Every year at this time of year, we love nothing more than trying new Thanksgiving side dishes and this fun salad twist is the perfect addition! It is entirely gluten free, plus anything made with sweet marshmallows so even the kids will love this one. We can’t wait for you to try it because you will also be adding it to your Thanksgiving table year after year!
Looking for More Cranberry Recipes?
If you love cranberries as much as we do, you definitely need to try our Cranberry Bars!
What You Will Need
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- tart cranberries – just pick-up some fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries at your local grocery store.
- miniature marshmallows – added for that fluffy texture and touch of sweetness to counter the tart flavors of the cranberries.
- sugar – a little bit in the cranberry salad and some in the homemade whipped cream.
- fresh apple – just chop up your favorite variety of apple, we love honey crisp.
- walnuts – added for the best crunch in this perfect side dish!
- heavy whipping cream – use a regular cream or we have also loved Silk’s heavy cream alternative, if you are keeping it dairy-free.
- vanilla extract – just a splash for that added flavor in the whipped cream.
How To Make Cranberry Fluff Salad
Now put the cranberries in a food processor or blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes.
Transfer the blended cranberries to a large mixing bowl and add the sugar and marshmallows. Give it all a good stir to fully combine. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge overnight. Perfect for meal prep!
On the next day, before serving, put the whipped cream ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and use the whisk attachment to blend on high for about 3 minutes or until stiff peaks form on the whisk. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can also use an electric hand mixer.
Add the chopped apple and walnuts to the cranberry mixture; stir to combine. Then fold in the homemade whipped cream.
Pro Tip
Highly recommend taking a few minutes to make your own whipped topping with only 3 ingredients in 3 minutes! It’s just so good, but if you are in a time crunch you can also use store-bought cool whip.
Best Ways To Serve A Cranberry Fluff Salad
This delicious cranberry fluff salad is the perfect addition to any Christmas dinner or holiday gathering! A wonderful light and sweet recipe that can be served right alongside an easy green bean casserole, creamy mashed potatoes, and sourdough stuffing. It will definitely be a huge hit that will be devoured in no time!
Recipe FAQs
- What is cranberry salad made of? This simple salad is typically made with fresh or canned cranberry sauce, marshmallows, fresh fruit, and fluffy whipped cream or cool whip.
- What fresh fruit can I add to a cranberry fluff salad? In the recipe card below we used chopped apples in this easy side dish, but feel free to sub with crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, red grapes, etc.
- Can this salad be prepped ahead of time? Absolutely! It is actually part of the recipe to let the cranberry salad chill overnight before adding the apples, walnuts, and whipped cream.
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Ingredients
Cranberry Salad:
- 2 cups whole cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup honey crisp apple, chopped
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Prep Cranberries: place fresh or thawed cranberries in a food processor to blend on high for 1-2 minutes. Drain off any excess liquid.
- Combine + Chill: put blended cranberries in a large bowl. Add 4 cups mini marshmallows and 1/2 cup granulated sugar; mix to combine. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight.
- Whipped Cream: right before serving, put the whipped cream ingredients in a mixing bowl. Using either a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or a hand mixer, whip ingredients together on med/high speed for approx. 3 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
- Mix: remove the cranberry mixture from the fridge, add the apples and walnuts. Mix to fully combine and fold in the whipped cream.
- Serve: enjoy immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Whipped Cream: follow our super easy tutorial on how to make homemade whipped cream for everything you need to know.
- Dairy Free: use a heavy cream dairy-alternative.
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