There’s something magical about the crisp, fresh flavors of winter citrus paired with the tart sweetness of cranberry—it just feels like a holiday hug in a bowl. The Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe is one of my go-to salads when I want something bright, festive, and easy to throw together yet impressive enough for guests.

A large white bowl sits on a white marbled surface, filled with a colorful salad arranged in separated sections. The bottom layer is fresh green leafy lettuce spread evenly inside the bowl. On top, sliced pale yellow avocado with smooth texture is placed next to a pile of dark brown roasted pecans. Bright red pomegranate seeds create a jewel-like cluster beside soft white crumbled cheese. Next to that, light yellow grapefruit slices add a juicy look with a slightly translucent texture. A drizzle of dark brown dressing spreads over the avocado and cheese. Behind the bowl, there is a small clear jar with more dressing and wooden salad bowls stacked behind it. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This salad feels like a celebration of winter’s best seasonal flavors, and I love how the cranberry dressing pulls it all together with a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Plus, it’s incredibly quick to make, yet it’s packed with textures and colors that make it so satisfying.

Seasonal Freshness: The combination of oranges, pomegranate, and avocado brings in the fresh, vibrant flavors of winter produce.
Perfect Balance: Sweet candied nuts, salty feta, and tart cranberry dressing create a harmonious mix of tastes and textures.
Simple Prep: You can have this salad on the table in just 10 minutes, making it ideal for busy evenings or last-minute guests.
Versatility: Easily customizable to suit personal taste or dietary needs—swap nuts or dressings based on what you have on hand.

The image shows a large wooden bowl filled with a fresh salad. The salad has a base layer of mixed green leafy vegetables, including kale and spinach with uneven textures and vibrant green colors. Spread throughout the greens are round, bright red pomegranate seeds and creamy white crumbles of cheese. There are also slices of pale yellow citrus fruit layered on top, along with whole toasted brown pecans adding a crunchy texture. Two large wooden salad spoons rest inside the bowl, partly visible at the top left. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface, with a slightly blurred background showing another bowl of similar salad and some kitchen items. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This salad is a wonderful orchestration of flavors and textures that naturally complement one another. The juicy citrus brightens your palate, creamy avocado adds richness, and the tart, slightly sweet cranberry dressing ties everything together. When you pick good-quality fresh ingredients, you’ll notice the difference immediately.

Flat lay of peeled orange segments arranged neatly next to bright green sliced avocado, a small pile of shiny red pomegranate seeds, fresh vibrant mixed baby greens filling a simple white ceramic bowl, a mound of crumbly white feta cheese, a pile of glossy candied spiced pecans, small white ceramic bowls each containing deep red cranberry sauce, dark balsamic vinegar, and golden olive oil, and a tiny white bowl with coarse salt and cracked black peppercorns, all elements fresh and natural, perfectly balanced and symmetrical, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Oranges: Choose sweet, seedless oranges like Navel or Cara Cara for easy segmenting and a juicy burst of citrus.
Avocado: Pick a ripe but firm avocado to avoid mushiness—this adds a buttery texture that balances the acidity.
Pomegranate Seeds: These bring a delightful crunch and jewel-like color to the salad; if fresh isn’t available, frozen works fine too.
Mixed Baby Greens: A tender, mild base that lets the other ingredients shine.
Feta Cheese: Its saltiness is crucial — it contrasts beautifully with the sweet elements.
Candied Spiced Nuts: I love pecans for their natural sweetness but walnuts or almonds work well too; the spice adds warmth.
Cranberry Balsamic Dressing: This is the star dressing—sweet, tart, and tangy with a depth of balsamic flavor.
Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Cranberry Sauce: Essential for crafting that perfect homemade dressing if you want to go the scratch route.
Salt and Pepper: A dash of seasoning wakes up all the salad’s flavors beautifully.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I always like to tweak this Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe depending on what’s in season or what I’m craving. It’s a wonderfully forgiving salad—once you know the balance of flavors, you can make it your own effortlessly.

