There’s something so refreshing about a salad that feels truly festive, and this Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe nails it every time. With bright bursts of citrus, creamy avocado, and that irresistibly tangy cranberry dressing, it’s a dish that wakes up your taste buds and brightens any chilly day.

A large wooden bowl holds a colorful salad arranged in sections on top of green leafy lettuce. One section has white crumbly cheese with brown dressing drizzled on it, next to slices of yellow-orange citrus fruit. Another part shows bright red pomegranate seeds. Beside them are dark brown roasted nuts and next to those are thin slices of green avocado drizzled with the same dressing. The bowl sits on a red textured cloth with stacked wooden bowls and a glass jar with brown dressing and spoon in the background on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe quickly became one of my favorite winter staples because it blends sweet, tart, salty, and crunchy in a way that feels both indulgent and fresh. It’s perfect for holiday dinners or anytime you want something vibrant without turning on the oven.

Seasonal Flavors: It highlights winter fruits and nuts, making the most of what’s fresh and festive.
Easy Prep: This salad comes together in about 10 minutes — ideal for busy days or last-minute guests.
Balanced Taste: The cranberry dressing adds a tangy sweetness that ties all the ingredients together beautifully.
Versatile: It’s just as lovely as a side dish as it is a light main course, especially when you add protein.

A large wooden bowl filled with a colorful salad sits on a white marbled surface. The salad has several layers starting with a base of fresh green leaves, including spinach and arugula, giving a leafy texture. Scattered on top are small, bright red pomegranate seeds that add pops of color, followed by slices of light yellow citrus fruit pieces. Crunchy-looking pecans and toasted almonds are placed evenly throughout. Crumbled white cheese is sprinkled over the salad, creating small uneven clusters on top. Two wooden salad spoons rest on the side of the bowl, partially inside. In the blurry background, another similar bowl with a salad is visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe plays its part perfectly — from juicy citrus to crunchy nuts. When shopping, pick the freshest produce you can find, especially for the greens and the fruit. Trust me, it makes all the difference.

Flat lay of mixed baby greens loosely piled, two peeled and segmented oranges, one sliced avocado with bright green flesh, a small heap of glossy red pomegranate seeds, a mound of crumbled white feta cheese, a small pile of candied spiced pecans, and four small white ceramic bowls each containing cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and cranberry balsamic dressing, all perfectly arranged in balanced symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Mixed baby greens: Choose tender, fresh leaves like baby spinach, arugula, or spring mix for a soft base that lets the toppings shine.
Oranges: Rind removed and segmented so they add natural sweetness and juiciness without any bitterness from the peel.
Avocado: Adds creamy texture and healthy fats that balance the tangy dressing.
Pomegranate seeds: These little ruby gems bring a pop of color and a pleasant crunch with a hint of tartness.
Feta cheese: Its salty crumbly texture is essential for contrast and depth of flavor.
Candied spiced nuts: Provide sweetness and crunch; pecans or walnuts toasted with cinnamon and sugar work beautifully if you don’t have the candied version.
Cranberry balsamic dressing: The star of the bowl — combines cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper for that perfect sweet and tangy punch.
Cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper: The components to whip up that vibrant dressing fresh, ensuring it’s not too sweet or too sharp.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to switch things up depending on what’s in season or what’s in my fridge. This Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe is super flexible, so feel free to swap out a fruit or nut to match your taste or what you have around.

Variation: Once, I swapped oranges for grapefruit which added a nice zing and a tiny bit of bitterness that paired nicely with the sweetness from the dressing—totally worth trying if you want a more citrusy kick.
Make it vegan: Use a plant-based feta or omit cheese altogether, and the salad maintains its charm with the tangy vinaigrette and crunchy nuts.
Add protein: Grilled chicken or roasted chickpeas are great additions if you want to make this a more filling meal.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Greens and Fruit

I always start by washing and drying the mixed baby greens thoroughly; soggy leaves are a salad killer in my book. Then, peel your oranges carefully so that all the pith is gone before you segment them—this avoids any bitterness and keeps the salad bright.

Step 2: Slice the Avocado and Gather the Toppings

Slice or chop your avocado right before assembling so it stays fresh and vibrant. Have your pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta, and candied spiced nuts ready to sprinkle on top—these add the texture and flavor punches your salad needs.

Step 3: Whisk Together the Cranberry Dressing

Combine cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar. Whisk (or shake) until everything’s emulsified and smooth. Taste and adjust the salt or sweetness if needed—sometimes I like a little extra tang!

Step 4: Toss and Serve

You can choose to toss the salad lightly with the dressing for an even coat or just drizzle it over the top to keep the presentation a bit fancier. Either way, serve right away to enjoy the freshest textures and flavors.

Top Tip

Over the years, I've learned that the key to this Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe shining is all about freshness and balance. Here are my go-to tips to help you nail it every time.

Prep Ingredients Fresh: Always prepare the avocado and fruit last to avoid browning or sogginess for the freshest bite.
Dressing First, Always Taste: Whisk your dressing and adjust it before drizzling—sometimes cranberry sauce sweetness varies, so taste and tweak to your preference.
Don’t Over-Toss: Toss the salad gently to prevent bruising the delicate greens and keep the textures distinct.
Add Nuts Last: Sprinkle nuts just before serving so they keep their crunch instead of going soggy.

How to Serve Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe

Garnishes

I love adding a few extra pomegranate seeds and a light dusting of freshly cracked black pepper on top just before serving. Sometimes a sprig of fresh mint or rosemary complements the cranberry flavors beautifully and makes the salad feel even more festive.

Side Dishes

This salad pairs wonderfully with roasted root vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, or even alongside a warm grain bowl. It also plays well with holiday mains like roast chicken, turkey, or pork tenderloin for a complete meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve arranged this salad in individual mason jars or served it layered in clear bowls so guests can see all those vibrant colors. It’s perfect for brightening up the table and making portion control easy for guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftover salad components separately whenever possible—especially the dressing and nuts—to maintain crisp textures. Greens with dressing tend to wilt, so keep those apart if you want leftovers to last into the next day.

Freezing

This salad is best fresh, so I don’t recommend freezing once assembled. However, you can freeze homemade cranberry sauce ahead of time and then thaw it for quick dressing prep on the day you make it.

Reheating

Since this is a fresh salad, reheating isn't really recommended, but if you added leftover protein like grilled chicken, you can gently warm that separately before adding it to the fresh salad right before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the cranberry dressing ahead of time?

Absolutely! The cranberry dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Just give it a good whisk before using to recombine the ingredients.

What can I substitute for candied spiced nuts?

If you don’t have candied spiced nuts, toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds with a sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar work perfectly as a crunchy sweet alternative.

Is this salad suitable for vegans?

Yes! Simply omit the feta cheese or replace it with a vegan feta alternative, and use a vegan-friendly cranberry dressing to make the recipe vegan while keeping all the delicious flavors.

How do I keep the avocado from browning?

To keep avocado fresh and green, slice it just before serving and toss it gently into the salad. Adding acidic dressing like cranberry balsamic also helps slow browning.

Final Thoughts

This Winter Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe has become one of those cozy staples I keep coming back to when I want a meal that’s light but full of character. It feels fancy enough for a holiday feast but simple enough for weeknight dinner, and I’m sure you’ll love how seamlessly it brings fresh winter flavors to your table. Give it a try and watch it become your go-to salad for the season!