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!

SIX INGREDIENTS with Six Sisters’ Stuff

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.

Read More

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Fluffy Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you spice up ocean spray 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 to take the bitterness out of fresh 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.

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.

Can I substitute frozen cranberries for fresh? ›

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

How do you enhance canned cranberry sauce? ›

Canned cranberry sauce is delicious on its own, but there are ways you can dress it up for any meal. Adding fruits like oranges or berries brings different flavors and acidity to the sauce. Folding in crushed nuts at the end adds texture variety.

What thickens cranberry sauce? ›

Sugar helps the thickening process, and while it's nice to try to keep your cranberry sauce from being too sugary sweet, you will need at least some sugar to make it work well (about 1/2 cup sugar per 12-ounce bag of cranberries).

How do I thicken my homemade 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 make cranberry sauce not sour? ›

How to make cranberry sauce less tart or sweeter
  1. If the sauce is too sour, add more sweetener. I've tested this recipe with up to 90ml of honey without any problems. ...
  2. If the sauce is too sweet, decrease the sweetener or add a dash of vinegar.

Why won't my cranberry sauce gel? ›

Why won't my cranberry sauce gel? Boiling is critical to release pectin, the key gelling ingredient, from the cranberry. You must cook the sauce for at least 10 minutes at a full boil for the pectin to react with the sugar and create the proper gelled texture.

How to take tartness out of cranberry sauce? ›

"Instead, start by stirring in one tablespoon maple syrup and one teaspoon of a sweet drink like apple juice, orange juice, or fruity white or red wine. Add more to taste. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (in small amounts, it intensifies sweetness)."

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.”

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Why didn't my cranberry sauce thicken? Cranberries have a lot of natural pectin, the ingredient that makes cooked fruit gel. To release that pectin, you need to cook the berries until they burst and can form a bond with the sugar.

Can I use craisins instead of cranberries? ›

Yes, Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries work well in baked goods; however, there is a 1/4 cup (60 mL) difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh cranberries you should use 3/4 cup (175 mL) of Craisins®. Craisins® should not be used in cooked sauces.

Can I use year old frozen cranberries? ›

Pack cranberries into containers, leaving ½-inch headspace for expansion, or freeze them on a tray and then pack into containers or freezer bags as soon as berries are frozen. Frozen berries are best if used within one year.

Why are there no cranberries in the stores? ›

* The availability of fresh cranberries is limited because the harvest season is very short. Harvesting begins in September and continues through November, and fresh cranberries may be purchased during that time.

How do you make Ocean Spray cranberry juice taste better? ›

Originally Answered: How can I make cranberry juice taste better? Personally, I recommend doing what Ocean Spray does, and mixing in other juices. Grape and apple seem to work well. For a little kick, add Sprite or Sierra Mist instead.

How do you serve Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce? ›

The traditional way to serve canned cranberry sauce is to slice the cylinder into rounds and arrange them on a platter. Go a step further by adding a garnish like sugared rosemary or candied ginger. Or, cook the canned sauce with orange juice and zest for a citrusy take on a holiday standby.

How do you fix cranberry sauce that didn't set? ›

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.

What can I do with a jar of cranberry sauce? ›

Method
  • Spread generously in toasties, classic with brie!
  • Add Cranberry Sauce to your crumble for a full flavoured dessert.
  • Mix with cream cheese for a tasty topping on crackers and bagels!
  • Dollop a spoonful on baked sweet potato in place of butter.
  • Top off your yoghurt with a spoonful for extra fruity flavour!

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