Best Cranberry Salad Ever

5 from 7 votes

This classic Cranberry Salad is a nostalgic holiday favorite that’s best started a day or two before serving. Fresh cranberries are chopped and sweetened, then mixed with crushed pineapple, crunchy walnuts, and fluffy mini marshmallows before being folded into whipped cream. As it chills, the flavors meld and the marshmallows soften for a perfectly creamy, sweet-tart salad that’s equally delicious as a side dish or light dessert.

Course: Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 292kcal

Author: Good Dinner Mom

Ingredients

1- 12 oz. package of cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup sugar
1- 8 oz. can crushed pineapple juice and all
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 to 2 cups mini marshmallows
1 pint heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Chop 12 ounces cranberries with a food processor. Not too finely.
1- 12 oz. package of cranberries,
In a bowl, mix the chopped cranberries with 1 cup sugar, 8 ounces crushed pineapple and ½ cup chopped walnuts. Place this mixture in the fridge for one hour for flavors to meld and sugar to dissolve completely.
1 cup sugar, 1- 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, ½ cup chopped walnuts
Remove cranberry mixture from refrigerator. Set aside.
Beat the 1 pint of heavy whipping cream into stiff peaks.
1 pint heavy whipping cream
Add 1 to 2 cups mini marshmallows to the cranberry mixture, until thoroughly incorporated into the mix.
1 to 2 cups mini marshmallows
Then slowly fold in the whipped cream, until it's completely pink and beautiful!
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better.

Notes

If the dessert seems a bit watery, don't worry because the marshmallows will absorb a lot of the moisture during refrigeration. Also, as noted above, make sure your cream is whipped into stiff peaks. You can also add more marshmallows, if necessary.
The Cranberry Salad is also excellent served frozen.
Make-Ahead Tip:
Prepare the cranberry mixture one or two days ahead so the sugar fully dissolves and the flavors blend beautifully. Fold in the whipped cream and marshmallows the day before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Nutrition