🎉 Introduction
This Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad is a bright, refreshing, and beautifully festive addition to any holiday table. With crisp baby spinach, sweet dried cranberries, juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy candied pecans, creamy feta, and a tangy-sweet homemade cranberry vinaigrette, this salad balances rich Christmas dishes perfectly.
It’s colorful, seasonal, easy to assemble, and tastes like a celebration — the ideal side dish for Christmas Eve, holiday brunch, potlucks, or any winter dinner that needs a fresh, vibrant touch.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Salad bowl
- Small mixing bowl or jar for dressing
- Whisk or shakeable jar
🛒 Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments (fresh or canned)
- ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
- Optional: ½ sliced apple or pear
- Optional: Pomegranate arils for extra festiveness
Cranberry Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Make the Cranberry Vinaigrette
In a small bowl or jar, whisk/shake together:
- olive oil
- apple cider vinegar
- cranberry sauce
- honey
- Dijon
- salt & pepper
Taste and adjust:
– add more honey if you want sweeter
– add extra vinegar for more tang
Step 2: Assemble the Salad
In a large salad bowl, add:
- baby spinach
- dried cranberries
- mandarin oranges
- red onions
- feta or goat cheese
- candied pecans
Gently toss to distribute ingredients.
Step 3: Dress & Serve
Drizzle cranberry vinaigrette over the top just before serving.
Toss lightly so every leaf is coated.
Add a final sprinkle of pecans or pomegranate arils for a festive finish.
Serve immediately.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 4–6
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead
Best consumed immediately after dressing.
To make ahead:
- Prep salad ingredients separately (up to 24 hours)
- Add oranges right before serving
- Store dressing in jar in refrigerator 4–5 days
🥄 Variations
- Pear & Cranberry Salad
Add sliced ripe pears + blue cheese. - Apple Walnut Spinach Salad
Swap pecans for toasted walnuts. - Cranberry Chicken Winter Salad
Add sliced grilled chicken for protein. - Creamy Cranberry Dressing
Add 2 tbsp Greek yogurt to dressing. - Maple Roasted Sweet Potato Version
Add roasted sweet potato cubes. - Vegan Version
Use vegan feta + maple syrup instead of honey. - Holiday Pomegranate Spinach Salad
Add pomegranate seeds for color. - Warm Spinach Cranberry Salad
Add warm sautéed mushrooms + bacon. - Goat Cheese & Pistachio Twist
Swap nuts and cheese for a gourmet twist. - Winter Citrus Spinach Salad
Add grapefruit or blood orange slices.
❓ 10 FAQs
- Can I use spring mix instead of spinach?
Yes — but spinach holds the dressing better. - Can I use fresh cranberries?
Only if chopped and lightly sweetened. - Can I make the salad ahead?
Yes — assemble without dressing and oranges. - What nuts work best?
Pecans, walnuts, or pistachios. - Can I use goat cheese instead of feta?
Absolutely — creamy and delicious. - Is canned mandarin okay?
Yes — just drain well. - Can I use bottled dressing?
Yes — raspberry vinaigrette is a great match. - How do I keep fruit from sinking?
Toss lightly and add some toppings last. - What protein works with it?
Chicken, turkey, or salmon. - Can this be served warm?
Yes — toss spinach with warm pecans or bacon.
🏁 Conclusion
This Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad is fresh, crunchy, colorful, and bursting with festive flavors — the perfect refreshing side dish for any holiday meal. With sweet cranberries, tangy dressing, creamy cheese, and bright citrus, every bite tastes like Christmas cheer on a plate.
Easy, elegant, and guaranteed to impress your guests.
Best Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad – Fresh, Festive & Bursting With Holiday Flavor
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Ingredients
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Equipment
Method
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk/shake together:
- olive oil
- apple cider vinegar
- cranberry sauce
- honey
- Dijon
- salt & pepper
- Taste and adjust:
- – add more honey if you want sweeter
- – add extra vinegar for more tang
- In a large salad bowl, add:
- baby spinach
- dried cranberries
- mandarin oranges
- red onions
- feta or goat cheese
- candied pecans
- Gently toss to distribute ingredients.
- Drizzle cranberry vinaigrette over the top just before serving.
- Toss lightly so every leaf is coated.
- Add a final sprinkle of pecans or pomegranate arils for a festive finish.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Add sliced ripe pears + blue cheese. Apple Walnut Spinach Salad
Swap pecans for toasted walnuts. Cranberry Chicken Winter Salad
Add sliced grilled chicken for protein. Creamy Cranberry Dressing
Add 2 tbsp Greek yogurt to dressing. Maple Roasted Sweet Potato Version
Add roasted sweet potato cubes. Vegan Version
Use vegan feta + maple syrup instead of honey. Holiday Pomegranate Spinach Salad
Add pomegranate seeds for color. Warm Spinach Cranberry Salad
Add warm sautéed mushrooms + bacon. Goat Cheese & Pistachio Twist
Swap nuts and cheese for a gourmet twist. Winter Citrus Spinach Salad
Add grapefruit or blood orange slices. ❓ 10 FAQs Can I use spring mix instead of spinach?
Yes — but spinach holds the dressing better. Can I use fresh cranberries?
Only if chopped and lightly sweetened. Can I make the salad ahead?
Yes — assemble without dressing and oranges. What nuts work best?
Pecans, walnuts, or pistachios. Can I use goat cheese instead of feta?
Absolutely — creamy and delicious. Is canned mandarin okay?
Yes — just drain well. Can I use bottled dressing?
Yes — raspberry vinaigrette is a great match. How do I keep fruit from sinking?
Toss lightly and add some toppings last. What protein works with it?
Chicken, turkey, or salmon. Can this be served warm?
Yes — toss spinach with warm pecans or bacon. 🏁 Conclusion This Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad is fresh, crunchy, colorful, and bursting with festive flavors — the perfect refreshing side dish for any holiday meal. With sweet cranberries, tangy dressing, creamy cheese, and bright citrus, every bite tastes like Christmas cheer on a plate. Easy, elegant, and guaranteed to impress your guests.
