Cranberry vinaigrette made with cranberry juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, dijon, & spices is simple to make & tastes fantastic on your favorite salad!
Cranberry salad dressing is so easy to make and an absolutely delightful addition to any salad. Make it a soup and salad lunch with a bowl of pickle soup and shaved brussels sprouts salad!
Cranberry Vinaigrette
Cranberry Vinaigrette Dressing
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Cranberry Vinaigrette Dressing Ingredients
- Cranberry juice – You can use 100% cranberry juice (my preference) or a blend if you like it a little sweeter. I don’t suggest using cranberry juice cocktail though.
- Vegetable oil – I am partial to olive oil in this recipe, but any vegetable oil will work.
- Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar.
- Mustard – Dijon mustard. We used a smooth blended dijon, but course or whole grain is also delicious and will give the dressing more body.
- Lime juice – Fresh squeezed lime juice is best.
- Spices – Garlic, salt, pepper.
I like to use an immersion blender or a small food processor to make the dressing smooth.
How do you make homemade cranberry salad dressing? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, add cranberry juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, lime juice, garlic, salt, and pepper to a bowl, measuring flask, or mason jar (I’m partial to a wide mouthed mason jar).
⭐ Next, cover and whisk, shake vigorously, or use an immersion blender to emulsify (we used an immersion blender in the pictured recipe).
⭐ Then, use on your salad, as a marinade, or store in the fridge for later.
⭐ Finally, if using later, shake again before adding to your food.
It gets a little frothy on top when you blend it, but the bubbles will settle quickly.
Preparation
Can you make this ahead of time?
Yes! I like to prep a double or triple batch of the dressing and use it over a couple weeks time. This will keep in the refrigerator very well.
A double batch of this dressing will yield about the equivalent of one store-bought bottle.
Why is my cranberry vinaigrette pink and not red?
The pictured vinaigrette has a pink hue because we emulsified the dressing with an upright or stick blender. This gives the oil a creamier texture and a yellow-ish hue. I promise, it’s still red wine vinaigrette and it’s absolutely delicious.
Do I have to blend my dressing?
Nope. Feel free to whisk or shake!
Can I use fresh cranberries?
You can add fresh cranberries to the dressing if you’re blending it, but make sure to taste test as you go because fresh cranberries tend to be on the bitter side.
Try adding some honey or sugar to offset the any bitterness.
Try adding a tablespoon of mayo or sour cream for a thicker, creamy version.
Storage and leftovers
How long does cranberry salad dressing last?
Salad dressings and marinades typically last for as long as the ingredient with the shortest use by date. So take a look at the expiration dates on each of your ingredients and then go by the soonest one.
How do you store salad dressing?
We store ours in a mason jar or carafe in the refrigerator. We usually use ours within a couple weeks, but it will usually last much longer, depending on the expiration dates on your individual ingredients.
Can you freeze cranberry vinaigrette salad dressing?
You can! Make a whole bunch and stash it in mason jars, then pop in the freezer. Make sure to leave some headroom for expansion and only use freezer-safe containers.
This vinaigrette will last indefinitely in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator or under a warm tap if you need it sooner. Whisk or blend if it has separated.
Cranberries and jalapeno go so well together, try making a spicy version!
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
✅ Try swapping the apple cider vinegar for balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.
✅ Add some sweetness with a pinch of sugar, squeeze of honey, or dollop of maple syrup.
✅ Give it a kick by blending in a small slice of fresh jalapeno.
✅ Drizzle over your potatoes before making roasted red potatoes
✅ Toss our favorite pasta salad recipe in the dressing.
What to eat with cranberry vinaigrette (serving suggestions)
We love love love this with our cranberry salmon bowls! It’s also delicious on a hearty cobb salad or this steak and cranberry salad!
You can also use it as a steak or chicken marinade or try drizzling it over baked salmon.
Cranberry + salmon = ❤
More delicious salad dressing recipes
- Red wine vinaigrette
- Citrus vinaigrette
- Creamy apple cider vinaigrette
- Buttermilk ranch dressing
- Creamy Italian dressing
- Chunky blue cheese dressing
- See all our recipes for salad dressing!
😍😍😍
Tools we love
- Mason jars – Wide mouth mason jars are my favorite way to prepare and store dressings!
- Stick blender – I love an emulsified salad dressing, so smooth and no whisking necessary.
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How to Make Cranberry Vinaigrette
Cranberry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lime juice fresh
- ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
- ½ clove garlic fresh
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a bowl, jar, carafe, or other vessel.
- Whisk, blend, or cover and shake vigorously.
- Enjoy on your favorite salads or as a delicious marinade.
- Store covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Cranberry Vinaigrette Dressing
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Andrea Thueson says
This recipe is MONEY, so dang good! I want to put it on everything. 🤩
Agnes says
Sounds so light and fresh! Thank you for sharing!
Samantha says
My family loves trying new homemade salad dressing, and this vinaigrette was so tasty and unique. Definitely a recipe we’ll repeat!