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    Home » Condiments, Dressings & Sauces » Balsamic Cranberry Salad Dressing

    Balsamic Cranberry Salad Dressing

    Nov 30, 2019 · by Valentina · 32 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Balsamic Cranberry Salad Dressing is the delicious rich and creamy result of having leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. It brings salads over-the-top!Balsamic Cranberry Dressing in a tall bottle with a cork.

    What to do with Leftover Cranberry Sauce

    Are you wondering what to do with leftover cranberry sauce? I have some every year.

    Among other things, you can make this amazingly delicious balsamic cranberry salad dressing.

    I love cranberry sauce, and a Thanksgiving feast simply isn't complete without it. That said, I seem to always have more of it leftover than any other dish.

    Your could make the oh-so-yummy Spiced Cranberry Sauce Muffins. They promise to be a treat, especially warmed up with a dab of butter.

    I made the muffins and still had cranberry sauce to spare, so I decided to use it to whip up this delicious, rich and creamy salad dressing.

    red and white striped bowl filled with spiced cranberry sauce

    What's in this recipe?

    • cranberry sauce (I used Spiced Cranberry Sauce.)
    • balsamic vinegar
    • grapefruit juice
    • Dijon mustard
    • grapeseed oil
    • salt and pepper

    Balsamic Cranberry Dressing Recipe being drizzled onot a plate of greens.

    Uses for Balsamic Cranberry Salad Dressing.

    • This dressing is the perfect, festive dressing to add to salads during the holiday season.
    • The chunks of cranberries make it hearty enough to make a great salad with just lettuce. 
    • I love it with kale, mustard greens and arugula because the sweetness perfectly balances the peppery or bitter bite in the greens.
    • This dressing even has uses beyond salads. It's amazing drizzled into a turkey and brie sandwich.
    • You can also use it to marinate chicken!

    Recipe Tips

    • My instructions below are for using a bowl and whisk, but the easiest (and my favorite) way to make vinaigrettes and dressings is in a jar. If you do have a jar, add all of the ingredients to it, screw the lid on tightly and shake. That's it!

    So when you find yourself the day after Thanksgiving not knowing what to do with leftover cranberry sauce, jump over here for this recipe. 🙂

    And if you still have more leftover cranberry sauce you can make more muffins. Perfect!

    Creamy Cranberry Balsamic Dressing in a tall bottle with a red string.

    Creamy Cranberry Balsamic Salad Dressing

    Valentina K. Wein
    Balsamic Cranberry Salad Dressing is the delicious rich and creamy result of having leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. It's beings salads over-the-top!
    Makes about 1 cup
    5 from 9 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Condiments, Sauces, Dressings and Vinaigrettes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 21 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon grapefruit juice
    • ¼ cup cranberry sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • a few turns freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ cup grapeseed oil

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, mix the first 6 ingredients together. Then very gradually, mix in the oil. (Or, you can add all of the ingredients to a jar, seal it tightly with the lid, and shake.)

    NOTES

    Calorie count is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 21kcal
    Keywords how to use up leftover cranberry sauce, recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bijouxs

      December 01, 2013 at 4:41 pm

      Hi Valentina–I use fresh cranberries for the dressing in my Beet & Carrot Salad, but using leftover cranberry sauce is a great idea. Happy Holidays from Bijouxs!

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 03, 2013 at 6:49 pm

        Thank you, Lynn -- I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

        Reply
    2. Colette

      December 03, 2013 at 12:04 am

      Great use for leftover cranberry sauce! Looks yummy!

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 03, 2013 at 6:52 pm

        Thank you, Colette! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Deb

      December 03, 2013 at 7:14 pm

      What a creative recipe to use up that last scoop of cranberry sauce! After last weeks feast a salad is certainly on the menu!

