Cranberry Orange Fluff Salad

Combine a packet of vanilla pudding, yogurt, and whipped topping with marshmallows, fresh cranberries, and canned mandarin oranges for this Cranberry Orange Fluff Salad. It’s an easy Midwestern ‘salad’ that is a unique blend of tart and sweet with a holiday fruit flair.

This is a salad, only by midwestern standards, perfect for any potluck, family gathering, Thanksgiving, or Christmas party.

Who knew that fresh cranberries could taste anything but super tart? My kids won’t even eat them. However, once disguised in this Cranberry Orange Fluff and surrounded by vanilla yogurt and whipped topping, their opinion has changed! The sweet fluff base of this salad balances the tart bitterness of fresh cranberries quite well! Add in marshmallows and pockets of subtle sweetness make for a fun surprise.

My sweet tooth loves any salad that includes marshmallows. Now, truly, it tastes like a zesty citrus-infused dessert, but this Cranberry Orange Fluff Salad deserves a spot on every holiday dessert table. It’s gorgeous to look at with bright red and orange. It has the healthy aspect of incorporating fruit. It’s a fun flavor combination of sweet and tart. The marshmallows create pockets of sweet bliss. And it’s an effortless holiday dessert to make!

How to Make a Cranberry Orange Fluff Salad

Making this Midwestern Salad of cranberries, oranges, and marshmallows is a breeze. The yogurt base is from our popular Raspberry Fluff recipe. Then, with a food processor, it’s a breeze to prepare the fruit. Finally, it’s mix, fold, mix, and chill! This Cranberry Orange Fluff Salad recipe is easy to make and enjoy!

Ingredients for an Easy Cranberry Orange Fluff Salad

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • Can’t find fresh cranberries? Try using a can of whole cranberry sauce.
• 15 once can of mandarin oranges, drained
• 32 ounces vanilla yogurt
• 3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding packet
• 8 ounces whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
• 3 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions for Cranberry Orange Fluff with Marshmallows

Wash and drain the cranberries, picking out any old berries, and save a few berries for garnish. Then, in a food processor, finely chop the cranberries.

Next, drain the canned mandarin oranges. Add them to the food processor and lightly chop them, leaving a few larger oranges in the mix. This should look like a salsa.

Then place the cranberries and oranges in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and let the liquid drain as you prepare the fluff base.

Next, in a large serving bowl, thoroughly mix the tub of vanilla yogurt with the packet of instant vanilla pudding. Fold in the thawed Cool Whip.

Then mix in the mini marshmallows.

Now, gently fold in the minced cranberries and oranges. Chill the fluff for at least one hour.

Finally, stir once more and garnish with extra cranberries, mandarin oranges, and marshmallows. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Great Recipes to Try this Holiday Season!

For a one-pot, pop-of-flavor dinner recipe, I recommend this Sausage and Zucchini Orzo Bake. It consists of savory Italian sausage, tender zucchini, corn, and chopped red pepper in a seasoned chicken broth, baked with Orzo and topped with shredded mozzarella, feta crumbles, and a drizzle of hot honey. It’s a great dish that hides extra vegetables amidst this sweet season!

If you are a turkey-for-Christmas family, this leftover turkey recipe is perfect. Stove Top Easy Turkey Bake bakes up turkey, with fresh broccoli, and flavorful stuffing, all covered in cheese! It’s an easy dinner casserole after busy days.

We have the appetizers! Our Veggie Roll-Ups, Crockpot Honey Garlic BBQ Meatballs, and Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball are all fun and fantastic at holiday parties! Give them a go, and you won’t be sorry!