Description
This festive Cranberry Fluff Salad is a delightful blend of fresh cranberries, sweet pineapple, juicy grapes, and fluffy marshmallows folded into creamy whipped topping. Perfectly sweetened and chilled, it makes a refreshing side dish or dessert that’s ideal for holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Mixture
- 1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-ins
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the Cranberries: In a food processor, pulse the fresh cranberries until they are finely chopped. Transfer them to a bowl, stir in the granulated sugar thoroughly, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow the cranberries to sweeten and the flavors to meld. After chilling, drain off any excess liquid before proceeding.
- Combine Fruit and Marshmallows: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened cranberries, drained crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and halved grapes. Stir gently to mix all the ingredients evenly.
- Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using an electric mixer until soft peaks form, indicating the cream is fluffy but still holds shape.
- Fold Cream into Fruit Mixture: Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cranberry and fruit mixture until fully combined, ensuring not to deflate the whipped cream’s airy texture.
- Add Nuts and Chill: Stir in chopped walnuts or pecans if desired for added texture and flavor. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld and the salad set.
Notes
- Serve this salad cold for the best refreshing taste and texture.
- For convenience, you can substitute homemade whipped cream with store-bought whipped topping.
- Feel free to swap the grapes with chopped apples to add extra crunch.
- Make this salad a day in advance to enhance the flavor development.
