Cranberry Jello Salad is a classic Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish made with fresh cranberries, fruit, and pecans.

Cranberry Jello Salad in a mini jello mold with fresh cranberries and pecans
Cranberry Jello Salad

This Cranberry Jello Salad was one of my grandma’s favorites side dishes and it always made an appearance at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. It is different than Cranberry Fluff (my other grandma’s favorite!), less sweet and more tart, and it is super easy to make. The combination of tart cranberries, sweet apples and oranges, crunchy pecans, and jiggly Jello is absolutely perfect! 

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Close-up of Cranberry Jello Salad

Cranberry Jello Salad is probably one of the easiest sides you can make for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can make it a day or two ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator which means you can focus on your mashed potatoes, stuffing, and broccoli casserole.

Cranberry Jello Salad ingredients, orange, apple, fresh cranberries and sugar

How to Make Cranberry Jello Salad

  1. In a food processor, pulse cranberries with orange and apple until finely chopped.
  2. Remove mixture and place in a bowl.
  3. Pulse pecans in food processor until finely chopped.
  4. Stir pecans into cranberry mixture, add sugar and mix thoroughly.
  5. Let mixture sit in refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight.
  6. Bring water to a boil.
  7. Add both boxes of gelatin to the hot water and stir until completely dissolved.
  8. Pour gelatin into bowl with cranberry mixture and mix well.
  9. Pour gelatin mixture into a large casserole dish or gelatin mold.
  10. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Cranberry Jello Salad in a jello mold

Jello Mold Alternatives:

You have a couple of options for how to serve your Cranberry Jello Salad. My grandma always put it in a casserole dish and called it a day. It works great for big groups. If you want to get a little fancier you can use a Jello mold (how 1950s!). If you’re like me you probably don’t have a Jello mold though and who needs one more thing to store, right? Well, if you have a mini bundt pan you can you that as a jello mold.

How to Use a Bundt Pan as a Jello Mold:

  1. Spray a small amount of non-stick spray on the inside and pour in your cranberry jello salad.
  2. Let it set in the fridge.
  3. 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!).
  4. 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!

Beautiful, individual cranberry salads every time!

Cranberry Jello Salad on a white plate

Want more easy side dish recipes?

CRANBERRY JELLO SALAD
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Servings: 12
Prep Time: 10 mins
Set Time:: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins

Cranberry Jello Salad

This delicious cranberry jello salad is made with fresh cranberries, apples, oranges and pecans. Great for a dessert, side or snack.
Cranberry Jello Salad in a mini jello mold with fresh cranberries and pecans
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Cranberries, fresh & chopped
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 1 Apple
  • 1 Orange
  • 1/2 cup 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 large casserole dish or gelatin mold.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Sodium: 68mg, Potassium: 59mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 40IU, Vitamin C: 7.6mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry jello, cranberry salad