This Cranberry Fluff Salad is the easiest recipe to make for the holidays. It is light and fluffy with a delicious cranberry flavor all throughout – the perfect side dish!
Cranberry Fluff Salad is a tasty cranberry recipe that I love adding on the side of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It is a fan favorite for a reason: The texture and taste is so good! Dessert salads (like Pumpkin Fluff) are perfect for potlucks or holidays and this one is a go-to at Thanksgiving.
Cranberries are a staple during the holidays and this recipe is the perfect place to start. If you love cranberries, then this recipe is the way to go for your next dinner that you’re hosting!
Ingredients Needed
- Instant Pudding: I use vanilla flavored instant pudding mix. You could also use cheesecake flavor. Be sure it’s instant pudding!
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is a must to sweetened the cranberries; they’d be too tart otherwise.
- Milk: Cows milk is needed to make the pudding.
- Cranberries: I’ve only tested this with fresh cranberries, not frozen cranberries.
- Pecans: If you prefer walnuts, they are a good substitute.
- Cool Whip: Gives this recipe the light and fluffy consistency – you can use any kind or brand of whipped topping.
- Mini Marshmallows: Make sure they are fresh and not stale. These add volume and fluff!
How to make Fluffy Cranberry Salad
- Place cranberries in a food processor and process until finely chopped and stir with sugar. Allow to sit for at least 1 hour before making fluff.
- Whisk pudding mix and milk. Fold cool whip into pudding.
- Drain any excess liquid that’s accumulated in the cranberries. Add cranberries, marshmallows, and nuts to the pudding mixture. Stir.
- Chill at least 1 hour before serving.
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Favorite Fluff Recipes
- Oreo Fluff Salad for chocolate lovers
- Peach Fluff for summer
- Pineapple Fluff just because!
Expert Tips
- To toast nuts: place in a frying pan over low heat, stirring constantly, for just a few minutes until they start to get fragrant. They’ll burn quickly so watch carefully.
- You can add raisins or chopped cherries or really anything else you like. Pistachios would also be wonderful!
Cranberry Fluff Recipe
Cranberry Fluff Salad is an easy fluff recipe – a dessert salad full of pudding, marshmallows, and tons of cranberries. Perfect for the holidays or Thanksgiving dinner!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries about 4 cups or 340g
- ⅔ cup (134g) granulated sugar
- 1 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 2 cups (95g) mini marshmallows
- 1 cup (120g) chopped toasted pecans
Instructions
- Place cranberries in a food processor and process until finely chopped (you don’t want to puree; just finely chop). Place in a bowl and stir with sugar. Allow to sit for at least 1 hour before making fluff.
- Whisk pudding mix and milk; let sit 5 minutes until soft set.
- Fold cool whip into pudding.
- Drain any excess liquid that’s accumulated in the cranberries. Add cranberries, marshmallows, and nuts to the pudding mixture. Stir.
- Chill at least 1 hour before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- You can use chopped walnuts as well.
- To toast nuts: place in a frying pan over low heat, stirring constantly, for just a few minutes until they start to get fragrant. They’ll burn quickly so watch carefully.
- You can make this no-added sugar by using 1 box of instant sugar free pudding mix, a carton of sugar free whipped topping, and sweetener in place of the granulated sugar.
Recipe Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 558kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 258mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 64g | Vitamin A: 166IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