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 07, 2013 at 6:17 am

        I just used up the last of the cranberry sauce -- and the dressing. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons

      December 03, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      What a creative use for leftover cranberry sauce! I always leave the leftover cranberries with my mom, since she loves them so much. But now I wish I had some so I could try this. Next year 🙂

      Reply
    5. Ash-foodfashionparty

      December 04, 2013 at 4:44 pm

      A lovely salad and great use of leftovers. I just love balsamic vinegar, this sounds delicious.

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 07, 2013 at 6:15 am

        Thank you, Asha. 🙂

        Reply
    6. David

      December 08, 2013 at 4:01 pm

      I can just imagine this with some goat cheese and candied pecans... Yum!

      Reply
    7. Diana

      November 21, 2018 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      Oh I love this! I never know what to do with my leftover cranberry sauce, will have to try this. Thanks!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 22, 2018 at 2:56 am

        Hope you do and hope you love it! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Brian Jones

      November 22, 2018 at 12:31 am

      5 stars
      That sounds fantastic, such a wonderful flavour combination and a perfect accompaniment for so many different recipes.

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 22, 2018 at 2:56 am

        Thanks, Brian!

        Reply
    9. Adrianne

      November 22, 2018 at 2:08 am

      5 stars
      Yes Valentina!!! This is perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving. You have perfected the recipe. I love the sound of the ingredients!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 22, 2018 at 2:57 am

        Awww thank you so much Adrianne! Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Claudia Lamascolo

      November 22, 2018 at 2:25 am

      5 stars
      this sounds like the perfect blend of tart and cranberry is so festive for the holiday. I love this change over the regular dressings!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 22, 2018 at 2:57 am

        Thank you! 🙂 Happy Holidays!

        Reply
    11. Jacqueline Meldrum

      November 22, 2018 at 3:14 am

      5 stars
      Brilliant idea. I am now wondering why I never thought of that!

      Reply
      • valentina

        November 23, 2018 at 12:45 pm

        Thanks Jacqueline - hope you try it! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Liz

      December 01, 2019 at 4:31 am

      5 stars
      YUM! I love homemade salad dressing and this sounds like a winner. A good excuse to make a big batch of cranberry sauce 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 01, 2019 at 9:59 pm

        Thanks, Liz! Yes, excuse to make a batch, or to use up the leftovers from Thanksgiving. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    13. David @ Spiced

      December 02, 2019 at 4:02 am

      5 stars
      What a fun use for leftover cranberry sauce! We always have a container of leftover sauce in the fridge, and this salad dressing sounds delicious. I would totally be all in on this one! Plus, I might need a salad or two after the Thanksgiving weekend. Haha! 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 02, 2019 at 1:45 pm

        I'm in need of many salads! 😉 Thanks, David! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    14. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      December 02, 2019 at 6:17 am

      5 stars
      I make balsamic dressing all the time, but never thought to add cranberry! What a brilliant idea, and so perfect for the holidays! I bet this adds SO much flavour to all kinds of salads and sides 🙂 YUM!!

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 02, 2019 at 1:46 pm

        It is tasty, Dawn. Thanks so much and enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    15. Jeff the Chef

      December 03, 2019 at 3:30 am

      What a fantastic and clever way to use up cranberry sauce! It sounds delicious. And I could use a salad after that big Thanksgiving weekend.

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 04, 2019 at 8:24 pm

        I know, right!? Salads all week! Thank you, Jeff. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    16. Kelly | Foodtasia

      December 06, 2019 at 10:18 pm

      5 stars
      Valentina, this is the perfect use for leftover cranberry sauce! So festive for the holiday season! Love the combination of flavors, especially the touch of grapefruit juice - YUM!

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 06, 2019 at 11:51 pm

        Thanks so much, Kelly. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    17. Chef Mimi

      November 26, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      Love this! I did something similar, but not with balsamic, because my husband doesn’t like it! Great use of leftover cranberry sauce!

      Reply
      • valentina

        December 03, 2021 at 9:57 am

        Thanks, Mimi! Would be good with so many different vinegars.:-) ~Valentina

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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