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You are here: Home / Recipes / Condiments / Cranberry Salad Dressing

Cranberry Salad Dressing

Published October 27, 2022 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Cranberry salad dressing in a carafe with text overlay.
Cranberry salad dressing in a carafe with text overlay.
Two images of cranberry salad dressing in a carafe with text overlay between them.

Tangy, sweet, and delightfully tart, Cranberry Salad Dressing is perfect on any fall salad. Or, use it over raw or roasted vegetables – holiday guests will love it! 

Close up of a carafe of cranberry salad dressing with loose cranberries around it.

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The best way to reuse leftover Thanksgiving turkey and other foods is to reimagine them in a salad.

That’s exactly what I did with the Leftover Turkey Quinoa Bowls. In fact, when you cover the turkey and quinoa in this homemade cranberry salad dressing, it ties all the savory flavors together. 

This dressing is also perfect to serve over my Fall Roasted Vegetables recipe. You can use it in addition to or in place of the cranberries in the recipe.

Why This Recipe Works

Homemade salad dressings are so easy to make, especially this one. All you have to do is place all the ingredients in a bowl, whisk them together, and it’s ready to go. 

Cranberry salad dressing is perfect for fall salads and as a drizzle on top of raw or roasted veggies. It’s even delicious as a marinade for roasted turkey, chicken, or pork. 

Since you’re making it from scratch, it’s perfectly adaptable to your tastes. Make it as sweet or as zingy as you like it. 

Step By Step Instructions

Ingredients

Ingredients to make cranberry salad dressing with text overlay.

  • 1 cup cranberry sauce: you can use homemade or canned cranberry sauce. 
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
  • salt and pepper

The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

There is no significant prep work for this recipe.

Create!

Cranberry sauce, dijon and apple cider vinegar whisked together in a glass bowl.

Whisk together the cranberry sauce, apple cider vinegar and dijon mustard until well blended.

Cranberry salad dressing in a glass bowl.

Gradually whisk in the olive oil until fully emulsified.

At this point taste the dressing. If it’s too sour or zingy, add a little honey or maple syrup to balance it out. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Chef’s Tip: the cranberry dressing may be smooth or a little chunky depending on the cranberry sauce that you use. If you want it completely smooth, you can combine it in a blender.

Present!

Cranberry salad dressing in a carafe with a bowl of cranberries and loose cranberries around it.

Serve over salad, especially harvest salads, roasted turkey or chicken, or vegetables. 

Tips and Techniques

  • You can mix the cranberry salad dressing in a blender if you prefer it to be super smooth.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  Consume within a week.

FAQ’s

Can I Make This Salad Dressing With Balsamic Vinegar? 

Yes, you can definitely make a cranberry balsamic salad dressing recipe. To prevent the colors from being too dark, I suggest using white balsamic vinegar. The flavors will be incredible. 

How Do You Make Cranberry Vinaigrette With Fresh Cranberries? 

The process is basically the same as my recipe, except you’ll add one extra step. Add all the ingredients – including a handful of fresh cranberries – to a blender or food processor. Then, taste it. If you want it a little sweeter, add a bit more honey. 

Is Cranberry Salad Dressing Healthy? 

Yes, this vinaigrette is really good for you. Cranberries contain lots of antioxidants and vinegar is good for your gut health. If you use natural sugars from maple syrup or honey, it will be easier on your blood sugar too.

More Cranberry Recipes

Cranberry Apple Chutney
This simple recipe for Cranberry Apple Chutney takes your main dish to a whole new level. Serve it over pork, chicken, or turkey. It also a great side dish recipe to serve at Thanksgiving and other holiday meals!
Get The Recipe
Cranberry Apple Chutney in a White Serving Bowl with a Spoonful Above It
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad is delightfully flavorful, versatile, and adaptable. This creamy chicken salad is filled with crunchy walnuts, sweet and tangy cranberries, and tender chunks of chicken. This recipe is a quick favorite for summer and fall and is easily prepped and packed in advance for lunch and carefree picnics.
Get The Recipe
Cranberry Walnut chicken salad sandwich cut in half and stacked on top of each other on a white plate with a gray background
Cranberry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies have tart cranberries and sweet chocolate chips in every chewy bite. These cookies are easy to make and perfect for holiday cookie exchanges.
Get The Recipe
Stack of 5 oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies on a white background

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If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!

A carafe of cranberry salad dressing with a few cranberries around it.
Print

Cranberry Salad Dressing

Tangy, sweet, and delightfully tart, Cranberry Salad Dressing is perfect on any fall salad. Or, use it over raw or roasted vegetables – holiday guests will love it! 
Course Condiments
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 16 servings
Calories 90kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions

  • Whisk together the cranberry sauce, apple cider vinegar and dijon mustard until well blended.
    1 cup cranberry sauce, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • Gradually whisk in the olive oil until fully emulsified.
    1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • At this point taste the dressing. If it’s too sour or zingy, add a little honey or maple syrup to balance it out. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    honey or maple syrup, salt, pepper

Notes

1 serving is approximately 2 tablespoons.

Tips and Techniques

  • You can mix the cranberry salad dressing in a blender if you prefer it to be super smooth.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  Consume within a week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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Filed Under: Condiments, Recipes

Comments

  1. Michele says

    November 13, 2022 at 8:40 pm

    I made a big salad with roasted vegetables the other night and used this delicious cranberry salad dressing on it. My family loved it! I will definitely be making it again!

    Reply
  2. Enri Lemoine says

    November 13, 2022 at 2:32 pm

    This will be the salad dressing for my Thanksgiving salad! You got me with the beautiful color. I cannot wait to have this on my table!

    Reply
  3. Maddy says

    November 12, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    I really loved this cranberry dressing- it was way different than other dressings i’ve made but it was tangy and sweet and went really well on a spinach, apple and walnut salad.

    Reply
  4. Kristina says

    November 12, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    This was a delicious dressing! I blended it in the blender to make it really smooth as suggested, then drizzled it over a shredded turkey and arugula salad- yummo!

    Reply
  5. Veronika says

    November 10, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    What a wonderful addition to the table! I can have this delicious dressing not just for Thanksgiving, but the whole year around 😉

    Reply
  6. Amanda says

    November 9, 2022 at 1:56 pm

    This is such a great fall salad dressing! I have a brandy cranberry sauce that I love, so I used that and added some maple syrup. The maple added such a nice depth of flavor, and the apple cider vinegar really made it pop.

    Reply
  7. Amanda Mason says

    November 9, 2022 at 10:27 am

    So good and I’m so glad you called for Dijon mustard in this recipe! It’s a huge flavor enhancer! Loved this dressing. It’s going to be my new go-to!!

    Reply
  8. Linda says

    November 9, 2022 at 8:38 am

    I absolutely love this idea! I have a cranberry cream sauce I use for pasta but this dressing is perfect for my winter salads. I love the tart flavor and how easy I can whip it up.

    Reply
  9. Colleen says

    November 8, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    This cranberry salad dressing is delicious and easy to make. And it’s perfect for the holidays! I’m making it again for Christmas. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. veenaazmanov says

    November 8, 2022 at 1:29 pm

    I am drooling thinking of all the flavors this amazing Cranberry Salad dressing has. Sweet, Sour and Citrusy . A must have one in my pantry.

    Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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