Easy Cranberry Fluff Salad (with Video!)
This easy Cranberry Fluff Salad is a creamy cranberry salad made with a combination of fresh cranberries, red grapes, pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans all tossed together in a creamy whipped topping.
Cranberry fluff is a classic southern side dish that always makes an appearance at our Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner. It’s one of my favorite recipes passed down from my grandma, along with her coconut cake and broccoli cheese casserole.
It’s a creamy dish made with fresh, tart cranberries, sweet crushed pineapple and red grapes, crunchy pecans, and soft marshmallows. Everything is tossed together in Cool Whip to create the perfect creamy, sweet, and tart dish that can be served as a side or a dessert. Trust me It’s going to be one of your Thanksgiving favorites!
Hosting a small gathering for the holidays this year? Check out our post on How to Host Thanksgiving Dinner for 4-6 People and tips on The Best Way to Cook Turkey Breast for Thanksgiving Dinner for 3 ways to make a juicy turkey!
Table of contents
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Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh cranberries – You can use fresh or frozen cranberries that are whole and uncooked. You don’t want to use canned cranberry sauce or cranberries that have anything added to them.
- Sugar – Cranberries can be really tart so you’ll want to soak them in sugar overnight, or for as long as possible, before adding them to the fluff.
- Crushed pineapple – Make sure to drain the crushed pineapple really well before adding to the cranberry fluff salad so that it doesn’t get soupy.
- Red seedless grapes – These delicious, sweet grapes perfectly compliment the tart cranberries.
- Pecans – Some cranberry fluff recipes use walnuts so you can undoubtedly switch these up, but for an authentic southern dish I recommend sticking with the pecans. They add the perfect crunch!
- Marshmallows – Soft mini marshmallows soften in the fluff and absorb the flavor of the cranberries.
- Cool Whip – I know Cool Whip can be controversial but I highly recommend making this cranberry salad with Cool Whip as it stays stable for longer than homemade whipped cream.
If you like this simple, sweet dish make sure to try our watergate salad and ambrosia salad too!
How to Make Cranberry Fluff Salad
Step 1 – Chop. Pour the fresh cranberries into a food processor and pulse until they are chopped into small pieces.
Step 2 – Sweeten. Scoop the chopped cranberries into a small container and sprinkle the sugar over them. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight, or at least 4 hours.
Step 3 – Put it together. Make the cranberry fluff by placing the chopped and sugared cranberries, drained crushed pineapple, red grapes, chopped nuts, and marshmallows in a large bowl.
Step 4 – Just fold it in. Add the Cool Whip and gently fold the mixture together until it well mixed.
Step 5 – Store. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cut tartness of cranberries?
Can I make cranberry fluff ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare it a day in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.
Do I Have to Use Cool Whip for Cranberry Fluff?
My grandma was all about Cool Whip so I happen to like it but if you prefer to use something other than Cool Whip you can make your own stabilized whipped cream. This kind of homemade whipped cream is a little stiffer than the usual so it won’t deflate as it sits in the fridge.
Is cranberry fluff gluten-free?
By default, cranberry fluff is gluten-free. However, always check the labels of your specific ingredients to be sure.
Other Ways to Serve It
We love cranberry fluff so much we’ve worked it into a few delicious dessert recipes that are perfect for the holidays. Make sure to try our Cranberry Fluff Cheesecake Bites and our Mini Cranberry Fluff Cakes !
How to Store It
- Refrigeration: The best way to store cranberry fluff is in the refrigerator. After serving, cover the leftover fluff with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container.
- Chill Promptly: Make sure to refrigerate the cranberry fluff promptly after you’re done enjoying it. It’s a dairy-based dessert, so keeping it cold will prevent spoilage.
- Use Within a Few Days: Cranberry fluff is best when consumed within 2-3 days of preparation. Beyond that, it may lose its freshness and texture.
Please Note: It is not recommended to freeze cranberry fluff, as the texture can change when it thaws, and it may become watery.
By following these simple storage tips, you can enjoy your cranberry fluff over the course of a few days without any concerns. Just remember to keep it chilled and covered to maintain its deliciousness!
Looking for More Easy Holiday Sides?
- Not Your Mom’s Mashed Potatoes
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Broccoli Casserole
- Cranberry Jello Salad
- Creamed Corn Casserole
- Cranberry Sweet Potato Casserole
- Pecan Rice Pilaf
- Creamed Spinach with Bacon
- Cranberry Salsa
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Cranberry Fluff Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 8 ounces Crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup Havled Red seedless grapes
- 1 cup Chopped Pecans
- 3 cups Marshmallows
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
Instructions
- Pour the fresh cranberries into a food processor and pulse until they are chopped into small pieces.
- Scoop the chopped cranberries into a small container and sprinkle the sugar over them. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight, or at least 4 hours.
- Make the creamy cranberry salad by placing the chopped and sugared cranberries, drained crushed pineapple, red grapes, chopped nuts, and marshmallows in a large bowl.
- Add the Cool Whip and gently fold the mixture together until it well mixed.
- Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
OMG1 This looks like a great side dish for my family gathering! It looks very delicious!! Stopping by from Bewitchin’ Projects Block Party! Pinned and Happy Thanksgiving!! 🙂
I love this kind of treat at Thanksgiving. I will have to make it. Thanks
That look really tasty and pretty.
Thanks for sharing.
Found you at bewitchin projects.
Ahh, a gourmet cranberry salad! This looks SO good, especially in those little glasses!
OMG this looks delicious! I may have to make it just for the kids as a dessert to try it out. Found you from Say G’day link – will be pinning this as well! Thanks 🙂
I’m not a fan of cranberries. Could I make the same salad using maraschino cherries from the jar?
Hmmm that might work. You could also try our ambrosia https://www.homemadeinterest.com/ambrosia-salad/ or Watergate salad https://www.homemadeinterest.com/watergate-salad/. if you use cherries I’d just use less than the cranberries since they are so sweet
Delicious
My family has made this recipe for Thanksgiving my whole life and I am 62! I have never come across anyone else who makes this. So exciting! Our version uses walnuts instead of pecans and does not include grapes but I think I will add them this year as a surprise! Yum!
So glad there is another fluff fan out there. All of my childhood holiday memories include this dish and we still serve it every year. I LOVE the grapes in it so let me know what you think!