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!
I love to serve cranberry salad alongside herb roasted turkey or crock pot ham for an easy and festive side dish. This is always one of the first side dishes to disappear on Thanksgiving!
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.
How do you make cranberry salad?
This recipe starts with a bag of fresh cranberries. The cranberries are chopped, then mixed with sugar. The cranberries need to sit in the sugar for at least 3 hours to temper some of the natural tart flavor of the berries.
When the cranberries are ready, pineapple, marshmallows, chopped pecans, shredded coconut and diced apples get added to the mix. The final step is to add whipped topping as a dressing, then you’re ready to eat. I like to decorate my finished salad with more cranberries, marshmallows and fruit, but that’s an optional step.
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.
- Don’t want to use whipped topping? You can use lightly sweetened freshly whipped cream instead, or vanilla yogurt.
- I typically use Granny Smith apples because they add a nice crunch and I like the color contrast of the green apples against the red cranberries. That being said, feel free to use your favorite variety of apple. Other great varieties include Pink Lady or Honeycrisp.
- You can use fresh or canned pineapple for this salad, either will work just fine.
- Sometimes I substitute diced mandarin oranges for pineapple for a different take on this dish.
- Don’t like pecans? Omit them altogether, or try walnuts or sliced almonds instead.
- This salad can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it.
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 Jello salad is also a very popular option. I have a super delicious gelatin based salad recipe that you can find here.
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.
Are cranberries healthy?
Cranberries are considered a healthy food because they’re high in nutrients and antioxidants. Cranberries have been proven to prevent certain types of cancer, improve your immune system and decrease blood pressure. While this cranberry salad isn’t the healthiest choice because of the whipped topping, you could substitute something else such as yogurt for more nutritional benefits.
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!
More delicious side dishes
- Bacon Ranch Green Beans
- Butterflake Rolls
- Glazed Carrots
- Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
- Apple Pecan Rice Pilaf
Cranberry salad video
Cranberry Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries chopped
- 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
- 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
Nutrition
This post was originally published on October 30, 2018 and was updated on October 28, 2020 with new content.
Aaronica says
I’m always looking for something to do with cranberries! I love this!
Louisa says
This cranberry salad looks oh so good! I’ve been trying a healthier diet for the past few weeks so will be trying this recipe soon.
Kita Bryant says
This salad looks totally delicious! I would really like to make this for my family!
Dhemz says
oh, my goodness! I would love to try this. I don’t think I had this before. Looks really appetizing. Thanks for sharing!
Kim Croisant says
Someone always brings this recipe to our Thanksgiving family get together. It’s not Thanksgiving without it. I just love it.
Jeanine says
Wow. Now this is a cranberry recipe I would love to try out. This looks and sounds absolutely incredible!
Ricci says
Oh gosh I Love cranberries on everything this time of the year! This salad looks so yummy!!
Chubskulit Rose says
Oh Mama Mia, what a treat! I would love even just once scoop of that right now, looks tasty.
Jaime Nicole says
Wow, this looks SO tasty! I think it is definitely going to be on my Thanksgiving menu this year!
Tasheena says
This recipes looks delicious. It would be perfect to make for my family this holiday season.
Tonia says
This is cool. I usually do the pistachio version. I haven’t tried this one yet. I’ll have to make it to see if my family enjoys it as well.
Terri Steffes says
My family is very fond of this salad and they are happy to have it often during the Thanksgiving season. We sometimes make it for Christmas, too.
Lisa Martin says
This is one of my favorite things to eat at our church potluck but I have never made it before. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I can not wait to try it, yours sounds so yummy?
Jeanette says
This looks really good! It is an easy thing to make and I am pretty sure it would be a hit with the entire family.
Amber Myers says
Yum, this looks so good! I just love cranberries. I will have to make this soon. I know I’ll be happy with it. My kids might like it too.
Lisa Carson says
My family always make cranberry salad during the Holidays! Ours is a bit different. I’ve never added pineapple or coconut. Going to try your recipe for Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing.
Jen Walshaw says
Oh this looks really interesting. I have never come across a sweet salad before – I wonder if it is a US only thing?
Melissa Chapman says
I rarely see the fresh cranberries but they do look great in this sweet salad. I will keep this recipe for a surprise at Thanksgiving when the special sides come out.
Jeanette E. says
This looks like an easy way to eat cranberries! I’ve tried them raw by themselves and wow. Definitely an acquired taste. This looks so fun I know my kids and family would love this on Thanksgiving!
Candy says
This was always made when I was growing up. Old recipe but a really good one