Easy Cranberry Fluff
Updated
Updated
This Cranberry Fluff recipe combines cranberries, crushed pineapple, and mini marshmallows all folded together in a sweetened cream cheese mixture. It light, fluffy, and tastes amazing, perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas as an easy side or light dessert!
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5 STAR REVIEWS
It’s practically a law that cranberry fluff must be served at Thanksgiving and Christmas at my house, and if it isn’t, there would be some serious complaining. Also known as cranberry fluff salad, cranberry cheesecake fluff, or just cranberry salad, this is a classic side dish or dessert. It’s very similar to Watergate salad or ambrosia, incorporating fruit, marshmallows, and a whipped cream base that holds it all together. It’s so delicious!
Helpful Tips & Variations
- Real whipped cream vs. Cool Whip. I whip my own whipped cream with some powdered sugar and vanilla, but thawed Cool Whip can be used instead if preferred.
- Fresh or frozen cranberries. I use fresh cranberries for the holidays when they’re in season, but I always buy a few extra bags and throw them in the freezer so I can make this dish throughout the year. If using frozen cranberries, thaw them and remove any excess moisture.
- Love nuts? You can add in a bit of chopped pecans or walnuts for some crunch.
- Let the cranberry-sugar mixture sit. If you’ve got the time, you can let the chopped cranberries and sugar mixture sit for a few hours, which helps the cranberries sweeten. I’ve never really found this necessary, though, since the sweetness of the pineapple, powdered sugar, and cream cheese balance out the tartness fine. Try it both ways and you decide!
Cranberry Fluff
Ingredients
- 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Add the cranberries and granulated sugar to bowl of a food processor and pulse until they are very well chopped, but not completely pureed. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla; whip until stiff peaks form.
- If the cranberry-sugar mixture ends up being very watery, just drain it a bit.Fold in the chopped cranberries and crushed pineapple; mix well until combined.
- Fold in mini marshmallows.
- Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
- If it's loose, give it a gentle stir. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How To Make Cranberry Fluff Step By Step
- Gather your ingredients.
- Mulch those cranberries. In a food processor, blend together 12 ounces fresh cranberries and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until very well chopped (but not pureed.) Set aside.
- Make the cream mixture. With an electric mixer, beat 8 ounces room temperature cream cheese until smooth. Then add in 2 cups cold heavy cream, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla; whip until stiff peaks form.
- Fold everything together. Fold the mulched cranberries and 8 ounces drained crushed pineapple in with the cream cheese mixture until well combined. Then fold in 2 cups mini marshmallows.
- Cover and chill. Cover the mixture and chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Serve and enjoy!
Making Ahead and Storing Leftovers
You can make this cranberry fluff salad recipe up to 2 days ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure to stir it again before serving. This particular recipe does not freeze well due to the real whipped cream. Once thawed, it deflates and becomes watery.
More Cranberry Recipes
I hope you love this easy delicious recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
This recipe is perfect! My husband & I had it for dessert after our dinner. I will definitely make this again!!! My cranberries had been in the freezer for a year. When I chopped them in the food processor they were juicy. So I strained them in a fine mesh strainer & a couple days later the cranberry fluff was still the same consistency, no liquid at all.
I found this recipe on Tik Tok right before Thanksgiving and made it along with my own cranberry salad. (which I’ve made for at least 40 years and was a family recipe before that)
Not gonna lie, I couldn’t pick a favorite! I’ll be making both for Christmas as well!
OH MY GOODNESS Amy!! This recipe is divine and so loved by
my family! They all said it was absolutely scrumptious and it was all devoured in minutes!!! TYSSM for this!!! I love your presentations and your sweet nature! 🤩
I just made the cranberry fluff for the first time today. My initial taste test is that it is light and very flavorful. Not overly sweet. Initial taste of the pineapple then the subtle taste of the cranberries. I look forward to having it for dessert tonight after it has had an opportunity to sit in the refrigerator for a while to pick up all the flavors incorporated.
Everyone loved this and now when I walk by cranberries at the grocery I start craving it! I used a large can of pineapple rather than a small can
This was super easy to make and so light and fluffy. Tastes great and a great compliment to our Thanksgiving dinner. I enjoy all of Amy’s videos. And it cracks me up when her husband makes a cameo appearance. You and your recipes are a delight!
I made this for the first time for Thanksgiving. There was some grumbling because I usually make Orange Fluff, but once people tasted this, they loved it!!
I made the cranberry fluff and it was delicious. Everybody loved it and asked for the recipe, thank you.
Made this for the first time for Thanksgiving. Found you on tik tok! This was delicious. My kids loved it (we told my daughter it was unicorn fluff and she thought that was so cute). Very light and fluffy. Will definitely make again. Reminds me of an elegant, tastier 5 cup salad that my in laws make. But this is prettier and tastes better in my opinion. Thanks for the recipe!
