By Becky Hardin
Updated Nov 17, 2025
I love this bright pink Cranberry Fluff Salad recipe as it’s quick and easy to whip up. I used fresh cranberries and crushed pineapple for a sweet and tart flavor, and marshmallows, whipped cream, and cream cheese for an irresistible creamy and fluffy texture.
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Easy Cranberry Fluff Recipe
I always enjoy making a fluff salad. This time, I added cranberries for a festive take on a classic fluff salad, which is perfect for my Thanksgiving or Christmas table. With 6 ingredients and a few simple steps, pulling it together is easy, especially when I’ve got a laundry list of other holiday recipes to prepare!
What’s great about this salad is that it’s easy to modify based on my mood or what ingredients I have on hand. For a citrusy take, I’ll add orange zest and orange segments to the salad. Or, to sweeten it up slightly, I’ll add chopped apples, pomegranate arils, or raspberries. For a bit of crunch, I like throwing in chopped pecans, walnuts, or even pretzels. And for a burst of freshness and tartness, I’ll add a dollop of cranberry sauce on top.
Tips for Beginners
- Make the salad 3 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to mingle and preserves the salad’s structure.
- Serve cold. Cranberry fluff salad can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 2 hours, but I recommend serving it cold because the whipped cream dressing will start to melt after 30 minutes.
- Do not overmix. Mix gently and stop as soon as everything is combined. Overmixing will deflate the whipped cream and take away that soft, airy texture you want.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 12 oz. fresh cranberries 340g, if using frozen, thaw and drain
- ▢ 8 oz. crushed pineapple 227g, drained (1 can)
- ▢ ¾ cup granulated sugar 150g
- ▢ 3 cups miniature marshmallows 384g
- ▢ 4 oz. cream cheese 114g, room temperature (½ brick)
- ▢ 2 cups heavy whipping cream 454g, cold
Video
Instructions
- Add the cranberries to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, about the same texture of your crushed pineapple. Place in a large bowl. 12 oz. fresh cranberries
- Add the crushed pineapple and sugar to the bowl and stir to combine. 8 oz. crushed pineapple, ¾ cup granulated sugar
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Drain off any excess juice.
- Using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and whisk again until smooth. 4 oz. cream cheese
- Pour in the cold heavy cream. Start the mixer on low and mix until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Increase the speed and mix until stiff peaks form. 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- Fold into the cranberry mixture. Do not overmix, as it will cause the whipped cream to deflate. Add the marshmallows and fold until combined. 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Food Processor
- Hand Mixer
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Cranberry Fluff Salad Step by Step
Process the cranberries: Add 12 oz. of cranberries to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped so that they have the same texture as the crushed pineapple. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add pineapple and sugar and chill : Add 8 oz. of crushed pineapple and ¾ cup of sugar to the bowl and stir to combine well.
Cover the bowl and chill for at least 1 hour. Drain off any excess juice.
Add the cream cheese and cream: Using a hand mixer, beat 4 oz. of cream cheese until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl, and whisking until smooth.
Pour in 2 cups of cold heavy cream. On low speed, mix until the cream is incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Increase the speed and mix until stiff peaks form.
Add the cranberry mixture: Fold the cream mixture into the cranberry mixture and mix being careful not to overmix, as it will cause the whipped cream to deflate. Add 3 cups of mini marshmallows and fold until combined.
Chill: Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with cranberries if desired.
How to Store
Store leftover cranberry fluff salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Gently fold to incorporate any juices before serving. I do not recommend freezing this salad, as the texture will be ruined during the thawing process.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this cranberry fluff salad alongside all my usual holiday favorites, like Thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas ham dinner . For the other sides, I like making creamy mashed potatoes and this family favorite green bean casserole . And, of course, I need a batch of turkey gravy to pour over everything!
more salad recipes to try
Pineapple Pretzel Salad
Marshmallow Salad
Watergate Salad
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Honey Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
Cranberry Fluff Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Food Processor
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries 340g, if using frozen, thaw and drain
- 8 oz. crushed pineapple 227g, drained (1 can)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar 150g
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows 384g
- 4 oz. cream cheese 114g, room temperature (½ brick)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream 454g, cold
Instructions
- Add the cranberries to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, about the same texture of your crushed pineapple. Place in a large bowl. 12 oz. fresh cranberries
- Add the crushed pineapple and sugar to the bowl and stir to combine. 8 oz. crushed pineapple, ¾ cup granulated sugar
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Drain off any excess juice.
- Using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and whisk again until smooth. 4 oz. cream cheese
- Pour in the cold heavy cream. Start the mixer on low and mix until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Increase the speed and mix until stiff peaks form. 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- Fold into the cranberry mixture. Do not overmix, as it will cause the whipped cream to deflate. Add the marshmallows and fold until combined. 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