Variation: I’ve swapped candied pecans for toasted walnuts when I wanted a nuttier flavor profile, and it worked beautifully.
Dietary Swap: To make it vegan, just replace feta with crumbled tofu or omit it altogether; using a maple- or agave-sweetened cranberry dressing keeps the sweetness intact.
Flavor Boost: Adding a sprinkle of fresh herbs like mint or basil can add a fresh brightness if you feel adventurous.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Citrus and Greens

Start by peeling your oranges carefully—no pith needed as it adds bitterness—and slice into segments over a bowl to catch any juice. Lay them aside and slice or chop the ripe avocado just before assembling to prevent browning. Meanwhile, place your mixed baby greens in a large serving bowl or divide evenly into salad plates for effortless serving.

Step 2: Add the Toppings

Scatter pomegranate seeds across the greens and place the orange segments and avocado on top. Crumble the feta cheese over everything—this salty element is essential. Then sprinkle with your candied spiced nuts for that irresistible crunch and hint of warmth.

Step 3: Dress & Serve

Drizzle the salad with cranberry balsamic dressing. I love to toss it gently, so everything gets coated without bruising the fruit too much. But if you prefer, serve the dressing on the side so everyone can add as much as they like. Then enjoy immediately for the best texture and flavor.

Top Tip

After making this salad several times, here are a few handy tips that make this dish truly shine every time.

Segment Oranges Over a Bowl: This way, you catch every drop of juice and can add it to your dressing or salad for extra flavor.
Prep Avocado Last: To keep it looking fresh and green, cut your avocado just before serving and toss gently at the end.
Toast Your Nuts if Not Candied: A quick toast in a dry pan boosts flavor and crunch, giving a great contrast to creamy avocado and juicy fruit.
Keep Dressing on the Side When Serving to Guests: This respects individual tastes and keeps your salad looking vibrant and fresh longer.

How to Serve Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe

winter citrus salad - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to finish this salad with a sprinkle of freshly cracked black pepper and sometimes a few thin orange zest ribbons for an extra pop of color and aroma—makes it feel fancy without extra effort.

Side Dishes

This salad is brilliant alongside roasted chicken or turkey, especially during holiday dinners. It also pairs beautifully with quinoa or wild rice if you want to keep things vegetarian but filling.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served this salad layered in clear trifle bowls, so you see the vibrant fruit and greens through the glass. Another idea is to use individual coupe glasses for a pretty plated effect that makes any meal feel festive.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

This salad is best eaten fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them without dressing in an airtight container in the fridge. Add the cranberry dressing just before serving to keep the greens crisp and avoid sogginess.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing this salad because the fresh citrus, greens, and avocado don’t thaw well and will lose their texture and flavor.

Reheating

This salad is served cold and fresh, so reheating isn’t needed. Instead, if you want to use any leftover components like nuts or dressing, you can incorporate them into other dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the cranberry dressing from scratch?

Absolutely! Mix together cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a pinch of salt, and pepper to taste. Whisk until smooth and adjust sweetness or tanginess to your preference.

What nuts work best in this salad?

Candied spiced pecans are my favorite because they add sweetness and spice, but you can use toasted almonds, walnuts, or even hazelnuts depending on your taste and what you have on hand.

Can I prepare this salad ahead of time?

You can prep all the ingredients individually ahead of time (segment oranges, seed pomegranate, chop avocado, crumble feta), but assemble the salad and add the dressing just before serving to keep everything fresh.

Is this salad suitable for a vegan diet?

Yes! Simply omit the feta cheese or substitute it with crumbled tofu or a vegan cheese alternative, and use a vegan-friendly dressing to keep it plant-based without losing flavor.

Final Thoughts

This Winter Citrus Salad with Cranberry Dressing Recipe always brings me back to cozy winter evenings, celebrations, and sharing good food with friends. It’s such a simple recipe, yet it feels special every time—it’s bright, balanced, and utterly satisfying. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll find a happy spot at your table all season long.