This is the perfect holiday side dish! Chopped cranberries and whipped cream cheese serve as the base while mini marshmallows, orange zest, and pineapple are gently folded in to create a dreamy side dish that is so good, that you’ll be going back for more.
Need more cranberry in your life? Make our 3-ingredient cranberry sauce or our favorite cranberry salsa.
Why Our Recipe
- The perfect cranberry fluff recipe using fresh cranberries rather than canned.
- Orange zest is used to enhance the overall flavor of the pineapple and cranberry.
- Real cream is used rather than Cool Whip for the best flavor.
This light and airy dessert easily comes together with a few simple ingredients. The hardest part? Waiting for it to chill in the fridge—because a chilled dessert fluff tastes the best (seriously, trust us). While this is more like an ambrosia salad, you can serve this up like a dessert dip too! Whether you’re throwing a Thanksgiving feast, holiday party, or just craving cranberries, this Cranberry Fluff is sure to be a hit.
Ingredient Notes
- Cranberries: Fresh cranberries found in the produce section are highly recommended.
- Orange Zest: Can use dried orange zest or freshly grated orange zest.
- Cream Cheese: Soften cream cheese entirely before mixing to get a smoothy, whipped consistency. Cold cream cheese causes lumps.
- Heavy Cream: This is not the same as whipping cream. If you need a substitute, use buttermilk to keep the same thick consistency.
- Crushed Pineapple: Be sure to drain the pineapple really well to avoid access juice which can make your dip runny.
- Mini Marshmallows: Avoid using the large marshmallows as they are too big and will make your overall dip too lumpy and hard to eat.
Cranberries
Fresh cranberries are typically available in the grocery store during the Fall season and are commonly sold in 12-ounce packages. While we recommend fresh cranberries for this recipe, you can also use frozen cranberries just be sure to thaw completely before using them in your recipe.
To prepare fresh cranberries, place them into a large strainer and run cold water under them. Use your hands to sort through the cranberries and remove any that are mushy or bruised.
Chilling
Chilling this cranberry fluff is a crucial step in making this recipe as it allows the flavors to blend and the heavy cream and whipped cream cheese to set up. The overall taste and texture are better when it has chilled in the refrigerator for at least one hour prior to serving.
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 pairings. Buttery crackers like Ritz, graham crackers, cookies, and pretzels are all great options.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate: Since this dessert contains cream cheese, leftovers should be refrigerated. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days away from heat and moisture.