Balsamic Cranberry Salad Dressing is the delicious rich and creamy result of having leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. It brings salads over-the-top!
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.
What's in this recipe?
- cranberry sauce (I used Spiced Cranberry Sauce.)
- balsamic vinegar
- grapefruit juice
- Dijon mustard
- grapeseed oil
- salt and pepper
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 Salad Dressing
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.)
Bijouxs
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!
valentina
Thank you, Lynn -- I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Colette
Great use for leftover cranberry sauce! Looks yummy!
valentina
Thank you, Colette! Hope you enjoy!
Deb
What a creative recipe to use up that last scoop of cranberry sauce! After last weeks feast a salad is certainly on the menu!
valentina
I just used up the last of the cranberry sauce -- and the dressing. 🙂
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
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 🙂
Ash-foodfashionparty
A lovely salad and great use of leftovers. I just love balsamic vinegar, this sounds delicious.
valentina
Thank you, Asha. 🙂
David
I can just imagine this with some goat cheese and candied pecans... Yum!
Diana
Oh I love this! I never know what to do with my leftover cranberry sauce, will have to try this. Thanks!
valentina
Hope you do and hope you love it! 🙂
Brian Jones
That sounds fantastic, such a wonderful flavour combination and a perfect accompaniment for so many different recipes.
valentina
Thanks, Brian!
Adrianne
Yes Valentina!!! This is perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving. You have perfected the recipe. I love the sound of the ingredients!
valentina
Awww thank you so much Adrianne! Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Claudia Lamascolo
this sounds like the perfect blend of tart and cranberry is so festive for the holiday. I love this change over the regular dressings!
valentina
Thank you! 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Jacqueline Meldrum
Brilliant idea. I am now wondering why I never thought of that!
valentina
Thanks Jacqueline - hope you try it! 🙂
Liz
YUM! I love homemade salad dressing and this sounds like a winner. A good excuse to make a big batch of cranberry sauce 🙂
valentina
Thanks, Liz! Yes, excuse to make a batch, or to use up the leftovers from Thanksgiving. 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
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! 🙂
valentina
I'm in need of many salads! 😉 Thanks, David! 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
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!!
valentina
It is tasty, Dawn. Thanks so much and enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef
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.
valentina
I know, right!? Salads all week! Thank you, Jeff. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kelly | Foodtasia
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!
valentina
Thanks so much, Kelly. 🙂 ~Valentina
Chef Mimi
Love this! I did something similar, but not with balsamic, because my husband doesn’t like it! Great use of leftover cranberry sauce!
valentina
Thanks, Mimi! Would be good with so many different vinegars.:-) ~Valentina