Description
A festive and creamy Cranberry Fluff dessert featuring fresh cranberries, cream cheese, whipped heavy cream, and sweet mini marshmallows. This chilled, no-bake treat combines tart cranberries with the sweetness of pineapple and marshmallows, making it perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you want a light, fruity dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Mixture
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberries: Rinse the cranberries thoroughly and remove any that are soft or bruised to ensure a fresh flavor and good texture.
- Chop Cranberries: Place the cranberries into a food processor or blender. Pulse until they are finely chopped but not pureed, allowing small pieces to remain for texture.
- Mix Cranberries with Sugar and Zest: In a bowl, sprinkle 1/2 cup of sugar and the orange zest over the chopped cranberries. Toss well to evenly coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld and reduce tartness.
- Beat Cream Cheese and Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese together with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, creating a sweet creamy base.
- Add Cream and Vanilla: Gradually add the heavy cream and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture while beating. Continue until the cream forms stiff peaks, resulting in a light and airy texture.
- Combine Mixtures: In a large bowl, fold together the chilled cranberry mixture, drained crushed pineapple, and the cream cheese mixture. Mix gently until well combined to maintain the fluffy texture.
- Add Marshmallows: Carefully fold the mini marshmallows into the combined mixture, distributing them evenly without deflating the fluff.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the dessert to set and flavors to blend.
- Serve: Serve the Cranberry Fluff chilled, accompanied by cookies, pretzels, or fresh fruit for dipping to add complementary textures and flavors.
Notes
- Be sure to drain the crushed pineapple well to avoid excess liquid diluting the fluff.
- For a tart-er dessert, reduce the sugar or increase the orange zest slightly.
- This dessert can be made a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- Use fresh cranberries if possible for the best texture, but frozen cranberries work well too—just thaw before processing.
- For extra citrus flavor, add a little orange juice along with the zest to the cranberry mixture.
