Cranberry Jello Salad
Cranberry Jello Salad is a classic Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish made with fresh cranberries, fruit, and pecans.
This Cranberry Jello Salad recipe is one of our favorite side dishes and it always makes an appearance at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Cranberry desserts are always a hit at the holidays, but if you want to try a cranberry appetizer, we recommend our fresh cranberry salsa. It’s always a hit!
We actually have two cranberry salad recipes, this cranberry jello salad and our Cranberry Fluff. Cranberry jello salad is the less sweet and more tart version. The combination of tart cranberries, sweet apples, oranges, crunchy pecans, and jiggly Jello is absolutely perfect!
This dessert is delicious and easy to make! You can make it a day or two ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator which makes it a great dish to serve along with turkey for your holiday meal.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Thank you!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cranberries – Fresh and chopped, this is why we call the dish cranberry salad. Some versions just a whole cranberry sauce but we prefer this fresh version.
- Sugar – To sweeten the cranberries.
- Apple – The crisp apple chunks give not only texture and crunch to your dish but also a sweetness to off-set the tart of the cranberries.
- Orange – Gives a delicious citrus flavor and texture to the dish. You can use clementine, navel, or mandarin oranges, whichever you prefer. You can also substitute with crushed pineapple or fresh pineapple if you wish.
- Pecans – Chopped to give a good crunch to your dish. You can sub this with walnuts, almonds, or any nuts you wish.
- Cherry Jello – Cherry jello compliments the raspberry for a delicious blend of flavor. Some people like to use strawberry jello instead, but we really like the way the cherry mingles with the raspberry.
- Raspberry Jello – The tartness of the raspberry gelatin blends well with the sweetness of the other ingredients.
How to Make Cranberry Jell-o Salad
Step 1 – Chop cranberries, orange, and apple – In a food processor, pulse cranberries with orange and apple until finely chopped. Remove mixture and place in a large bowl.
Step 2 – Chop pecans – Pulse pecans in food processor until finely chopped.
Step 3 – Sugar cranberry mixture – Stir pecans into cranberry mixture, add sugar and mix thoroughly.
Step 4 – Let mixture sit – Let mixture sit in refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight. This allows the sugar to sweeten the cranberries similar to our recipe for cranberry fluff.
Step 5 – Boil water and mix Jello – Bring water to a boil. Add both boxes of gelatin to the boiling water and whisk until completely dissolved. You won’t need cold water for this recipe the cranberry mixture will take it’s place.
Step 6 – Mix ingredients – Pour the jello mixture into a large bowl with cranberry mixture and mix well. Pour mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish (11×7 inches) or gelatin mold.
Step 7 – Cover and refrigerate – Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
When you’re ready to serve cut it into squares and serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top!
Using a Jello Mold
You have a couple of options for how to serve your Cranberry Jello Salad. If you are making it for a very large group, you can use a casserole dish. If you want to get a little fancier, you can use a Jello mold . However, if you’re like me and don’t have a Jello mold, you can use a Bundt cake pan. See below for instructions on how to use the Bundt pan.
How to Use a Bundt Pan as a Jello Mold
- Spray a small amount of non-stick cooking spray on the inside and pour in your cranberry jello salad.
- Let it set in the fridge.
- Once set, place the Bundt pan in a hot water bath for 30 seconds or so. Don’t let water get on top of the pan!
- Then place a large cutting board on top of the pan and flip it over. You may have to gently press on the cranberry jello salad to help it release but they will come out!
Make It Ahead of Time
Making a large Thanksgiving dinner? Good news! You can make this dish ahead of time!
You can make this dish up to one week in advance. However, we recommend making it no more than 2 days in advance. Leave your jello salad in the mold until you’re ready to serve.
If you aren’t using a mold, make sure to cover your jello salad tightly until ready to serve.
Can Cranberry Jello Salad be Frozen?
We do not recommend freezing Cranberry Jello Salad. When Jello starts to thaw, it gets watery and runny and it ruins the texture of this dish.
How Long Does Cranberry Salad Last in the Fridge?
Cranberry salad is good for 5-7 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover the dish with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and keep it chilled until ready to eat.
Looking for More Cranberry Recipes?
- Cranberry sweet potato casserole
- Cranberry buckle
- White Chocolate Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
- Fresh Cranberry Salsa
- Cranberry orange bread
- Cranberry Goat Cheese Log
- Cranberry Fluff Cheesecake Bites
Like this recipe?
Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipes like this.
Cranberry Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Fresh cranberries
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 Apple
- 1 Orange, peeled
- 2 ounces Pecans, chopped
- 3 ounces Cherry gelatin, 1 packet
- 3 ounces Raspberry gelatin, 1 packet
- 2 cup Water, boiled
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse cranberries with orange and apple until finely chopped.
- Remove mixture and place in a bowl.
- Pulse pecans in food processor until finely chopped.
- Stir pecans into cranberry mixture, add sugar and mix thoroughly.
- Let mixture sit in refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Bring water to a boil.
- Add both boxes of gelatin to the hot water and stir until completely dissolved.
- Pour gelatin into bowl with cranberry mixture and mix well.
- Pour gelatin mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish (11×17 inches) or a gelatin mold.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Nutrition
Recipe sounds great.Wondering if you peel the Apple and the orange before putting in food processor?
You peel the orange but it isn’t necessary to peel the apple. I hope you like it!
I just finished making your recipe! it in the fridge set up. I was looking for a recipe like this one, and so happy I found yours. I’m bring it over to my moms for Christmas Eve. I sure it going to be delicious. Thank you. Happy Holidays
I’m so glad you found it and I hope you love it as much as my family does. We just made ours and put it the fridge.
I’m so glad you found it and I hope you love it as much as my family does. We just made ours and put it the fridge!
I am so lucky I found this recipe, a friend of mine gave me this years ago and I lost it so I’m happy to have found one “without Pineapple” I can’t eat Pineapple. Anxious to make it again. Thank You.
Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
This is a lot like the one my Mother made and everyone loved it Everyone could not wait for Thanksgiving.
