Millionaire Cranberry Salad

Millionaire Cranberry Salad is a sweet-and-tart mix of cranberries, juicy pineapple, mini marshmallows, coconut flakes, whipped cream, and cranberry sauce. The ingredients work so well together, too: the rich whipped cream and yogurt tame the tang of the cranberry sauce, the pillowy marshmallows add sugary lightness, and the pineapple adds some kick. The pecans and coconut add chewy and crunchy texture.

If you love Ambrosia salad, you are going to love this cranberry millionaire salad. The fruity flavors and creamy yogurt sauce make the perfect sweet-and-tangy combination. Your entire family will be asking for seconds and looking for more delicious recipes. My sweet Apple Snickers Salad has the creaminess of vanilla pudding and cream cheese, topped with Snickers candy and caramel sauce. You may also like this Creamy Grape Salad, made from black, green, and red grapes mixed with brown sugar, cream cheese, and sour cream.

This dish isn’t expensive to make, so I am not sure why it is called millionaire salad, maybe because it tastes like a million bucks! This is such a simple recipe; even the kids can make it. Just toss it all in a bowl and mix it up; that is all there is to it. Once it chills, it is ready to eat!

Another great thing about this recipe is that you can use it as a side dish, dessert, or topping. I prefer it as a dessert because it is so sweet and full of different ingredients. When I serve it as a side dish, I typically add something more savory, like bacon or cheese, and leave out the coconut. It’s also fantastic on top of waffles and pancakes for breakfast. 

Why you will love this recipe

• It takes only two steps: It doesn’t get much easier than that. Just mix and chill.
• It is sweet and tangy with nuts: It has all the flavors I love, with a mix of textures for a fun mouthfeel.
• Serve it for the holidays: I always add this to our Thanksgiving and Christmas feast!
• Serve it at any part of the meal: It can be a side dish, dessert, or even a waffle or pancake topping or snack.

What you will need to make it

• Cranberry sauce – I like to use my creamy, tangy homemade cranberry sauce, but store-bought will work too.
• Vanilla yogurt – Greek vanilla yogurt works great and gives a nice thick texture.
• Whipped cream – I also have an easy made-from-scratch whipped cream recipe for a rich and smooth whipped topping that blends into this salad perfectly.
• Pineapple tidbits – I use Dole canned pineapple tidbits, drained well and patted dry.
• Miniature marshmallows – Any miniature marshmallows will do. I like to get the rainbow ones to make my salad colorful.
• Chopped pecans – For crunch and nuttiness in this sweet, creamy salad, roughly chopped pecans are the perfect addition. Try these candied pecans in this recipe to make it even sweeter.
• Sweetened flaked coconut – Coconut brings a tropical flavor to the mixture but also adds sweetness and a nice chewy texture.

How to prepare it

Bring to a boil: Combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and cinnamon sticks in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Cool the cranberry mixture: Next, remove the cranberry mixture from the stove and let it cool completely. It will thicken upon cooling.

Mix other ingredients: Now add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl. 

Add the cranberries: Add one and a half cups of the cooled cranberry mixture to the bowl of salad ingredients and stir. Add more sauce as needed. 

Chill and serve: Lastly, refrigerate your cranberry millionaire salad for at least four hours. Finally, top with chopped pecans before serving. 

Expert tip

Making the cranberry sauce

I suggest using four cups of fresh or frozen cranberries with one cup of white granulated sugar, one cup of orange juice, the zest of one orange, and two cinnamon sticks. Boil in a saucepan over medium heat, then simmer for 10 minutes. Of course, make sure it is completely cooled before adding it to the salad. Pour into a bowl and let cool to room temperature for 30 minutes, then chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. If it is not smooth, run it through a food processor or high-speed blender and then mix it into the salad.

More tips to consider:

• Cook the cranberry sauce down to a gel consistency, or the salad will be runny. 
• Also, do not add too much liquid. If this happens, cook it longer or add cornstarch. 
• If the salad is too bitter, add another juice, like lemon or lime. Vinegar, sugar, or salt can also help. 
• Chilling is an important step. It lets the ingredients absorb the juices and gives the marshmallows and nuts time to soften.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• More berries: The more fruit, the merrier. Toss in some cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries too.
• Other fruit: Don’t stop at berries. Don’t skip some bananas, strawberries, apples, peaches, and pears.  
• Creamier salad: To make this thicker and creamier, use cream cheese instead of yogurt. 

Serving suggestions:

I like how versatile cranberry salad is as a fun party dip. Serve it with cookies, crackers, or sliced fruits. Another way I like to serve it at parties is by scooping it into individual dessert cups to make a portable, pre-portioned dessert. This salad also tastes great on top of these dreamy pumpkin cheesecake pancakes or even served on the side of cranberry cheesecake.

My favorite wines to go with this sweet salad are Poulsard, Zinfandel, Riesling, and Beaujolais. After a scrumptious meal of turkey and my loaded sweet potato casserole, it fits right in. It would also go great after a dinner of red wine pot roast made with garlic, onion, red wine, and an array of Italian seasonings.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to a week.   
• Freezing: Freezing is not recommended unless you keep the sauce separate. Freeze the fruit in one freezer bag and the sauce in another for up to a month.   
• Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before mixing.

Frequently asked questions

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