Today I’m excited an old, tried-and-true family recipe with you! I love this cranberry apple salad for breakfast, for a snack, even for dessert at night. It’s also a beautiful salad to serve at brunch for a crowd. We’ve been making it at the holidays in my family for as long as I can remember. We always have it at Christmas and it’s one of my favorite things to pile on my plate on Christmas morning! But honestly, I love it so much that I make it year-round. My mom and I both stock up on bags of cranberries around the holidays and stick them straight into the freezer. That way I have them available for this salad or cranberry cake or any other yummy treats year-round. Kinda the same way that I keep my pantry always stocked with cans of pumpkin. Seasons be damned! This fruit salad is just so bright and bursting with big, fresh flavors. It’s the perfect balance of sweetness with a little hit of tart and it’s just as gorgeous as it is delicious. OK, let’s get cooking so you can enjoy it too! Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up below on how to make cranberry apple salad. Just tryin’ to be helpful. If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Ingredient Notes:
Cranberries: We’re using fresh cranberries, not dried cranberries, in this fresh fruit salad. You can get them in the produce section of the grocery store when they are in season and can often find them in the freezer section other times of year. Just be sure to thaw first if they are frozen. Oranges: Regular naval oranges are great here. My aunt leaves some of the peel on to shred when making this recipe, but I prefer it without. Either way is fine. Apples: You need TWO different kinds of apples. I prefer green Granny Smith for the tart option and then choose your favorite red, sweet apple, such as Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady or Honey Crisp. Pineapple: This needs to be canned, crushed pineapple. You’ll want a large 20-ounce can (or an equivalent amount). Nuts: Either walnuts or pecans work great here. You can roughly chop them or use the food processor to give them a little pulse. I love the flavor and texture they add, but if you must omit for a nut allergy, that’s fine too. Sugar: I use ⅓ cup of regular white granulated sugar for this recipe and find it is plenty sweet. It will, however, depend a bit on your apples. Feel free to add more sugar, if needed, to get it to your desired sweetness level.
OK, let’s tackle a few tips I wanted to share. I’ve been making this recipe for decades after all, so I’ve picked up a few things here and there.
Tips and Tricks:
Adjust the sugar to your liking. The original family recipe called for 1 cup of sugar, which always felt really aggressive to me. I now use ⅓ cup and it’s plenty sweet. Adjust to your tastes. Be sure to use a large, sturdy food processor that’s in good working order. You’ll also need the shredding disc attachment. This recipe requires lots of shredding. Leave the peels on the apples! Not only is this easier, but they add really pretty color to the salad. Work in batches to process the apples through the slicing blade. You’ll be able to do 2-3 at a time with most large food processors before the bowl is full and needs to be emptied. You’ll need a very large bowl to dump everything in from the food processor and stir it up. Definitely pull down that very big mixing bowl you rarely use cause you’re gonna need it here.
OK, hopefully those tips help you have total success in your own kitchen. Last thing, what to do with any leftovers. Cause this makes A LOT!
Storage Tips:
Keep the salad covered and store in the refrigerator. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Be sure to give it a good stir before serving because the juices will settle to the bottom.
And if you are looking for other holiday brunch fare, check out my classic sausage and egg casserole, fluffy homemade biscuits, overnight French toast casserole and of course, some mimosas or maybe a poinsettia cocktail. I hope this fruit salad brings some brightness to your holiday table or just a dreary winter day. Enjoy! XO, Kathryn Cranberries: We’re using fresh cranberries, not dried cranberries, in this fresh fruit salad. You can get them in the produce section of the grocery store when they are in season and can often find them in the freezer section other times of year. Just be sure to thaw first if they are frozen. Oranges: Regular naval oranges are great here. My aunt leaves some of the peel on to shred when making this recipe, but I prefer it without. Either way is fine. Apples: You need TWO different kinds of apples. I prefer green Granny Smith for the tart option and then choose your favorite red, sweet apple, such as Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady or Honey Crisp. Nuts: Either walnuts or pecans work great here. You can roughly chop them or use the food processor to give them a little pulse. I love the flavor and texture they add, but if you must omit for a nut allergy, that’s fine too. Sugar: I use ⅓ cup of regular white granulated sugar for this recipe and find it is plenty sweet. It will, however, depend a bit on your apples. Feel free to add more sugar, if needed, to get it to your desired sweetness level. Storing: This salad will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Stir well before serving as the liquids will have settled to the bottom.
OXO 1115580 Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, Red/Green/Blue Cuisinart DLC-8SY Pro Custom 11-Cup Food Processor, White
