This creamy cranberry salad recipe is a blend of fresh cranberries, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, coconut and apples, all tossed in a creamy dressing. A unique and colorful salad that’s perfect for the holidays!

I love to serve cranberry salad alongside slow roasted prime rib, herb roasted turkey or crock pot ham for an easy and festive side dish recipe. This is always one of the first dishes to disappear at Thanksgiving dinner!

Cranberry salad garnished with cranberries, marshmallows, pecans and apples.

I’m always looking for fun ways to serve cranberries other than your standard cranberry sauce. This cranberry salad is perfectly sweet and full of different flavors and textures. If you are a cranberry fan, make sure to also bake up a loaf of fresh cranberry bread to celebrate the season!

Cranberry Salad Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need fresh cranberries, granulated sugar, apple, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, coconut and whipped topping.

How Do You Make Cranberry Salad?

Place the cranberries in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the berries are coarsely chopped. Transfer the cranberries to a large bowl, add the sugar and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Add the apple, pineapple, mini marshmallows, pecans and coconut to the cranberry mixture in the bowl. Next, add the whipped topping and gently fold it into the other ingredients. Add garnishes such as fresh cranberries and more marshmallows if desired, then serve and enjoy.

Cranberries in a food processor.

Tips For Cranberry Salad

  • I use a food processor to chop my cranberries. You can also roughly chop them with a knife or even use a blender.
  • This salad can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it.
  • It’s important to let the cranberries sit in the sugar for a few hours so that the berries have time to absorb the sugar, which helps to temper their tartness.
  • You can serve this salad as a side dish, or put it on the dessert table. Either way will work just fine!

Quick Tip

You can use fresh, frozen or canned pineapple in this recipe. I typically choose canned pineapple because of the convenience factor. You can even go with crushed pineapple for a different texture.

Chopped cranberries mixed with sugar in a bowl.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use frozen cranberries for cranberry salad?

You can substitute thawed frozen cranberries for fresh cranberries in this salad, although the texture will be a little different. Fresh cranberries will have a little more crunch and texture than frozen cranberries.

What is cranberry salad made of?

Cranberry salad is typically made with fresh cranberries and sugar in a creamy dressing. It also typically contains other ingredients such as different types of fruit, nuts, coconut or marshmallows.

How do you make cranberry salad with Jello?

There are a couple of different types of cranberry salad. While this is a creamy salad, a cranberry Jello salad is also a very popular option.

FOLLOW ME

Chopped cranberries, apples, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans and coconut in a mixing bowl.

Flavor Variations

While this recipe is delicious as written, you can change up the ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

  • Dressing: Instead of whipped topping, feel free to use freshly whipped cream or vanilla Greek yogurt. The whipped cream in a can will not work in this recipe as it will deflate.
  • Fruit: I typically go for Granny Smith apples, but other great options include Pink Lady, Honeycrisp or Braeburn. You can also use different types of fruit such as canned pears, mandarin oranges or even raspberries.
  • Nuts: No pecans on hand? Try walnuts, almonds or pistachios instead.
  • Garnishes: Add some fun garnishes to your salad such as fresh cranberries, candied pecans, more marshmallows, diced pineapple, fresh mint or even toasted coconut.

Once you try this salad, you’ll be hooked. It is a big favorite with the kids too, because no child can resist mini marshmallows!

Cranberry salad with a serving spoon in it.

More Delicious Side Dishes

Cranberry Salad Video

Love This Recipe?

Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

5 from 24 votes

Cranberry Salad

AuthorSara Welch
Cranberry salad garnished with cranberries, marshmallows, pecans and apples.
This creamy cranberry salad is a blend of fresh cranberries, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, coconut and apples, all tossed in a creamy dressing. A unique and colorful salad that’s perfect for the holidays!
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 minute
Chill Time3 hours
Total Time11 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Serves 10

Ingredients 

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup chopped apple I use Granny Smith
  • 1 cup chopped pineapple fresh or canned
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup shredded coconut
  • 8 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed
  • fresh cranberries, apples and marshmallows for garnish optional

Instructions 

  • Pour the cranberries into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the berries are coarsely chopped.
  • Place the cranberries and sugar in a glass or plastic bowl (do not use metal). Stir to combine.
  • Cover the bowl and chill for at least 3 hours.
  • Add the apple, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans and coconut to the bowl.
  • Add the whipped topping to the bowl and fold gently to combine all the ingredients. Garnish with additional cranberries, apples and marshmallows if desired, then serve.

Notes

  1. I use a food processor to chop my cranberries. You can also roughly chop them with a knife or even use a blender.
  2. This salad can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it.
  3. It’s important to let the cranberries sit in the sugar for a few hours so that the berries have time to absorb the sugar, which helps to temper their tartness.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Hello! I’m Sara!

Learn more about Sara

Related Posts

Free Bonus

5 Secrets to Meal Planning + Free Toolkit!

5 from 24 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Can you use frozen cranberries ? ?? Would like to try for Easter with turkey,,,Looks spring like Thank You

  2. 5 stars
    This is always a big hit at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s so easy. I came across it last year and it has become a tradition now. I use half the sugar because I like it a bit more tangy.