• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Taste and Tell

Come experience a taste of life!

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Travel
  • Home and Family

November 14, 2018

Cranberry Salad

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!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Cranberry Salad in a Bowl

Cranberry Fluff Salad
How to make Cranberry 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.

MY LATEST RECIPES

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!

Cranberry Salad Recipe

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

Thanksgiving Side Dish Cranberry Salad

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.

Cranberry Salad with Pineapple

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
Apple Pomegranate Salad

Print
Cranberry Salad in a Bowl

Cranberry Salad

  • Author: Deborah
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10 people
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American
Print
Pin

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

  1. 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.
  2. Freeze for 20 minutes before serving.
  3. If making ahead, keep in the freezer and bring out 30 minutes before serving.

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

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @tasteandtell on Instagram and hashtag it #tasteandtell

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Filed Under: Food, Salads, Side Dish Tagged With: cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, frozen whipped topping, lemon juice, pecans, sweetened condensed milk

Disclosure // Work with Me // Press // Contact
All writing and photography is copyright © 2007-2015 by Deborah Harroun unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.
Food home travel
Previous Post: « Brussels Sprouts Gratin
Next Post: Funeral Potatoes Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says

    November 22, 2011 at 6:25 am

    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!

    Reply
  2. Angie@Angiesrecipes says

    November 22, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Never had anything like this…..this is a really special and delectable for the holiday meal.

    Reply
  3. Bev Weidner says

    November 22, 2011 at 7:44 am

    I usually shy away from dishes like this, but you make me want to cuddle with it.

    Reply
  4. Kalyn says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:11 am

    This sounds perfect for Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  5. CHERYL says

    November 22, 2011 at 11:42 am

    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*

    Reply
  6. Kim says

    November 22, 2011 at 11:47 am

    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!

    Reply
  7. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says

    November 22, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    OMG yes please!! I love cranberries. I bet this would be a fantastic topping on pie as well.

    Reply
  8. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    November 22, 2011 at 1:07 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
  9. Joanne says

    November 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    I’ve never had this before but with those rock star ingredients (sweetened condensed milk?!?!?) it must be amazing.

    Reply
  10. Kristy says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    I’ve never seen this before. It looks really good! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Katrina says

    November 23, 2011 at 4:44 am

    Aww yeah, such a classic salad!

    Reply
  12. camie says

    November 23, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    Thanks for the idea! I just made it and put it into the freezer. My kids enjoyed licking the bowl and spoons.

    Reply
  13. Roxana GreenGirl {A little bit of everything} says

    November 23, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    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

    Reply
  14. grace says

    November 25, 2011 at 4:44 am

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Emily says

    November 25, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    The only thing better that can improve this salad is using pretzels to eat it. Oh. My. Gawd.

    Reply
  16. Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life says

    November 6, 2013 at 10:03 am

    This sounds delicious.

    Reply
  17. Becki's Whole Life says

    November 25, 2013 at 4:06 am

    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:-)

    Reply
  18. Kim of Mo'Betta says

    November 27, 2013 at 3:48 pm

    Making this for tomorrow! It is exactly that little extra something I was looking for!

    Reply
  19. Kim Kenty says

    December 21, 2014 at 9:10 am

    YUM!

    Reply
  20. Karly says

    November 21, 2016 at 10:16 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Deborah says

      November 21, 2016 at 6:07 pm

      Thanks Karly – they are definitely irresistible, aren’t they? 😉

      Reply
  21. Kady says

    November 12, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    What is the serving size?

    Reply
    • Deborah says

      November 12, 2018 at 10:47 pm

      Sorry – that is missing on the recipe card! You should be able to get 10-12 side dish servings.

      Reply
  22. Linda K says

    November 18, 2018 at 1:04 pm

    Am trying this recipe for the first time. Can you substitute lite coconut milk for the sweetened condensed milk?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Taste and Tell

Hi! My name is Deborah— welcome to Taste and Tell where I talk about all the things I love - food, family & travel. Come experience a taste of life! Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Don’t Miss These!

This Chili Beef and Vegetables is so comforting and hearty - chunks of beef are coated with chili powder, then combined with lots of veggies. Serve over noodles, or eat as is!

Chili Beef and Vegetables

Got a craving for a root beer float but need something a little slimmer? This Root Beer Float Smoothie hits the spot at just a fraction of the calories of the real deal!

Root Beer Float Smoothie | Smoothie Week

What can be better than a creamy chicken and bacon pot pie, topped with bacon cheddar biscuits? It is said that bacon makes everything better, and this Chicken and Bacon Pot Pie with Bacon Cheddar Biscuits is proof that it is true!

Chicken and Bacon Pot Pie with Bacon Cheddar Biscuits

Great flavors come together in one pan in this One Pan Enchilada Pasta. It’s got the Tex-Mex flavors that mom and dad love, while being mild enough for the kids. And there’s only one pan to clean when it’s done!

One Pan Enchilada Pasta

Stay Updated

Most Popular Recipes

Twice Baked Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes | Taste and Tell

Twice Baked Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes

How to make a Pineapple Banana Kale Smoothie

Pineapple Banana Kale Smoothie Recipe

Footer

Meet Deborah

Hi! My name is Deborah— welcome to Taste and Tell where I talk about all the things I love - food, family & travel. Come experience a taste of life! Read More…

My Favorites

Start your morning off on a sweet note with these simple muffins, dotted with chocolate chips. No one can turn down a good Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe!
This Polenta Crust Tomato Tart is a tart with a cornmeal crust that is filled with a creamy filling and topped with roasted tomatoes.
Roasted, pureed butternut squash is the base of this Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta - the perfect, comforting fall dinner.

stay connected

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Copyright© 2019 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks

Wondering what's for dinner tonight?

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for FREE! From dinners to dessert, I've got you covered!

Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.