It's the perfect holiday side dish! Chopped cranberries and whipped cream cheese serve as the base while mini marshmallows, orange zest and pineapple gently fold in to create a dreamy side dish that's so good, you'll be going back for more.
Need more cranberries in your life? make us 3-ingredient cranberry sauce or us Favorite Cranberry Salsa.
Why our recipe?
- The perfect Cranberry Fluff recipe uses fresh cranberries instead of canned.
- Orange zest is used to enhance the overall flavor of pineapple and cranberry.
- Real cream is used instead of Cool Whip for best flavor.
This light and airy dessert comes together easily with just a few simple ingredients. The hardest part? Waiting to chill in the fridge—because a cold dessert fluff tastes best (seriously, trust us). Although this is like an ambrosia salad, you can also serve it as a dessert dip! Whether you're throwing a Thanksgiving feast, holiday party, or just craving cranberries, this cranberry fluff is sure to be a hit.
Material notes
- Cranberry: Fresh cranberries found in the produce section are highly recommended.
- Orange Zest: You can use dried orange zest or freshly grated orange zest.
- cream cheese: Soften the cream cheese completely before blending to get a smooth, whipped consistency. Cold cream cheese curdles.
- Heavy Cream: It's not like whipping cream. If you need a substitute, use buttermilk to keep the same thick consistency.
- Crushed pineapple: Be sure to drain the pineapple well to avoid excess juice that can make your dip runny.
- Mini Marshmallows: Avoid using large marshmallows as they are too large and will make your overall dip too lumpy and difficult to eat.
Cranberry
Fresh cranberries are usually available in grocery stores during the fall season and are usually sold in 12-ounce packages. Although we recommend fresh cranberries for this recipe, you can also use frozen cranberries just make sure to thaw them completely before using them in your recipe.
To prepare fresh cranberries, place them in a large strainer and run cold water under them. Use your hands to pick the cranberries and remove any that are mushy or bruised.
chilling
Chilling this cranberry fluff is an important step in making this recipe because it allows the flavors to blend and the heavy cream and whipped cream cheese to set up. Chilling in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving improves overall flavor and texture.
Make it a dip
While you can certainly enjoy this cranberry fluff by the spoonful, you can also mix things up by adding some crunchy, sweet, or salty accompaniments. Buttery crackers like Ritz, graham crackers, cookies and pretzels are all great options.
Storage instructions
Keep in fridge: Since this dessert contains cream cheese, leftovers should be refrigerated. Store in an airtight container away from heat and moisture for 2-3 days.
