Millionaire Cranberry Salad Recipe
Millionaire Cranberry Salad is a festive, sweet-tart dessert salad featuring a luscious cranberry sauce blended with creamy sour cream or Greek yogurt, sweet pineapple tidbits, fluffy miniature marshmallows, crunchy pecans, and flaky coconut. This make-ahead salad is perfect for holiday gatherings, offering a delightful combination of textures and flavors that meld together after resting to create a refreshing and indulgent treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Sauce
- 3 cups fresh cranberries
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
Salad
- 2 cups sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 2 cups pineapple tidbits (well drained)
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups coconut flakes
- 1 ½ cups cooled cranberry mixture (from above)
Instructions
- Make the Cranberry Sauce: In a saucepan, combine fresh cranberries, granulated sugar, water, and the cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool completely; it will thicken as it cools.
- Mix the Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream or Greek yogurt, pineapple tidbits, miniature marshmallows, chopped pecans, coconut flakes, and 1 ½ cups of the cooled cranberry sauce. Stir everything together well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and the salad to set into a creamy, flavorful dish. Serve chilled as a sweet side or dessert.
Notes
- For a tangier flavor and healthier option, use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Drain pineapple tidbits well to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- The cranberry sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Letting the salad rest overnight improves flavor melding and texture.
- Optional: Toast pecans lightly for extra crunch and depth of flavor.
Keywords: Cranberry salad, holiday salad, sweet salad, Christmas dessert, pineapple salad, pecan salad, coconut salad
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/millionaire-cranberry-salad-recipe/
