Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff | The Recipe Critic

Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff is a creamy and delicious cheesecake fluff salad with cranberries and walnuts.  It is so easy to make and a MUST for the holidays!

Always a favorite side dish during the holidays! If you love fruit salads as much as I do try this Christmas Fruit Salad, The Best Winter Fruit Salad, Very Berry Cheesecake Salad or Creamy Poppyseed Fruit Salad.

Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Do you have your menu planned out yet?

Put this Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff on the menu.  It is a MUST!

I decided to take a little spin to the normal cranberry fluff.

Adding some cream cheese to help thicken it up and give it the cheesecake flavor took this fluff to a whole different level.  It seriously blew my mind!

You will LOVE the flavors blended together to make one AMAZING cranberry cheesecake fluff recipe!

What you need to make cranberry cheesecake fluff

The best part about this fluff is that it is so easy to make.

You pulse some fresh cranberries, walnuts, and crushed pineapple together in a food processor.

Then you blend cream cheese and heavy whipping cream together, fold in the pulsed cranberry and there you have it.

A delicious side that everyone will love in no time at all.

I chilled mine overnight to help the flavors to blend together.

• Fresh cranberries: flavorful and sweet.
• Sugar: added sweetness.
• Pineapple: crushed and canned
• Walnuts: chopped up
• Marshmallows: mini
• Cream cheese: smooth and creamy
• Heavy whipping cream: thick and rich part of the fluff.

How to make cranberry cheesecake fluff

I fell in love with this fluff with the first bite.  Creamy, cool and absolutely delicious.  The flavors together blend so well in this salad.

Easy to make and absolutely amazing!

This is a MUST make for your upcoming holiday party!

If you cannot find fresh cranberries at this time, thaw frozen cranberries in replace of them.

The texture may be different it will still have the same delicious flavoring!

Fresh cranberries bring out a rich flavor, gentle crunch and the texture is addicting.

• Blend ingredients together: In a food processor or blender, combine cranberries, 1 cup sugar, crushed pineapple, and walnuts. Pulse until coarsely chopped without becoming mushy.
• Let stand: Cover and refrigerate for an hour to let the flavors blend.
• Beat the creams together: In a medium bowl add the cream cheese 1/2 cup sugar and beat until smooth. Add the heavy whipping cream and continue to beat with the cream cheese until stiff peaks form.
• Gently add in cranberries and marshmallows: Fold the cranberries and marshmallows into the salad.
• Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.

What to serve with cranberry cheesecake fluff

Make this a complete meal with all your favorite holiday fixings!

We love my Turkey Brine Recipe and Juicy Butter Herb Turkey Recipe (Step by Step Instructions) for the holidays.

It goes perfectly with these side dishes:

More ways to make cranberry cheesecake fluff

It is always fun to add a little more or a little less to this cranberry cheesecake fluff recipe.

It is one of my favorite side dishes that is a MUST make and have on the thanksgiving table.

Quick and easy to make and comes together in minutes.

• Fruit: substitute or add in canned mandarin oranges, frozen cranberries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes or diced apples.
• Nuts: pecans, cashews, or almond slices are a great crunch mixed in.
• Cranberry: craisins, canned cranberries, frozen cranberries or cranberry sauce can replace the cranberries for an overall
• Creamy Mix-ins: cool whip, sour cream or greek yogurt for a different texture each time you make it.

Tips for making cranberry cheesecake fluff

During the holidays everyone gathers together and enjoys this special holiday together.

With everyone together there are many requests and this salad is always at the top of the list.

Our family devours this salad first before anything else is ever touched.

Sit back and watch this easy to make cranberry cheesecake fluff come together and be the favorite side dish of the holidays!

• A food processor works best to mix and chop all the ingredients. A blender will do the same.
• If you are running out of time use sour cream instead of cream cheese.
• Looking for a lighter side, skip the heavy cream and try Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt instead.
• Fresh or canned pineapple works great.
• Before serving add cranberries and pecans over top of the cranberry cheesecake fluff.
• It is fun for the holidays to serve these in mini trifle jars or small bowls to make it extra special.

Storing cranberry cheesecake fluff

Cranberry cheesecake fluff is best served chilled and right away.

Once you blend and combine all the ingredients together, let it rest in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Serve it immediately once you place it on the table.

This is one tried and true favorite side dish that is loved by everyone!

• How to store cranberry cheesecake fluff: Place in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap tightly. It will stay in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours.
• Can you make cranberry cheesecake fluff ahead of time? Yes! Simply follow the instructions and leave out the cranberries until ready to serve. Place in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before serving. When ready to serve, simply add it to your thanksgiving table.
• Can I freeze cranberry cheesecake fluff? No, unfortunately this is not a great side dish to freeze. Ice crystals sometimes form in the whipped cream and tend to break it down.

More holiday side dishes

Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff

Prep Time 10 minutes

Refrigeration Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Author Alyssa Rivers

Servings 8 Servings

A creamy and delicious cheesecake fluff salad with cranberries and walnuts. It is so easy to make and a must make for the holidays!

• 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
• 1 1/2 cup sugar divided
• 8 ounce can crushed pineapple undrained
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Updated on November 26, 2019

Originally Posted on November 15, 2015

Nutrition Facts

Cranberry Cheesecake Fluff

Amount Per Serving

Calories 572 Calories from Fat 333

% Daily Value*

Fat 37g57%

Saturated Fat 20g100%

Cholesterol 113mg38%

Sodium 125mg5%

Potassium 187mg5%

Carbohydrates 61g20%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 52g58%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 1295IU26%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 82mg8%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.