Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (2024)

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By Heather 6 Comments

I absolutely love cranberries! In fact I bought a few too many this year, since they are in season! I created this easy cranberry salad, that is so simple, yet bursting with flavor! This is not your grandmother’s cranberry salad!

Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (1)

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Why is this easy cranberry salad so different? You take fresh cranberries and roast them! This makes them a touch sweeter and mixed with a little cinnamon and salt you get a super flavorful topping to your greens!

I added some sunflower seeds and celery for crunch and a basic homemade dressing! This is a perfect lunch to make ahead or a fresh, healthy side for dinner!

Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (2)

This is also a great recipe to use leftover cranberries from holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I always add a few extra bags of berries to my cart in the fall since cranberries freeze really well.

I think this recipe is a great substitute for the sugar filled dried cranberries that are popular on salads. You have the option of using honey or go totally sugar free with liquid unflavored stevia. I have directions for both in the recipe.

Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (3)

Roasting Cranberries Tips

  • I line my baking sheets with either parchment paper or a slipmat. This makes clean up way easier and not berries stuck to the sheet pan.
  • Make sure to use a rimmed baking sheet, cranberries will roll all over the place.
  • Try different flavor combinations when roasting. Pumpkin pie spice would be delicious!

Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (4)

Easy Cranberry Salad in Summery:

  • Roast the cranberries ahead or in bulk to save time!
  • The roasted cranberries are a great addition to oatmeal, or even cookies!
  • Use a simple dressing so the cranberry flavor can shine through!

Let’s get cooking!

Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (5)

Take the slightly tart flavor of cranberries to the next level by roasting them! Turn a boring salad into a show stopper!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 cups spinach
  • 4 cups lettuce
  • 4 cups cranberries
  • Adrizzle of olive oil
  • 2 tbs honey ( optional, but it will be more tart)
  • OR 5-10 drops stevia
  • 1 tsp smoked or regular salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds - either raw or roasted salted your preferance
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • Dressing:
  • 2 tablespoons herb flavored olive oil ( sub in regular and add a pinch of Italian seasoning)
  • 1/2 tbs lemon juice
  • 1/2 tbs vinegar- apple cider or red wine work well
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees
  2. On a parchment lined baking sheet- spread out the cranberries in one layer
  3. Give the berries a light drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle with the salt and cinnamon, and finally the honey.
  4. If using stevia instead of honey, measure the olive oil into another dish you can pour from and mix the stevia into the olive oil so it is evenly distributed.
  5. Shake the roasting pan a bit to get the ingredients all over the cranberries.
  6. Roast at 400 degrees about 20 minutes.
  7. Add the spinach, lettuce, celery, sunflower seeds and roasted cranberries to your salad bowl.
  8. In a small bowl, add the olive oil, lemon, vinegar and salt, whisk together and drizzle on the salad.
  9. Serve! If you want to keep leftovers, do not dress the salad as once dressed it won't keep!

Notes

You can use any combination of lettuce and greens you like!

If you wanted to make extra cranberries, they go very well in oatmeal!

You could change out the olive oil to melted coconut oil, or avocado oil. if you prefer for the cranberries.

Honey is optional if you are avoiding sweeteners, but does make the berries a little less tart!See directions for how to use liquid stevia.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1/4th recipe

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191

I hope you’ve enjoyed this easy cranberry salad recipe!

Cheers,

Heather

P.S. if you are looking for another favorite way to cook with cranberries try my Spiced Apple and Pumpkin One Pan Dinner

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather says

    December 13, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    Love cranberries!

    Reply

  2. Jennifer says

    December 6, 2017 at 5:15 am

    We are cranberry farmers and I’ve used cranberries in just about every way conceivable, except roasting. What a great idea. I can’t wait to try this for Christmas dinner this year.

    Reply

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Easy Cranberry Salad Recipe - A Real Food Journey (2024)

FAQs

What is cranberry salad made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 2 (12 ounce) packages fresh cranberries.
  • 1 cup white sugar.
  • 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained.
  • 1 cup chopped pecans.
  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream.
  • 7 ounces miniature marshmallows.

Can I substitute frozen cranberries for fresh? ›

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

Can you use craisins instead of cranberries? ›

Yes, Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries work well in baked goods; however, there is a 1/4 cup (60 mL) difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh cranberries you should use 3/4 cup (175 mL) of Craisins®.

What is the closest berry to cranberries? ›

2. Red Currants. Red currants are the closest substitute for cranberries if you can't find cranberries in any form. They have a similar tart flavor and work well as a 1:1 substitute in most recipes.

Why is my cranberry salad runny? ›

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

What are the main ingredients in cranberries? ›

Raw, unsweetened American cranberries contain mainly 87% water and 12% carbohydrates, with lesser amounts of protein, fats and fiber (Table 1) [11]. Small cranberries accrue 2.1–4.9% titrable acidity with citric acid contributing 1.8–2.6%.

Why do frozen cranberries say do not eat raw? ›

"Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.

Can I use year old frozen cranberries? ›

Cranberries can be stored for up to three (3) years in the freezer. When in sealed packaging, they can be placed directly in the freezer. You can also place them on a metal baking sheet to freeze them, then transfer them to individual bags and return them to the freezer for future use.

Is it better to use fresh or frozen cranberries? ›

Adding frozen cranberries to recipes is often recommended. Cranberries that were recently purchased and never frozen that appear soft are past the ripened stage, and these berries should be sorted and not eaten.

Which is healthier raisins or Craisins? ›

Our Pick: Raisins

In this nutrition faceoff, raisins win because they offer a high amount of potassium and have no sugar added. Practically speaking, both raisins and dried cranberries can be part of a diet consisting of minimally processed foods.

Are sweetened dried cranberries the same as Craisins? ›

Raw cranberries (fresh or frozen) are high in nutritional value and fiber while being low in carbohydrates and calories. Dried cranberries (often known as "Craisins," a brand name), however, can be quite different. Since cranberries are so tart, most dried versions have added sugar.

What are dried cranberries called? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

What 2 states grow the most cranberries? ›

Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts

The United States is the world's leading cranberry producer, followed by Canada and Chile.

Can dogs have cranberries? ›

Are Cranberries Safe for Dogs to Eat? Both fresh and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many can lead to an upset stomach.

How many cranberries should I eat a day? ›

HOW MUCH CRANBERRIES TO EAT DAILY? Studies confirming the health-promoting properties of cranberries have typically used doses of 100-300 g of fresh cranberries, equivalent to 7-10 g of dried cranberries, and 100-150 ml of 100% cranberry juice.

What are cranberries mostly made of? ›

Cranberries are primarily composed of carbs and fiber ( 1 ). These are mainly simple sugars, such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose ( 2 ). The rest is made up of insoluble fiber — such as pectin, cellulose, and hemicellulose — which pass through your gut almost intact. Cranberries also contain soluble fiber.

Is cranberry a fruit or vegetable? ›

Cranberries are a native North American fruit and a Thanksgiving staple for many families. Cranberries are potent sources of antioxidants, specifically from a subclass of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins, which are unique to and abundant in cranberries.

Can you eat raw cranberries in a salad? ›

You can add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them whole. Eating raw cranberries is safe and easy, though their sharp, bitter flavor isn't for everyone. Be sure to clean and sort them thoroughly.

Is cranberry actually good for you? ›

Cranberries provide a good source of various vitamins and antioxidants. Historically, Native Americans used cranberries as a treatment for bladder and kidney diseases, while early settlers from England used them to treat poor appetite, stomach complaints, blood disorders, and scurvy.

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