American Coleslaw with Dried Cranberries

🔍 Quick Look: American Coleslaw with Dried Cranberries Recipe

• Ready in: 10 minutes prep; 60 minutes to chill
• Best Made: A few hours ahead for the flavors to combine
• Servings: 8
• Calories: 88 kcal
• Main Ingredients: Pre-sliced coleslaw mix, dried cranberries, Miracle Whip, vinaigrette, onion powder, celery seeds
• Flavor Profile: Crunchy • Creamy • Tangy • Sweet-Sour
• Mixing Techniques: Whisking • Mixing
• Cook Method: No Cook / Chilled
• Difficulty: Easy, making it great for cooks of all levels.
• Why You'll Love It: This cranberry coleslaw is the perfect mix of crunchy, creamy, sweet, and tart, and it comes together in minutes.
• Perfect For: Backyard cookouts, BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and holiday tables

Ingredients Notes for This Cranberry Coleslaw

Here's everything you'll need to make this coleslaw. Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.

• Coleslaw Mix - From a 14 or 16-ounce bag, or you can thinly slice green cabbage and shred carrots.
• Dried Cranberries - I use sweetened dried whole cranberries.

For the Dressing:

• Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - I prefer the flavor of Miracle Whip. But you can use your favorite mayonnaise.
•  Powdered Buttermilk - A little buttermilk powder will add richness to the dressing.
• Italian or Balsamic Vinaigrette - Instead of adding mustard or vinegar, use a basic vinaigrette to add flavor and slightly thin the dressing.
• Sugar - Just plain white granulated sugar will add just a touch of sweetness to this coleslaw like you find in Kentucky Fried Chicken's version.
• Onion Powder - Just a hint of onion adds savory goodness.
• Celery Seeds - This secret ingredient makes all coleslaw salads taste extra delicious.

Substitutions & Variations

• Substitute Golden Raisins. Instead of dried cranberries, you can use golden raisins for small bursts of sweetness.
• Substitute Celery Salt. You can substitute ¼ teaspoon of celery salt for the celery seed.
• Add Red Cabbage. For a bright burst of color add up to 1 cup of thinly sliced red cabbage for part of the green cabbage.
• Add Other Vegetables. Corn and shelled edamame add texture and additional flavor to coleslaw.
• Add Pineapple. Skip the sugar and add pineapple tidbits for a sweet tropical twist.
• Add Bacon. You can add cooked crumbled bacon to this coleslaw.
• Add Chopped Nuts. Both walnuts and pecans are delicious in this recipe.

Is This the Same as Cranberry Slaw?

Cranberry coleslaw and cranberry slaw are really just two names for the same idea - a classic coleslaw base with dried cranberries mixed in for sweetness and color. Some cooks use a vinaigrette-forward dressing for a lighter cranberry slaw, while this version keeps things creamy and classic with Miracle Whip.