This cranberry fluff dessert uses fresh chopped cranberries, crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, and whipped topping. It is easy to assemble, tastes delicious, and has a beautiful pink color.
Easy Cranberry Fluff Recipe
There are various ways to make fluff desserts; for example, some recipes incorporate pudding or whipping cream. However, this particular recipe uses a whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, for a lighter texture. Furthermore, no cooking is involved in this recipe unless you choose to toast the nuts for added flavor. Additionally, using a food processor or mini chopper makes chopping the cranberries quick and easy.
Use Whipped Topping for Cranberry Fluff
Using whipped topping is the key to making this dessert so easy. However, if you prefer to make your own whipped cream, you can use 2 cups of whipping cream and 2 cups of sugar instead of the whipped topping. Simply beat the mixture until medium to stiff peaks form. While homemade whipped cream is delicious, whipped topping is more convenient for this recipe because it is stabilized, ensuring that it won’t deflate or liquefy like unstabilized whipped cream can.
Use Fresh Cranberries
Use fresh cranberries in this recipe for the best flavor, although frozen berries will also work if that is what you have on hand. To begin, wash and drain them and pick out all soft, brown, or old berries.
Steps to Making Cranberry Fluff
Follow these steps to make cranberry fluff.
| Folding Ingredients |
| Folding is different from stirring. It means gently mixing ingredients to avoid deflating anything whipped. There is a technique for folding: 1. Position a spatula at the top of the bowl and pull it through the ingredients to cut to the bottom of the bowl. 2. Move underneath the ingredients and lift and fold them to mix. 3. Turn the bowl 1/4 a turn and repeat. 4. Continue until you have fully rotated the bowl and mixed the ingredients. 5. Repeat as necessary. |
Toasting Pecans
Toast pecans in a skillet or the oven.
- Skillet Method: Place pecans in a skillet without any oil. Heat on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent overbrowning. Unfortunately, they will burn quickly, so don’t leave them unattended.
- Oven Method: Place a single layer of pecans on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes. Stir once or twice to promote even browning.
Serving Cranberry Fluff
Serve this dessert in clear glass bowls so the vibrant pink color can be seen. Then, garnish with cranberries or mint sprigs, whipped cream, and chopped pecans.
Other Cranberry Recipes
Click on each name to link to the recipe.
Cranberry Fluff
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (about 2 1/2 cups) fresh cranberries, washed and drained
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, lightly drained
- 4 cups whipped topping (Cool Whip used)
- 1 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
Instructions
- Wash the cranberries, discarding any soft or brown ones. Use a food chopper set to low to chop them, being careful not to over-chop so there are larger pieces for the fluff.
- After chopping, place the cranberries in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the sugar and stir. Place berries in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Add the crushed pineapple, draining off some of the liquid beforehand. Add the pecans. Stir.
- Fold in the whipped topping. See the note before for a measuring hint. Serve chilled.
Notes
Measuring Whipped Topping
Whipped toppings such as Cool Whip are usually packed in 8 and 16-ounce containers. An 8-ounce container contains about 3 cups, and a 16-ounce has 6 cups. If using 8-ounce containers, use 1 and 1/3 containers for this recipe. If using a 16-ounce container, use 2/3 of it.Adjusting the Sugar
You can easily adjust the sugar amount in this recipe until you determine what is best for your taste. To make a less sweet dessert, try reducing the sugar amount to 1 cup. For a sweeter dessert, use 1 1/2 cups.ÂToasting Pecans
Toast pecans in a skillet or the oven.- Skillet Method: Place pecans in a skillet without any oil. Heat on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent overbrowning. They will burn quickly, so don’t leave them unattended.
- Oven Method: Place a single layer of pecans on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat in a 350-degree F oven for 5-10 minutes. Stir once or twice to promote even browning.