Cranberry Waldorf Salad is a must at our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is so yummy, I don’t know why we don’t make it more often except that it contains cranberries, and we usually just think of cranberries for the holidays.
My sister Sara began making Cranberry Waldorf Salad years ago when she started hosting some of the holiday dinners. When I had a family of my own and couldn’t make it to the family get together, Sara sent me the recipe, and I’ve been making it each year ever since.
If you missed it, you HAVE to read the funny thing that happened while I was preparing this dish for Thanksgiving. It still makes me laugh every time I think of it.
Cranberry Waldorf Salad is a simple recipe to make, but does require some planning ahead. Here is what you need to make it:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups crushed fresh cranberries
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 2 cups chopped tart apples (unpeeled)
- 1/2 cup seedless grapes
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whipping cream–whipped
In a food processor process cranberries until they are chopped up into small pieces. Last year I didn’t feel like getting my food processor out and used the blender. It pureed the cranberries! I just went with it. At the dinner my mom said, “Oh Sara used to make a recipe like this only hers had real cranberries!” Ha ha. Oh well it worked fine, but yes, we prefer it done in the food processor.
In a glass bowl, add the cranberries, sugar, and marshmallows.
Stir, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Just before serving add the apples, walnuts, grapes, and salt. Stir. When part of a big dinner, I make it about an hour or hour and a half before eating, and it comes out just fine.
Fold in the whipped whipping cream.
Serve! We love this so much, I now make a double recipe each year so we can enjoy it left over. It holds up really well!
The Cranberry Waldorf Salad is a kid pleasing favorite for the holidays. It’s second only to our Family Favorite Sweet Potatoes!

my hubby loves that salad he eats it every time we go to Ruby Tuesdays
Looks super yum…will have to try…thanks
mmmmmm – I love that salad!I actually forgot all about it – thanks for posting this. I just stumbled on your blog, and it is so sweet. i really look forward to coming back here again.
Blessings, Tiffany
That looks really good! I love cranberries in anything – the whipped cream just makes it better!
Looks delish! Any type of salad that has marshmellows and whipped cream is welcomed anyday!
This looks and sounds delicious! We are usually so traditional with me baking 2 apple pies (and I love making them but really don’t like peeling the apples lol) and 2 pumpkin pies. This salad sounds like an awesome dish to add to the menu!