As soon as cranberries hit the shelves in November each year, we are one of the first to buy them. We’ve waited a whole year to eat our absolute favorite cranberry salad, and we can’t wait any longer. Along with the cranberries, we stock up on orange juice and crushed pineapple and make sure we have apples, brown sugar, and chopped pecans on hand.
Our Absolute Favorite Cranberry Salad Recipe has been in the family for several years now. Lauren developed this recipe when she decided to make cranberry salad for Christmas awhile back. And believe me, it was a hit! We now enjoy this recipe several times throughout the holiday season each year.
Just Six Ingredients
Our Absolute Favorite Cranberry Salad Recipe has just six, simple ingredients. The first one, of course, is a big bag of fresh cranberries. To counter the bitterness of the cranberries, we cook the cranberries with orange juice and brown sugar. Yum! When this delightful concoction is cooked, we add crushed pineapple, chopped apple and pecan pieces to complete the salad.
Cranberry Salad Vs. Cranberry Sauce
Our Absolute Favorite Cranberry Salad Recipe can be eaten by itself for a scrumptious treat, paired with a classic Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or enjoyed as a side with any holiday spread. Unlike cranberry sauce, this recipe has fruit and nut pieces in it, giving it more texture and making it easy to enjoy by itself.
How Long Does It Take to Make?
This cranberry salad recipe doesn’t take long to mix together. The cooking and assembling time takes about 20 minutes, while the chilling process in the refrigerator takes a few hours. We suggest a little planning ahead to make sure it has adequate time to chill. We like to make it early in the day to have it ready for dinner or make it the day before sharing at an event.
Hot or Cold?
This cranberry salad is best eaten cold, but you can eat it however you like! There have been many times when we just can’t wait for it to cool and enjoy a fresh, hot bowl of cranberry salad. So we can attest that it’s delicious regardless of its temperature. Ideally, it should cool on the countertop for a bit before chilling in the fridge for a few hours.
Our Absolute Favorite Cranberry Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- 32 oz. bag fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1 apple peeled and finely diced
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 20 oz. can crushed pineapple (undrained)
Directions:
In a large pot, combine cranberries, brown sugar, and orange juice. Turn on medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning. Continue boiling for 12-15 minutes until cranberries pop and mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
While the cranberry mixture is cooking, peel and finely dice one apple. Using a large knife, chop the pecans into small bits. Add apple, pecans, and crushed pineapple (don’t drain) to the cranberry mixture. Stir well to combine.
Allow to cool for 30 minutes before transferring cranberry salad into a bowl with a lid.
Refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. Serve chilled!
A Favorite Holiday Treat
This cranberry salad recipe is such a treat throughout the holiday season and will make you want to go back for seconds! Give it a try and let us know what you think!
Merry Christmas!
~Hannah
