desired. I drained the pineapple since I wasn't adding in the marshmallows and the thickness was good. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.

    Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (10)

Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (11)

About The Author:

Camille Beckstrand

Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She is a certified life coach that loves helping women become "unstuck" in their lives and is the host of the podcast "Moms On The Rise". She also loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.

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Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cranberry salad made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 2 (12 ounce) packages fresh cranberries.
  • 1 cup white sugar.
  • 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained.
  • 1 cup chopped pecans.
  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream.
  • 7 ounces miniature marshmallows.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

How do you remove tartness from cranberries? ›

Anything from a drizzle of honey to agave, maple syrup, or molasses will also fare well. After a few minutes of maceration, the sour fruit juices will mix with the sugar and alleviate some of the cranberries' natural tartness.

What happens if you overcook cranberry sauce? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

What are the main ingredients in cranberries? ›

Raw, unsweetened American cranberries contain mainly 87% water and 12% carbohydrates, with lesser amounts of protein, fats and fiber (Table 1) [11]. Small cranberries accrue 2.1–4.9% titrable acidity with citric acid contributing 1.8–2.6%.

What are the ingredients in cranberries? ›

Cranberries are primarily made up of carbs and fiber. They also boast several vitamins and minerals, including manganese, copper, and vitamins C, E, and K1. Keep in mind that cranberry juice has almost no fiber.

What if I add too much water to cranberry sauce? ›

What to do if the cranberry sauce is too thin or loose. If you inadvertently added too much water, simply bring the cranberry sauce back to the stove top and bring it to a low boil, cooking it down just a bit to help thicken it up.

How to enhance cranberry sauce? ›

Spike cranberry sauce with citrus

Adding a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or orange zest, a tablespoon of chopped candied peel, or even a splash of juice to your canned sauce will brighten flavors and bring in some homemade flavor.

How do I thicken up my cranberry sauce? ›

Try reducing the sauce down even further so more of the liquid cooks off and the mixture thickens. If that doesn't work, add a thickener like gelatin, pectin or a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch whisked into juice or water). Let the sauce cool before refrigerating to completely set.

How do you soften cranberries for salad? ›

Put your dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain the fruit and discard the water. The fruit will be plumper, juicier, and softer. To give your fruit some extra flavor, swap the water for fruit juice or a liquor, like rum, bourbon, or brandy.

What cancels out tartness? ›

How Do You Neutralize Sour Taste in Food? If a dish is too sour, add a little bit of sugar! Sweetness balances out sour flavors, so if something makes your mouth pucker, a dash of sugar may help soften the blow of the sour food.

How do you make cranberries not bitter? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

One of the best foils for bitter flavors are acidic ingredients, like citrus juices or vinegars. Their sharp tang counteracts bitter flavors without having to add extra sugar.

Why is my cranberry salad runny? ›

The simplest reason that your cranberry sauce is too runny is that it has too much liquid in it. Usually, this is just water, but some people use orange juice or other flavored fluids. No matter what you're using, the answer is to cook it longer.

Why do you open cranberry sauce upside down? ›

But why? Ocean Spray says this is to get the cranberry sauce out in one intact piece. “The rounded part of the can that looks like the bottom has an air bubble in it,” Ocean Spray's representative explains. The bubble is there so you can “break the seal the sauce makes with the can.”

Is it OK to eat a can of cranberry sauce? ›

It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Is cranberry a fruit or vegetable? ›

Cranberries are a native North American fruit and a Thanksgiving staple for many families. Cranberries are potent sources of antioxidants, specifically from a subclass of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins, which are unique to and abundant in cranberries.

Can you eat raw cranberries in a salad? ›

You can add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them whole. Eating raw cranberries is safe and easy, though their sharp, bitter flavor isn't for everyone. Be sure to clean and sort them thoroughly.

Is cranberry actually good for you? ›

Cranberries provide a good source of various vitamins and antioxidants. Historically, Native Americans used cranberries as a treatment for bladder and kidney diseases, while early settlers from England used them to treat poor appetite, stomach complaints, blood disorders, and scurvy.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Yes, raw cranberries are safe to consume raw, but you probably don't want to eat them that way. "Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.

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