Description
This Cranberry Fluff recipe is a refreshing and festive dessert featuring finely chopped cranberries, sweet miniature marshmallows, tart apples, grapes, and crunchy nuts all folded into whipped cream. Its light, fruity, and creamy texture makes it perfect for holiday gatherings or any occasion needing a colorful, easy-to-make treat.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Fruit and Mix-ins
- 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups diced unpeeled tart apples
- 1/2 cup halved green grapes
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Dairy
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
Instructions
- Chop Cranberries: Place fresh or frozen cranberries into a food processor. Cover and process until they are finely chopped into small pieces, ensuring a consistent texture for the fluff.
- Mix with Marshmallows and Sugar: Transfer the chopped cranberries into a large mixing bowl. Add the miniature marshmallows and sugar, then stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. This chilling allows the flavors to marry and the marshmallows to soften slightly, creating a balanced texture.
- Add Fresh Fruits and Nuts: Just before serving, stir in diced tart apples, halved green grapes, chopped nuts, and the salt. Mix thoroughly to distribute everything evenly throughout the fluff.
- Fold in Whipped Cream: Gently fold the whipped heavy cream into the cranberry mixture to add lightness and creaminess. Avoid overmixing to maintain the fluffy texture.
- Serve: Once combined, serve the cranberry fluff immediately or keep chilled until ready to enjoy as a cool, fruity dessert.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for the best flavor, but frozen can be used if thawed slightly before processing.
- Chilling overnight is recommended for optimum flavor melding and texture development.
- Choose tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice contrast to the sweetness.
- To make it nut-free, simply omit the chopped nuts without affecting the overall texture too much.
- If a lighter dessert is desired, you can reduce the sugar slightly or use a sugar substitute.
- Whip the cream until stiff peaks form for best stability when folding into the mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
