Skip to Content

Cranberry Fluff Salad

Sharing is caring!

This Thanksgiving, ditch traditional cranberry sauce and make this delicious Cranberry Fluff Salad instead! This festive recipe is the perfect side dish alongside your Thanksgiving turkey and is made with just a few simple ingredients mixed together. The result is a fluffy, flavorful salad that’s perfect as a side dish or even dessert. Best of all, it takes less than 10 minutes to make! So this Thanksgiving, make your meal just a little bit sweeter with this easy Cranberry Fluff Salad.

A bowl of Thanksgiving cranberry salad with a spoon on a red and white towel.

This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on these links, I get a small percentage back at no cost to you! For more information see my disclosure policy.

Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap “Jump to Recipe” at the top of the page.

Cranberry Salad for Thanksgiving

Cranberry sauce is a classic menu item for most Thanksgiving dinner menus. But if you want to take your dinner a step further, try making this delicious and easy cranberry salad!

This versatile recipe resembles a cranberry Jello salad and is totally customizable. Feel free to add or take away any ingredients to your liking and add this salad to your holiday table! Get my complete Thanksgiving Recipe plan here and try this Non-Alcoholic Thanksgiving Punch!

Cranberry sauce in a bowl of whipped cream and cream cheese.

Cranberry Fluff Ingredients

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Canned Cranberry Sauce: For this recipe, I like to use Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, but you can also use canned cranberry sauce jelly or make your own sauce with fresh cranberries as well. If you want to make homemade cranberry sauce, try this 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce recipe or this cranberry sauce with orange.

Crushed Pineapple: This can be found near the canned fruit at the grocery store. Before adding it to the salad, you will need to drain the liquid from the can.

Miniature Marshmallows: This is definitely one of my favorite parts of this salad. I love the texture and sweetness that these add and they compliment the tartness of the cranberries.

Ingredients to make Cranberry salad for Thanksgiving.

Sugar: Make sure to use granulated sugar, as it dissolves better than other types.

Heavy Whipping Cream: This adds a nice, creamy texture and makes it taste even more decadent.

Cream Cheese: This slightly tangy ingredient pairs nicely with the sweet flavors of this dish.

Chopped Walnuts: I like to add some chopped walnuts for a bit of texture and flavor.

How Many Servings are in this Cranberry Fluff Salad?

This Thanksgiving salad recipe will make about 12-16 servings, depending on how much is in each. You can easily adjust the proportions to fit your needs, so feel free to make extra or less depending on the size of your crowd.

How to Make Thanksgiving Cranberry Salad

[1] Use a stand mixer or hand mixer and a large bowl to whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

A bowl of whipped cream with a hand mixer.

[2] In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then gently fold into the whipped cream.

A bowl of whipped cream mixed with cream cheese and sugar.

[3] In a separate bowl, mix the drained crushed pineapple and cranberry sauce. Fold the mixture into the whipped cream mixture.

A bowl of cranberry sauce mixed with crushed pineapple.

[4] Refrigerate for 1 hour, then stir in walnuts and marshmallows.

A bowl of cranberry fluff salad with marshmallows and walnuts.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Store Cranberry Fluff

To store this salad, keep it in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. It will stay fresh for up to a week, though I recommend eating it within 3-4 days for best results.

A bowl of cranberry fluff salad with marshmallows and walnuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is This Recipe Kid-Friendly?

This easy cranberry salad recipe recipe is definitely kid-friendly, thanks to its sweet and creamy flavor. Feel free to add a bit of extra sugar to the recipe if you have kids who prefer things on the sweeter side.

How Long Does It Take to Make This Cranberry Fluff Salad?

This recipe takes about 10 minutes from start to finish, which makes it perfect for busy holiday get-togethers! Simply mix together all the ingredients and let it chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

How Can I Customize This Recipe?

This recipe is totally customizable, so feel free to add or take away any ingredients that you like. Some other fun additions could include dried cranberries, raisins, mandarin oranges, fresh fruits, chopped apples, and/or orange zest. Or even try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra decadent twist!

A bowl of cranberry fluff salad with marshmallows and walnuts.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for something sweet, delicious, and super easy to make for your Thanksgiving meal, then look no further than this cranberry fluff salad. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a fluffy, flavorful salad that’s perfect as a side dish or even dessert.

Best of all, it takes less than 10 minutes to make and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, making it the perfect dish to bring along to your next holiday dinner party. So why not give this recipe a try? Your family and guests will love it! Happy Thanksgiving!

A bowl of Thanksgiving cranberry salad with a spoon on a red and white towel.

The Best Thanksgiving Recipes to Try:

Watch How to Make Cranberry Fluff:

Cranberry Fluff Salad YouTube Thumbnail.
A bowl of Thanksgiving cranberry salad with a spoon on a red and white towel.

Cranberry Fluff Salad

Yield: 12 Servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This Thanksgiving, ditch traditional cranberry sauce and make this delicious Cranberry Fluff Salad instead! This festive recipe is the perfect side dish alongside your Thanksgiving turkey and is made with just a few simple ingredients mixed together. The result is a fluffy, flavorful salad that's perfect as a side dish or even dessert. Best of all, it takes less than 10 minutes to make! So this Thanksgiving, make your meal just a little bit sweeter with this easy Cranberry Fluff Salad.

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 4 Ounces Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Can (14 Ounces) Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 Can (20 ounces) Crushed Pineapple, drained
  • 2 Cups Miniature Marshmallows
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Instructions

  1. Use a stand mixer or hand mixer and a large bowl to whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
  2. In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then gently fold into the whipped cream.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the drained crushed pineapple and cranberry sauce. Fold the mixture into the whipped cream mixture.
  4. Stir in walnuts and marshmallows, then refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 Serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 287Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 48mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 3g

Watch the Web Story

Sharing is caring!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe