Frozen Cranberry Salad

Frozen Cranberry Salad – This frosty salad is an explosion of cranberry flavor! With pineapple chunks and loads of sweet cool whip, it’s a must try dessert that’s especially popular for the holidays.

Love holiday side dishes? Be sure to try this family favorite German Potato Salad recipe! Or for something sweeter, try this delicious Watermelon Salad.

Slice of frosty cranberry salad topped with whipped cream and orange zest.


Why Make Jell-o Salad

In my family, Jello salad is served at every holiday. We’re not necessarily picky about what form it comes in, but have it we must.

Sometimes we keep it simple and go with a classic bowl of jello and cool whip. Sometimes, it’s something fancier like Strawberry Pretzel Jello.

Here’s the problem I have with Jello: there is never enough room in the refrigerator to store it after dinner.

When we’re talking holidays, we’re talking LEFTOVERS of everything.

No matter how delicious everything is, when you have 26 pounds of turkey on the Thanksgiving menu, leftovers are guaranteed. You can only force feed people so many helpings of mashed potatoes, after all.

That means the fridge is invariably bursting at the seams the week after any big food holiday.

And when space in the fridge is at a premium, the JELL-O will be the first thing to get cut.

That’s why I’m obsessed with Frozen Salad! Oh my.

Not only does it taste delicious, you can make it days in advance. It keeps well for over a week in the freezer!

Plus, if there are leftovers? Stick it back in the freezer. Sounds magical, right? Oh, it is.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed to make frozen cranberry salad.

Even though frozen salad occupies the same spot on my holiday table that a jello salad would it doesn’t actually contain any jello. (Shhhhh, don’t tell Grandma!)

Instead, it’s a combination of fruit and cool whip that you freeze in a baking pan before serving. The texture is similar to a cold jello salad but tastier!

You’ll need 6 ingredients:

  • Cool Whip- or a homemade stabilized whipped cream.
  • Sugar- just a touch to sweeten the salad, feel free to cut back if you prefer.
  • Bananas- cut into bite size chunks.
  • Marshmallows- the minis work best. Swap them out for the colorful, fruity marshmallows if you prefer. Or chop up the larger ones, or homemade marshmallows.
  • Pineapple- you’ll need a can of pineapple chunks. Fresh or frozen pineapple works great too.
  • Cranberry Sauce. We use a can of whole berry cranberry sauce, but homemade cranberry sauce is perfect too!

How to make frozen salad

Step by step photos showing how to make cranberry salad.

Another reason I love this recipe around the holidays? It’s almost ludicrously easy.

It’s as easy as tossing a few ingredients in a bowl and sticking it in the freezer to set.

  1. Start with a can of cranberry sauce. I use the canned whole berry cranberry sauce in frosty salads. Add the entire contents to a bowl with some sugar.
  2. Next, come the pineapple chunks. Again, I always use the canned pineapple for this recipe with the juices drained out. Add these to the bowl along with sliced bananas and mini marshmallows!
  3. Last but not least: cool whip! Fold the (thawed) whipped topping in with the fruit and mix to combine.
  4. Dump the whole salad mixture into a glass baking pan, cover it with foil and pop it in the freezer.

The salad is ready when it’s frozen solid. This takes anywhere from 6 – 8 hours, but I usually leave it in the freezer overnight.

Like I mentioned before, you could also make it a few days in advance to beat the rush of last minute cooking prior to the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

How to Serve

After removing from the freezer, cut the solid fruit salad into squares to serve. If it’s too solid to slice, let it stand for 5 minutes at room temperature.

The salad softens as you eat it with the smooth creamy texture of a soft serve ice cream, flecked by chunky pieces of fruit.

I love all the different fruit flavors in this cold salad, but the cranberry stands out as the star! The tart cranberries add the perfect zing to the creamy cool whip.

Eat this salad within 30 minutes of serving so it’s still plenty cold and refreshing. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream (or more cool whip) and some fresh orange zest.

Glass 13x9 baking dish with frozen cranberry salad cut into 12 large squares.

Can you refreeze frozen salad?

Absolutely. That’s the beauty of this side dish!

