A festive and creamy Cranberry Fluff Salad, reminiscent of grandma’s recipes. This no-bake, sweet, and tart dish is perfect as a side or dessert for holiday gatherings.
Author:Emily
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:0 minutes
Total Time:2 hours 20 minutes
Yield:8 servings 1x
Category:Dessert, Side Dish
Method:No-Bake
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip or whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
Prep cranberries: Pulse fresh cranberries in a food processor until finely chopped. Stir in sugar, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
Drain and combine: Drain excess liquid from cranberries. In a large bowl, combine with crushed pineapple, marshmallows, sour cream, and nuts if using.
Fold in whipped topping: Gently fold in Cool Whip until fluffy and well mixed.
Chill and serve: Cover and refrigerate for 2–4 hours before serving. Garnish with extra nuts or sugared cranberries if desired.
Notes
Always use fresh cranberries, not frozen, to avoid excess liquid.
Don’t skip the cranberry resting step — it mellows tartness and improves texture.
Let it chill at least 2 hours so flavors meld and marshmallows soften.