An easy, sweet side dish that you can throw together in 5 minutes. This Cranberry Salad is perfect for the Thanksgiving table, or for any night!
Looking for more sweet salads? Try this Snickers Salad, this Apple Pomegranate Salad or this Strawberry Pretzel Salad.
Cranberry Salad
I love trying new recipes. I think that’s pretty obvious. But I realized something a few weeks back as I was talking to my mom. When it comes to Thanksgiving, as much as I’d like to try out a new recipe or two, I really like the same recipes that we’ve been making year after year. We have to have the festive green beans, and the Goodman fruit salad. The celery stuffed with pimento cheese, and my sister’s sausage stuffing. And the cranberry salad.
Also known as Cranberry Fluff, this cranberry salad has graced our Thanksgiving table for as long as I can remember. It’s one of those salads – like the Snicker’s Salad – that tastes more like dessert than an actual side dish. But hey – any excuse to have dessert on our plate next to the turkey is a good excuse, right? As we were putting together the menu this year, and assignments were being given out, I realized that Cranberry Salad was no where to be found. Only half of the family is going to be there, so a few things got cut out, simply because we don’t need as much food. But Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without this salad, so I jumped in and said that I would bring it. The great thing about this salad is that it literally takes 5 minutes to stir together, and you can stick it in the freezer ahead of time. In fact, I made this yesterday and will keep it in the freezer until Thursday. Just bring it out of the freezer 30-45 minutes before serving it.
Even if you are a traditionalist, and like to have the same thing on the table year after year, this side dish is one that you’ll want to add in!
Ingredients in Cranberry Salad
All you need are 6 simple ingredients for this Cranberry Salad:
- sweetened condensed milk
- lemon juice
- whole berry cranberry sauce
- crushed pineapple
- chopped nuts
- frozen whipped topping, thawed
Tips for Making this Cranberry Salad
- This salad can easily be made the day before. Just make sure you take it out of the freezer at least 30 minutes before serving so that it’s not frozen solid.
- You can use any nuts that you like. I prefer pecans. Or you can leave out the nuts completely, as well.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice is much better than the pre-bottled lemon juice.
See how to make this Cranberry Salad here
More Thanksgiving Recipes that are on our table every year!
The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole
Lion House Rolls Dinner Rolls
Apple Cranberry and Sausage Dressing
Sour Cream Apple Pie
Sparkling Cranberry Punch
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Cranberry Salad
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 people 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Description
An easy, sweet side dish that you can throw together in 5 minutes. This Cranberry Salad is perfect for the Thanksgiving table, or for any night!
Ingredients
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 14 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple (drained)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts*
- 1 8 oz container frozen whipped topping (thawed)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice. Add in the cranberries, pineapple and nuts. Fold in the whipped topping.
- Freeze for 20 minutes before serving.
- If making ahead, keep in the freezer and bring out 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes:
*I like to use pecans, but any nuts work.
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts.
Nutrition
- Calories: 336
- Sugar: 52 g
- Sodium: 76 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
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darla coffman says
Thank you for your recipes. I am definitely going to make your herbed turkey breast this year. Cant wait. Sounds delicious
tammy leffew says
If you make it the day before do you leave it in the freezer the whole time? At any point does it just go in the frig??
Deborah says
I would put it in the fridge a few hours before serving so that it’s thawed enough to scoop it.
Lynda Conway says
Recipe sounds delicious! I’m making it for Thanksgiving, but I have one question. Would it be possible to replace the canned cranberry sauce with homemade cranberry sauce?
Deborah says
I haven’t tried it, but I would think that would work just fine!
Linda K says
Am trying this recipe for the first time. Can you substitute lite coconut milk for the sweetened condensed milk?
Kady says
What is the serving size?
Deborah says
Sorry – that is missing on the recipe card! You should be able to get 10-12 side dish servings.
Karly says
I am such a sucker for a good fluff salad. And this is anything but an exception. Looks SO good– definitely needs to be on my Thanksgiving table! Can’t wait to try it out!
Deborah says
Thanks Karly – they are definitely irresistible, aren’t they? 😉
Kim Kenty says
YUM!
Kim of Mo'Betta says
Making this for tomorrow! It is exactly that little extra something I was looking for!
Becki's Whole Life says
I think every Thanksgiving table needs a yummy dessert-like salad like this. Love this – I am going to add this to my list! Kids will love this:-)
Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life says
This sounds delicious.
Emily says
The only thing better that can improve this salad is using pretzels to eat it. Oh. My. Gawd.
grace says
this looks completely fun and fluffy! the cranberries i had yesterday were tasty, but i fear they wouldn’t hold a candle to this. bookmarked for next year…er, week. 🙂
Roxana GreenGirl {A little bit of everything} says
I have to say, I’m glad you decided to stick with the old same traditional recipes. If you had tried a new one maybe I would have never found out about this refreshing cranberry salad. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours
camie says
Thanks for the idea! I just made it and put it into the freezer. My kids enjoyed licking the bowl and spoons.
Katrina says
Aww yeah, such a classic salad!
Kristy says
I’ve never seen this before. It looks really good! 🙂
Joanne says
I’ve never had this before but with those rock star ingredients (sweetened condensed milk?!?!?) it must be amazing.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
my mom makes things like this and like snickers salad, too!
sweetened cond milk AND a container of Cool Whip…oh yes, this would be great 🙂
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
OMG yes please!! I love cranberries. I bet this would be a fantastic topping on pie as well.
Kim says
I LOVE the looks of this and am pinning it…..maybe for next year. I’d love to make it on Thursday but I really don’t know if I want to go back and fight the crowds at the store again. Looks delicious!
CHERYL says
hello* im so excited to try this cranberry reciepe on my family it looks so delicious thanksgiving here we come!!! god bless happy turkey day all*
Kalyn says
This sounds perfect for Thanksgiving!
Bev Weidner says
I usually shy away from dishes like this, but you make me want to cuddle with it.
Angie@Angiesrecipes says
Never had anything like this…..this is a really special and delectable for the holiday meal.
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
This dish is very similar to one of the sides my family has been having for years! I have always thought it’s more like dessert too, but it definitely belongs on the dinner table at Thanksgiving. 🙂 Have a great holiday!