A bowl of delicious fluffy salad and a holiday side dish that can be a dessert also that everyone really enjoys and we have a list of mix-ins you may also like in our post below.
We also love the color for hosting baby showers, and fund raisers for Breast Cancer Awareness month, this dessert is always a big hit for those potlucks days.
This side dish ranks right up there in our home with Maple Glazed Carrots, Amaretto Sweet Potato Casserole, and let's not forget that Cinnamon Butternut Squash, we just love fall sweet side dishes!
It’s a deliciously tart and sweet side dish that's a great addition to any holiday meal and festive looking, but the best part is it's super fast and easy!.
Seasonal flavors like pumpkin and cranberry just shout Thanksgiving flavors and this cranberry fluff recipe will soon be a must-make every year because it's so addicting.
This can be served for so many events even for a gender baby girl reveal it's the perfect color food to add to that baby shower.
We love lots of cream dessert-style recipes like our Strawberry Cream Pie, it's made with jello and another fun refreshing pie or if you're a chocolate lover try our Classic Chocolate Cream Pie.
Scroll down to the recipe card to print off this easy recipe.
No Cooking Required
I have to admit this is hardly a recipe when there are only 3 major ingredients and no cooking.
I kind of feel guilty posting a vintage recipe from back in the 1960s that mom made as a tradition that was very fast and simple that us kids could make while she made the hard stuff.
Don't worry if you're not a pineapple you can add another crushed fruit like mandarin oranges chopped up or even finely chopped apples.
Ingredients You Will Need(for complete instructions scroll to the recipe card below)
- crushed pineapple
- whipped topping or heavy cream
- whole cranberry sauce canned or chopped fresh cranberries
- Options: finely chopped apples, walnuts, drained and chopped mandarin oranges see recipe card for more suggestions
More Recipes To Try
Strawberry No Bake Cheese Pie
Eggless Tiramisu
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Fluffy Fruit Options
- chopped canned peaches drained
- chopped mango strained
- red raspberries
- grapes red or green
- chopped papaya strained
- chopped canned drained mandarin oranges
- canned chopped and drained cherries
- fresh diced strawberries
- canned and drained blueberries
- any fresh fruits chopped not listed you prefer blotted dry
Delicious Quick Desserts
This is such a fun side dish and a total crowd-pleaser plus a fall sweet and tart Thanksgiving flavor or Christmas festive color for the holiday tables.
The mix-ins are endless, just use the fruits your family loves and even great at a.
If you love easy, festive-looking side dishes for your holiday table this is it plus the kids love it.
Our little ones call this that “pink stuff from Thanksgiving.” others say it's a similar cousin to the "Ambrosia Watergate Salad" but there isn't any pudding in it, we just call it a fluffy pillow side dish.
Yield: 12
Cranberry Fluff
This is a vintage fluffy cranberry, whipped cream, and pineapple side dish for Thanksgiving that's a little sweet and tart!
Prep time: 5 MinInactive time: 3 HourTotal time: 3 H & 5 M
Ingredients
- 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 - 20- ounce can of crushed pineapples drained and blotted with paper towels (or use 12 ounces of fresh whole cranberries washed and chopped with the addition of 3/4 cup of sugar added with them)
- 8 ounces of frozen whipped topping thawed or use real heavy cream whipped and sweetened. around 2 cups
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- Optional: chopped cherries, mango, grapes, finely chopped apples can be substituted for pineapples see below for more fruit options
- Garnish": walnuts, candied pecans, coconut, pistachios, macadamia nuts fresh chopped cranberries or maraschino cherries sliced
Instructions
- Stir together the cranberry sauce and crushed pineapple in a large bowl.
- Fold in the topping or whipped cream and combine evenly.
- Stir in the marshmallows ( I use the colorful ones around the holidays).
- Cover and chill for at least two hours.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries or maraschino cherries on top.
- Serve this as a side dish great for any holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas with poultry.
Notes:
Fluffy Fruit Options
- chopped canned peaches drained
- chopped mango strained
- red raspberries
- grapes red or green
- chopped papaya strained
- chopped canned drained mandarin oranges
- canned chopped and drained cherries
- canned and drained blueberries
- any fresh fruits chopped not listed you prefer blotted dry
Pin for later
More Recipes To Try
No-Bake Eggnog Pie
Best Cannoli Pie
What a beautiful idea ^__^ Bye, have a good we
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely pink girl's colour.So joyfull:)
ReplyDeleteI can remember my mom making this when I was little. I think retro salads are becoming the new trend in cooking. I'll bet this tastes as good as I remember it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to celebrate - definitely bit of retro cool here.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great combination of flavor with pudding, fruit, coconut and I especially like the marshmallows!
Love the color for a girl's themed baby shower. I haven't had this dessert in a long time.
ReplyDeleteAmbrosia salad as to be one of the easiest yet most satisfying of all desserts. Love it.
ReplyDeleteNow that's the old fashioned version of ambrosia! I've looked and looked for the original recipes and couldn't find anything that looked right. This is great! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom used to make ambrosia and I always loved it. Thanks so much for posting this. It's beautiful and brings back such great memories.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so good! And I love the colors.
ReplyDeleteLove this. The color is pretty.
ReplyDeleteI remember this recipe. Boy it really brings back memories. I always loved this dessert. What a fun dessert for a baby shower. Hope everyone enjoyed it the way I remembered it.
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia, A classic that needs not be forgotten. The pink is lovely too. Never added pudding mix to my ambrosia salad, another great idea from my fav foodie friend :)
ReplyDeletethe ambrosia looks yummy,i love the colors :)
ReplyDeleteRidwan
I have never actually had ambrosia, but looks like I need to change that. I like the ingredients as well as the presentation. Have a great weekend Claudia!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea for a baby shower! This ambrosia looks so good! I have made a similar salad with pistachio pudding, for Christmas, but never thought of it for a baby shower.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely for a baby shower! Sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteJust mouthwatering...looks so easy to prepare and delicious.
ReplyDelete