Made this for a family Thanksgiving Potluck. There were several other cranberry offerings but this was the most talked about, in a good way! It was a big hit. Several asked about it. One loved it so much they asked if they could take some home! (I had plenty more at home and was happy to share)
I followed the recipe exactly and let the cranberry/sugar mixture sit for a few hours. I couldn’t find 8 ounce can of pineapple, so I measured from a 20 oz. Used Vegan mini marshmallows and it worked great. Made the day before and the flavors melded together wonderfully. I’m sure I’ll be making this again and again…Oh, and thanks Amy for the tip of buying fresh cranberries when in season and freezing them!!
THIS recipe is one of my most favorite holiday dishes- I found you on tiktok during COVID and now your candied pecans and cranberry fluff is synonymous to my holiday season and street cred for elite hosting. Due to some miscommunications, I’ll be experimenting, subbing in the spreadable Philly cream cheese instead of the bricks today. Fingers crossed it turns out!
This recipe is delicious and easy to make for holiday gatherings!
Dear Amy, first of all I have watched your videos on TT and truly enjoy your joyful demeanor.
It’s TG eve and I’ve been cooking most of the day. I left this to last. I had never heard of adding heavy whipping cream to cream cheese. I have been ENLIGHTENED!! I made the recipe to the letter no cool whip girl here! My “whipped cream” perfect, well drained the pineapple. I read about “if cranberries are to juicy” but mine did not appear to be so, so I dumped. Well, they were just a tad I think. So the end result I’m afraid may be to “soft”. I’m hoping over night will solidify it just a bit. BUT the flavor is stunningly good. I’m never going to make “whipped cream” the same way again. I look forward to making more of your “fluff” dishes.Thank you for a great recipe!
Making this recipe this thanksgiving! Do I need to cook the cranberries first if not using frozen cranberries?
Nope, the cranberries are not cooked.
Made this Cranberry Fluff. It was delicious. My only suggestion is don’t drain the pineapple real dry. I added some pineapple juice to it. Family loved it. It will be on our Thanksgiving table for sure!👍 ♥️🍍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This looks and sounds delicious! I have a bag of frozen cranberries, Would they be okay to use? Thank You!
You can use frozen cranberries, but they’ll need to be completely thawed first, otherwise you won’t be able to blend them.
I was wondering if you could use fresh cherries? Thanks
If you’d prefer cherries, I would suggest this cherry fluff recipe instead: https://bellyfull.net/cherry-fluff/
We all really loved the dessert!
Excellent!
I made this for the first time Thanksgiving 2023 and it’s now on my menu for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. My family loves it!
My family and I love this recipe. It is a dessert that is most requested at my school potluck as well. I love your recipes and content!
This looks amazing and I have ingredients to make it. How does it keep in refrigerator? Can I make two days ahead? Thanks
Yes, all storage information is included in the article, as mentioned in the recipe card notes. Enjoy!
Fabulous! While some members of my family love the canned cranberry jelly, I prefer an alternative. This was delicious last year and I can’t wait to make it this Thanksgiving so my sweet granddaughter can try it too!
Fed this to the family last year at Thanksgiving after seeing you make it on TikTok. So delicious! Everyone loved it!!
I saw you on Tiktok and found your website. I just made this cranberry fluff and I made your hasbrown breakfast casserole for breakfast. They were both so amazing! I hate eggs but I still loved the breakfast casserole. I can’t wait for everyone to try the cranberry fluff at our Thanksgiving dinner this afternoon!
How much cool whip, do you think, if wanting to substitute?
You can replace the whipped cream and powdered sugar with an 8 ounce tub of thawed cool whip.
Hello, I love your recipes on TikTok and finally found your website so can save your recipes! I usually use real whipping cream in my recipes, but was wondering about your freezing advice when using cream in this Cranberry fluff recipe, so was wondering if one used Cool Whip, could it be made ahead and frozen successfully?
Hi Karen – I think you’d have better success freezing it if using cool whip, but I can’t say for sure. Try it?
I made this last year for Thanksgiving and couldn’t get enough. I have looking forward to making and enjoying this year. This is served alongside our standard cranberry dish.
Yum, so so delicious! The tartness of the cranberries with the sweet pineapple and creamy whip is the perfect combination! Will definitely make again!
Easy & delicious!
Best new recipe this year for our family
LIFE-CHANGING RECIPE…I’m not even a huge fan of cranberries but this stuff is A-MAZ-ING!!! So good and perfect tart/sweet partner for a rich Thanksgiving meal or any other day of the year.
So easy, delicious and petty. My family loved it.
I was out of cranberries and substituted a can of cherry pie filling from the dollar tree. It was great. Also ,I use cool whip all the time ,cheaper.
I do not have a food processor. Is there another way I can prep the cranberries? Thank you
If you have a powerful blender, that could probably work.
I don’t have a good processor either so I actually made a cranberry sauce using the same amount of sugar (3/4 cup), used 1/2 cup of the reserved Pineapple juice, plus 1/2 cup of water boiled all of that on the stove for about 10 minutes until all the cranberries popped and smashed them up finely. Let that cool completely and then followed the recipe as shown and folded it all together. SOOOO GOOD!!