Any leftovers can go right back in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy them. Just make sure to cover the pan in foil or plastic wrap so it doesn’t get freezer burnt.

More Tips for Frosty Salad

  • Freeze into single servings: As an alternative you could spoon the fruit and cool whip mixture into muffin tins or ramekins to make single serve blocks–no slicing required.
  • Substitute for mini marshmallows: If you only have full sized marshmallows, you can still make this salad. Chop the marshmallows into small chunks then proceed with the recipe as directed.
  • Additions: For a frozen cranberry salad with some crunch, add a handful of chopped pecans along with the pineapple and bananas.

More Easy Side Dishes

Holiday Salads and Sides

See all Side Dishes recipes

Frozen Cranberry Salad

4.55 from 11 votes
By: Aimee
Frozen Cranberry Salad – This frosty salad is an explosion of cranberry flavor! With pineapple chunks and loads of sweet cool whip, it's a must try dessert that's especially popular for the holidays.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 can pineapple chunks, drained 20 ounce
  • 5 bananas halved and sliced
  • 1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce 16 ounce
  • 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 12 ounce cool whip
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Instructions 

  • In large bowl, combine cranberry sauce with sugar. Add bananas, pineapple and marshmallows. Fold in cool whip. Pour into glass 13×9 baking dish.
  • Cover and freeze until solid (about 6-8 hours). Can be made several days in advance. If leftovers, cover and put back in freezer, keeps for several weeks!

Notes

  • Freeze into single servings: As an alternative you could spoon the fruit and cool whip mixture into muffin tins or ramekins to make single serve blocks–no slicing required.
  • Substitute for mini marshmallows: If you only have full sized marshmallows, you can still make this salad. Chop the marshmallows into small chunks then proceed with the recipe as directed.
  • Additions: For a frozen cranberry salad with some crunch, add a handful of chopped pecans along with the pineapple and bananas.

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 10mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Don’t have one more holiday meal without a fruity frosty salad on the table! Cool whip, cranberries and pineapples together make this the easiest and tastiest frozen salad you’ll ever make.



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

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Posted on June 18, 2020

Comments & Reviews

  1. can’t wait to try this. I was wondering about the jellied cranberry sauce too..going to try it before Thanksgiving gets here…sounds so good..

  2. can’t wait to try this. I was wondering about the jellied cranberry sauce too..going to try it before Thanksgiving gets here…sounds so good..

    1. This is so amazing and so weird at the same time. It is ever so strange I have to say. My printer is set up correctly. There should be no problem in printing out your Frozen Cranberry Salad. Yet the page comes up blank. I’ve clicked onto print several times and it still comes up blank. What is so weird is… other sites has exact same lay out as yours and I can print their recipes. YET with yours I can not. I wonder if it would be possible if you will send me your recipe to my e-mail address. I have done all I can do on my end. I want to “Thank You” so much for all your effort in helping me out!
      Sincerely,
      LaRae Adams

  3. Hi, this looks yummy! I’m English and so I have no idea what a jello salad is so can I ask if it needs to defrost before you eat it or do you eat it straight from the freezer like an ice cream? (I know this question probably seems rather odd to you so I apologise)

    1. We like it straight from the freezer! May want to take it out a few minutes prior so it’s easier to cut! ENJOY.

  4. Why is it that I can not even print one recipe from you folks? My printer is ready to print only the recipe comes up blank!

  5. OOO YUM!
    Come bring this to A Themed Baker’s Sunday over at Cupcake Apothecary where the theme this week is BERRIES!
    See you there!
    Cupcake Apothecary
    http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2011/11/themed-bakers-sunday-15.html

  6. Yum! That sounds delish, I think cranberries are underrated! We should use them all year round!

  7. Unfortunately the jello salad is always the first to be thrown out in our house too because there is never enough room!!! Hello? You are a genius…freezing it is the perfect solution:-)

    Have a great Thanksgiving celebrating with your family!!!!

    Hugs!!!

  8. Hi! stopping by from sweat peas and bumblebees. What a great recipes.. and so simple! I love that you can throw everything together and done. I would love for you to share this at my friday link party coming up 🙂

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