This cranberry Jello salad has tart, sweet, and refreshing flavors for a vintage dessert salad with a touch of nostalgia.
Table of Contents
Many cranberry salad recipes can be overly tart or overly sweet – this recipe has the correct balance of the two. Plus, the added pineapple and oranges give it a tropical twist that’s simply irresistible.
If you’re a fan of cranberries, you’ll love my cranberry muffin recipe for a sweet breakfast treat, or go for a more classic dessert with my apple cranberry crumble. My cranberry coffee cake is also a family favorite!
This recipe was found in my grandma’s recipe box as a clipped recipe from a newspaper. I remember her making a recipe like this when I was growing up so there was quite a bit of nostalgia making this recipe.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Super Fast and Easy: This recipe is a snap to pull together. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a delicious, retro dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
- Incredibly Flavorful: The flavors in this vintage fruit salad are absolutely delicious with the perfect combo of raspberry Jello, cranberry sauce, pineapple, and walnuts.
- Perfect for the Holidays: With its vibrant red color, this salad is the perfect addition to any holiday spread. It’s a festive, flavorful dish that everyone will love!
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Key Ingredients
- Red Raspberry Jell-O: This will be the base of our salad, giving it a sweet and fruity flavor as well as a fun, jiggly texture.
- Boiling Water: We’ll use this to dissolve the Jell-O, since we need it to make sure the salad sets properly.
- Whole Cranberry Sauce: This will add a tartness to the salad, as well as a bit of texture from the whole cranberries.
- Crushed Pineapple: Along with its juice, the crushed pineapple will add a tropical sweetness and a bit of tang to the salad.
- Chopped Walnuts or Pecans: These will provide a crunchy contrast to the jiggly salad, as well as a nutty flavor.
Equipment
- Serving Bowl or 8×13 Dish – This is where you’ll pour your cranberry Jello salad mixture to set. Make sure it’s the right size to hold the dish and fits in your fridge.
How to Make Cranberry Jello Salad
Preparation
Start by boiling some water. This will be used to dissolve the Jell-O mix.
Step 1- Combine Hot Water and Jell-O Mix
In a bowl, pour 1 cup of the hot water you just boiled and add the Jell-O mix. Stir it well to make sure the Jell-O is completely dissolved.
Step 2 – Add Cranberry Sauce, Pineapple, and Walnuts
Next, add the cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, and chopped walnuts to the Jell-O mixture. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
Step 3 – Pour into Dish and Chill
Pour the Jell-O mixture into your favorite serving dish or an 8×13 dish. Then, place it in the refrigerator and chill for at least 5 hours. You’ll know it’s ready when the Jell-O is set.
Expert Tip
To ensure that your cranberry jello salad comes out of the serving dish easily, lightly grease the dish before adding the jello mixture.
Recipe Variations
- Smooth Cranberry Sauce: The recipe calls for whole cranberry sauce, but you can also use the smooth variety for a different texture in your salad.
- Different Nuts: Feel free to experiment with the nuts in this recipe. While it calls for walnuts or pecans, you can try it with almonds or even pistachios for different combinations.
- Add Zest: For a pop of citrus flavor, mix in a tablespoon of orange zest to the Jell-O mixture. This addition pairs perfectly with the cranberry and pineapple.
What to Serve With
- For a refreshing summer treat, serve this cranberry jello salad alongside grilled chicken or fish. The tangy cranberries and sweet pineapple in the salad are the perfect contrast to the savory grilled meat.
- You can also serve it as a side dish with your holiday roast or turkey. The tartness of the cranberries compliments the rich and savory flavors of the main dish.
- For a quick and easy dessert, serve it with a dollop of whipped cream. The creamy whipped cream compliments the fruity flavors of the salad.
Make Ahead Instructions
This recipe takes hours to chill in the refrigerator so that it can set, so that’s a great way to make this dessert a few hours ahead of time for a dinner party or holiday.
Recipe FAQs
For the best results, make sure to use the specified amount of boiling water when preparing the Jell-O. Also, allow enough time for the salad to chill and set in the refrigerator, at least 5 hours is recommended.
Yes, you can. While this recipe calls for red raspberry Jell-O, you can get creative and use a different flavor like cherry or strawberry.
No, you should include the juice from the crushed pineapple in the recipe. It adds a nice flavor to the salad.
Absolutely! The recipe calls for 1 cup of chopped walnuts, but you can use pecans or any other nut you like. If you have a nut allergy, you can also leave them out altogether.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: You can store any leftover cranberry jello salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to keep it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
- Freezing: Unfortunately, due to the Jello in this salad, I don’t recommend freezing it. Freezing can alter the texture of the Jello and the salad as a whole, resulting in a less than desirable consistency.
More Cranberry Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This cranberry jello salad recipe yields a delicious jello salad that can serve about 10-12 people.
- How to Scale: If you’re planning to serve a larger crowd, you can easily double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Just make sure to use a larger mixing bowl to dissolve the Jell-O in the boiling water and a larger mold to set the jello salad.
Cranberry Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 6 oz red raspberry Jell-O
- 1 Cup boiling water
- 14 oz can whole cranberry sauce
- 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice
- 1 Cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Lightly grease an 8×13 dish or your favorite serving bowl. Boil water.
- In a bowl, carefully whisk together the 1 cup of hot water and the Jell-O mix.
- To the Jell-O mix, add the cranberry sauce, undrained crushed pineapple, and chopped walnuts. Mix.
- Immediately pour into an 8×13 dish or your favorite dish to serve. Chill for at least 5 hours or until set.
My grandmother made this but she also added cottage cheese. It was our favorite dish.
Yum! Yes, some versions include cottage cheese.
This recipe takes me back to my childhood! My grandma would make a recipe similar to this. I love the tart and sweet flavors blended together perfectly in this recipe.