Creamy Millionaire Cranberry Salad
A nostalgic, creamy dessert salad featuring tart cranberries, sweet pineapple, fluffy marshmallows, and a rich whipped topping base. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or any occasion where you want a crowd-pleasing treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (includes chilling)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 2 cups whipped topping (Cool Whip or homemade), thawed
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
- Optional: 1 cup mandarin oranges, drained
- Optional: Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse cranberries and pulse in a food processor 8-10 times until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and stir in sugar. Let sit for 10-15 minutes to macerate.
- Drain crushed pineapple thoroughly, pressing out as much juice as possible.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese until fluffy (about 1 minute). Add whipped topping and vanilla extract, then beat until smooth and creamy.
- Fold macerated cranberries (with syrup), drained pineapple, and mini marshmallows into the creamy mixture using a rubber spatula. Fold gently to avoid breaking down the marshmallows.
- If desired, fold in chopped nuts and mandarin oranges until just distributed.
- Transfer mixture to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best) to allow flavors to meld and marshmallows to soften.
- Before serving, gently stir and top with fresh mint leaves or extra marshmallows for garnish. Serve cold.
Notes
For best texture, do not overprocess cranberries or overmix the salad. Chill thoroughly for fluffiest results. All ingredients are naturally gluten-free; double-check labels for marshmallows and whipped topping. For dairy-free, use vegan cream cheese and whipped topping. Nuts are optional and can be omitted for allergies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3/4 cup per se
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 26
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 31
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: cranberry salad, millionaire salad, marshmallow dessert, holiday dessert, creamy salad, potluck recipe, easy dessert, fruit salad, Thanksgiving, Christmas