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Cranberry Fluff Salad: Indulgent Holiday Dessert Recipe

  • Tart cranberries temper this salad’s sweetness.
  • Special holiday foods remind us of family comforts.
  • Try something different this year – serve a new, old-time recipe!
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I love cranberries and keep bags frozen so I can enjoy them year-round. I often use cranberry sauce and cranberry relish as condiments or palate cleansers with meals. Their bright tartness balances sweet holiday dishes, making classic recipes feel less heavy and more approachable.

Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, many holiday dishes leaned toward very sweet flavors. Adding tart cranberries lifts those flavors and makes older recipes more agreeable today. Still, most of these recipes remain indulgent and seasonal—comfort food meant for special gatherings.

One such dish is Cranberry Fluff, a nostalgic salad that appeared on our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables for decades. For a while I stopped making it because the grandchildren don’t love cranberries or nuts, and some adults prefer to skip marshmallows. This year, though, I found the recipe again—and so did both of my sisters and a cousin, independently. Maybe we’re all craving comfort foods, or honoring traditions in a year that feels different. It’s also our first holiday season without Nana, who passed away earlier this year just shy of her 100th birthday. I still catch myself thinking I’ll ask Nana about something before remembering I can’t.

So, this season we’re combining cranberries, marshmallows, and whipped cream for a festive, family-focused side dish. Cranberry Fluff is simple, nostalgic, and comforting—perfect for starting or continuing a holiday tradition.

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Cranberry Fluff

Comforting cranberries, whipped cream, and marshmallows combine for a special holiday guilty pleasure.
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Ingredients
Method

Ingredients

  • 2
    cups
    ground cranberries
    use a food processor or food mill
  • 3
    cups
    miniature marshmallows
  • 3/4
    cup
    granulated sugar
  • 2
    cups
    diced, unpared apples
  • 1/2
    cup
    green or red grapes
  • 1/2
    cup
    walnut pieces
  • 1
    cup
    heavy cream
    whipped

Method

  1. Combine the ground cranberries, miniature marshmallows, and granulated sugar in a bowl. Cover and chill overnight so the flavors meld and the marshmallows soften slightly.
  2. Stir in the diced apples, grapes, and walnut pieces until evenly distributed.
  3. Gently fold in whipped heavy cream to lighten the mixture. Chill for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors settle.