Bright, tangy, and a little sweet, this Holiday Cranberry Salad Dressing is a simple way to add festive flavor to your greens. Perfect for holiday meals, it pairs beautifully with salads and roasted veggies and meats for a colorful seasonal touch.
Homemade Cranberry Salad Dressing brings bright flavor, a pretty color, and a fruity twist that fits right into fall and holiday cooking, just like my Lemon Cranberry Meringue Pie. This easy cranberry salad dressing blends fresh cranberry sauce, tangy mustartd, and apple cider vinegar into a smooth mix that wakes up any bowl of greens, similar to my Lemon Herb Salad Dressing.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
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Sweet-tart flavor that perks up any salad
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Works with fresh, frozen, or leftover cranberry sauce
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Adds a pretty pop of color to fall and holiday plates
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Pairs well with greens, grains, chicken, and roasted veggies
Key Ingredients for Cranberry Sauce Salad Dressing
- Cranberry Sauce - can be fresh, canned, or frozen.
- Dijon Mustard - any mustard will work, choose your favorite!
- Apple Cider Vinegar - you can also use red or white wine vinegar.
- Neutral Oil - I used avocado oil, but you can also use olive oil or vegetable oil (any neutral oil).
- Fresh Herbs - rosemary and thyme work great, but you can also use herbs like sage, chives, or oregano.
*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Serving Ideas
This cranberry vinaigrette pairs well with spinach, arugula, roasted squash, apples, chicken, pecans, goat cheese, and quinoa. It adds a fruity pop of color to fall and winter dishes, from weekday lunches to holiday salads like my Cranberry Walnut Feta Salad and my Butter Lettuce Salad.
Tools to Make Homemade Salad Dressing Easy
This OXO Salad Dressing (shown above) is my absolute favorite kitchen tool for homemade salad dressing. All you have to do is add all of the ingredients and shake, no blender needed!
How to Make Cranberry Salad Dressing
Finely chop the herbs and make sure the cranberry sauce is thawed if it was frozen then mix it with the vinegar, oil, mustard, salt, pepper, and herbs in a jar or blender. Taste and adjust the salt, and add a little water if you want a thinner texture.
FAQs
Yes! Frozen cranberry sauce works just as well as fresh cranberry sauce. Just thaw it slightly before blending for a smoother texture.
This salad dressing will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
If you want the dressing to be sweeter, add honey or maple syrup to taste, depending on how tart your cranberry sauce is.
Yes, you can make this fall salad dressing ahead of time. Ensure you shake it well after taking it out of the fridge before using.
If you get a chance to make this Homemade Cranberry Salad Dressing, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Cranberry Salad Dressing
Equipment
- 1 salad dressing shaker (can use a sealable jar)
- 1 blender (if you want to blend instead of shake)
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup avocado oil (can use olive or vegetable oil)
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Instructions
- Finely chop the herbs and ensure the cranberry sauce is thawed (if using frozen).
- Combine the cranberry sauce, apple cider vinegar, oil, mustard, salt, pepper, and herbs in a shaker or jar and mix until combined. You can also use a blender.
- Taste the dressing and extra salt if needed. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can add a little water, a tablespoon at a time.
Notes
- You can use frozen cranberry sauce; ensure it has thawed a bit before blending so it mixes smoothly.
- This dressing stays fresh in the fridge for about 1-2 weeks.
- For extra sweetness, add a little honey or maple syrup until it tastes right to you.
- You can make it in advance; give it a good shake after chilling before you use it.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Barbara K says
I am excited to try this cranberry dressing! Can you use whole Gerry cranberry sauce?
Emily says
Hi Barbara, did you mean whole berry sauce? If so, then yes, but I would ensure the berries are soft enough. If the dressing is too chunky, you can zip it in the blender. If you meant Mrs. Gerrys cranberry sauce, the answer is still yes! Enjoy 😊
Barbara K says
Hi there!
I did mean whole berry cranberry sauce! Typo on my part! I always have both jellied and whole berry on hand for family dinner!
Thank you!
Emily says
Thanks, Barbara, enjoy!
Judy H. says
Delicious!