Cranberry Vinaigrette

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Take your holiday salads to the next level with our tangy Cranberry Vinaigrette recipe. Bursting with tart and sweet flavor, this simple dressing adds a festive twist!

A small pitcher of cranberry vinaigrette salad dressing with a spoon taking a spoonful
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in Cranberry Vinaigrette
  2. Variations
  3. Recipe Tip
  4. Frequently Asked Questions
  5. Salads to Pair with Cranberry Vinaigrette
  6. How to Make Cranberry Vinaigrette
  7. Cranberry Vinaigrette Recipe

Turn a regular salad into something amazing with Cranberry Vinaigrette! This salad dressing tastes like a twist on cranberry sauce. Making the dressing is easy. Just cook your cranberries like you would for a homemade cranberry sauce, and then combine and blend all ingredients. Build a spinach or kale salad, add leftover turkey, top with easy Cranberry Vinaigrette, and you have a healthy holiday salad fit for a queen.

Ingredients in Cranberry Vinaigrette

  • Fresh Cranberries
  • Orange Juice
  • Sugar
  • Olive Oil
  • Red Wine Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Salt and Pepper
pinkish red salad dressing in a small pitcher


Variations

Mix it up! Try some of these variations for a different dressing:

  • Spiced- add nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves for a warm, spicy dressing
  • Balsamic- use balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar for a different, sweeter flavor
  • Mustard- add Dijon mustard (and honey if you’re feeling wild) for a zesty twist
  • Citrus- swap orange juice for lime juice for a stronger flavor

Recipe Tip

cranberries cooking in a saucepan

When you start cooking the cranberries it may not seem like anything is happening. Be patient and wait for the berries to pop! Once they start popping the sauce will thicken up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What works with a cranberry vinaigrette salad?

Spinach or kale leaves would taste good, to add some sweetness to balance out any sour from the cranberry, candied pecans would taste great! Sliced fruit like apples or pears would also work well. Gorgonzola cheese would balance out the flavor as well.

Is vinaigrette healthier than ranch?

This vinaigrette is high in Vitamin C and healthy fats (monounsaturated fat), which ranch does not have.
It really all depends on what you are eating it with.

What can cranberry vinaigrette be used for?

Beyond using it for a lettuce leaf salad, you can put it on chicken or turkey, a dressing for hot or cold pasta, mixed with hot or cold vegetables, brushed on sandwiches for taste and flavor, added to grain salads, used as a dressing for potato salad, and used as a marinade for meat or vegetables. These, and so much more.

Read Next: Christmas Dinner Ideas (with Christmas Ham Recipe)

A salad with pears, dried cranberries, candied pecans, spring mix and feta cheese drizzled with cranberry vinaigrette

Salads to Pair with Cranberry Vinaigrette

How to Make Cranberry Vinaigrette

A small pitcher of pinkish red salad dressing with a spoon taking a spoonful

Cranberry Vinaigrette

5 from 1 vote
Take your holiday salads to the next level with our tangy Cranberry Vinaigrette recipe. Bursting with tart and sweet flavor, this simple dressing brings a festive twist!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine cranberries, orange juice, and sugar in a medium-sized sauce pan. Cook on medium high heat, stirring constantly, until all the cranberries pop. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
    cranberries cooking in a saucepan
  • Pour cranberry mixture into a blender and add olive oil, vinegar, and salt. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    pinkish red salad dressing in a small pitcher

Notes

  • You can use apple cider vinegar if you don’t have red wine vinegar.
  • Be careful when blending the dressing, the cranberries may still be hot. 
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 103kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 291mgPotassium: 32mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg

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About the author

Kelsey Crist

Kelsey lives in Washington with her husband, Alex, and two cats, Diana and Nova. Her happy place is in the kitchen listening to an audiobook and trying new recipes. When she's not in the kitchen you can find her hiking, shopping at Trader Joe's, or playing Animal Crossing. Her favorite food is pasta and Alex loves when she makes Homemade Oreos.

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