🎉 Introduction
If you’re looking for a Christmas salad that is vibrant, flavorful, refreshing, and stunning on the holiday table, this Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad is the perfect centerpiece. Combining sweet dried cranberries, crunchy almonds, fresh baby spinach, shallots, and a glossy holiday dressing with honey, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds, this salad captures everything we love about festive food.
It’s light enough to balance heavy holiday meals but bold in flavor, colorful in presentation, and satisfying enough to stand out. The dressing brings a beautiful harmony of sweetness, tanginess, and nutty richness, making each bite unforgettable.
Whether served as a starter, side dish, or paired with a main holiday protein, this vibrant salad will earn a permanent spot in your Christmas traditions.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Salad bowl
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Airtight container (for leftovers)
🛒 Ingredients
Salad Base
- 16 oz fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 tbsp finely minced shallot
- 1 cup sliced almonds
Holiday Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar (halal-friendly)
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Salt & pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Add spinach, dried cranberries, minced shallot, and almonds to a large salad bowl.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving.
Step 4: Toss gently to coat everything in the sweet and tangy holiday dressing.
Step 5: Taste and adjust sweetness, acidity, or salt as desired.
Step 6: Serve immediately for best freshness and texture.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 6–8
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
A fast, simple, and festive salad ready in minutes.
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
- Store salad without dressing up to 2 days.
- Store dressing separately up to 1 week in an airtight jar.
After Dressing
Best enjoyed fresh — spinach wilts after dressing is added.
Freezer
Not recommended.
🥄 Variations
⭐ 1. Christmas Orange Cranberry Salad
Add fresh orange slices or mandarin segments.
⭐ 2. Strawberry Spinach Christmas Mix
Swap cranberries with fresh strawberries.
⭐ 3. Maple Dressing Version
Replace honey with maple syrup for deeper sweetness.
⭐ 4. Feta or Goat Cheese Crumble
Add creaminess and tang (optional).
⭐ 5. Pecan Holiday Salad
Replace almonds with toasted pecans.
⭐ 6. Apple Spinach Holiday Crunch
Add sliced Honeycrisp apples.
⭐ 7. Protein Boost
Top with grilled chicken or salmon.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I make the dressing ahead?
Yes — it lasts 7 days in the fridge.
2. Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried?
Yes, but mix them with a bit of sugar to reduce tartness.
3. Can I substitute another green for spinach?
Yes — use kale, arugula, or spring greens.
4. Does white wine vinegar contain alcohol?
No — it’s a halal-friendly vinegar.
5. Can I make it less sweet?
Reduce honey or sugar as needed.
6. Can I toast the almonds?
Yes — it boosts flavor and crunch.
7. What protein works best with this salad?
Chicken, turkey, or salmon.
8. Can I make it dairy-free?
It already is!
9. Does spinach wilt quickly with dressing?
Yes — dress right before serving.
10. Can I add pomegranate seeds?
Absolutely — they look beautiful and add crunch.
🏁 Conclusion
This Best Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad is everything a holiday salad should be: bright, refreshing, colorful, and bursting with flavor. With sweet cranberries, toasted almonds, fresh spinach, and a festive honey-poppy seed dressing, each bite delivers the perfect balance of sweetness, tang, crunch, and freshness.
It’s elegant enough for Christmas dinner yet easy enough for everyday meals. Whether you serve it beside roast turkey, chicken, salmon, or vegetarian dishes, this salad brings a fresh and festive charm to your table.
A must-make Christmas salad you’ll use year after year!
Best Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Notes
Refrigerator Store salad without dressing up to 2 days. Store dressing separately up to 1 week in an airtight jar. After Dressing Best enjoyed fresh — spinach wilts after dressing is added. Freezer Not recommended. 🥄 Variations
⭐ 1. Christmas Orange Cranberry Salad Add fresh orange slices or mandarin segments. ⭐ 2. Strawberry Spinach Christmas Mix Swap cranberries with fresh strawberries. ⭐ 3. Maple Dressing Version Replace honey with maple syrup for deeper sweetness. ⭐ 4. Feta or Goat Cheese Crumble Add creaminess and tang (optional). ⭐ 5. Pecan Holiday Salad Replace almonds with toasted pecans. ⭐ 6. Apple Spinach Holiday Crunch Add sliced Honeycrisp apples. ⭐ 7. Protein Boost Top with grilled chicken or salmon. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I make the dressing ahead? Yes — it lasts 7 days in the fridge. 2. Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried? Yes, but mix them with a bit of sugar to reduce tartness. 3. Can I substitute another green for spinach? Yes — use kale, arugula, or spring greens. 4. Does white wine vinegar contain alcohol? No — it’s a halal-friendly vinegar. 5. Can I make it less sweet? Reduce honey or sugar as needed. 6. Can I toast the almonds? Yes — it boosts flavor and crunch. 7. What protein works best with this salad? Chicken, turkey, or salmon. 8. Can I make it dairy-free? It already is! 9. Does spinach wilt quickly with dressing? Yes — dress right before serving. 10. Can I add pomegranate seeds? Absolutely — they look beautiful and add crunch. 🏁 Conclusion This Best Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad is everything a holiday salad should be: bright, refreshing, colorful, and bursting with flavor. With sweet cranberries, toasted almonds, fresh spinach, and a festive honey-poppy seed dressing, each bite delivers the perfect balance of sweetness, tang, crunch, and freshness. It’s elegant enough for Christmas dinner yet easy enough for everyday meals. Whether you serve it beside roast turkey, chicken, salmon, or vegetarian dishes, this salad brings a fresh and festive charm to your table. A must-make Christmas salad you’ll use year after year!
