The holidays are not the holidays without the super fresh and delicious taste of homemade Cranberry Jello Salad. So fruity and creamy from start to finish, this dessert salad is irresistible and makes the perfect side dish for your festive table.
There are just some sides that the holidays can’t do without, like Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts, Apple Walnut Salad and of course this Cranberry Jello Salad. Don’t get caught during the holidays without it.
Cranberry Jello Salad
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This Cranberry Jello Salad recipe starts with cherry or raspberry jello mixed with cream cheese that is chilled and then mixed with whole cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple and diced cucumber. It is topped with a creamy mixture of cool whip, cream cheese and a dash of sugar for a heavenly dessert salad your family and guests will rave about.
To keep with holiday tradition in our home we also love these cranberry meatballs made in the slow cooker and the very popular, and super simple cheese ball. You won’t go wrong with either of these added to your table.
Ingredients For Cranberry Jello Salad
- cream cheese
- cherry, raspberry or cranberry gelatin mix
- whole cranberry sauce
- crushed pineapple
- cucumber
- heavy cream
- cool whip
- sugar
- boiling water
- pecans for garnish
How To Make Cranberry Jello Salad
- Combine boiling water and jello until dissolved.
- Pour hot jello over cream cheese and beat until smooth. Chill completely.
- Add pineapple, cucumber, cranberry sauce, and whipped cream. Mix until incorporated. Pour into serving dish and chill.
- Beat together topping ingredients and spread over chilled jello base. Chill, garnish and serve.
How Long Does Jello Salad Last?
Jello, by itself, will last in the refrigerator for about a week. Given the combination of fruit and cream based ingredients in this Jello fruit salad, it will last only about 4 days. Make sure to wrap it tightly with plastic wrap for maximum freshness.
Thinking about freezing your jellied salad? I would not recommend it. First, it will not freeze completely because of the gelatin in the jello and secondly, it will loose its texture. You will be disappointed if you try to freeze it.
Can You Make Jello Salad A Day Ahead?
Yes! Make it a day ahead and then when ready to serve, garnish it as desired. It is a wonderful addition to your holiday menu because it can be made ahead of time, saving you time on the big day.
It’s time for all the hustle and bustle of the holidays to start, so be prepared and armed with amazing holiday favorites. Tis the season with this Cranberry Jello Salad, and your holiday meal is sure to be merry and bright.
Other Delicious Side Dishes
Candied Carrots – Perfectly sweet!
Avocado Deviled Eggs – a twist on a classic.
Roasted Butternut Squash – a festive side dish.
Cream Corn Casserole – a delicious casserole.
Spinach Strawberry Salad – so fresh and easy.
Cranberry Jello Salad
Ingredients
Base layer
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese softened
- 1 3 oz package cherry raspberry or cranberry (if you can find it) jello gelatin powder
- 1 cup boiling hot water
- 1 can whole cranberry sauce
- 1-1/4 cups crushed pineapple in juices
- ½ cup cucumber diced
- ½ cup heavy cream whipped
Topping
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese
- 1 container cool whip topping frozen
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- ½ cup chopped glazed pecans optional
Instructions
Base layer
- Pour boiling water over jello in a small mixing bowl, whisk until jello dissolves.
- In a large mixing bowl place softened cream cheese and pour hot jello over the top. Beat until smooth and chill for 45 minutes.
- Fold in pineapple (with juices), chopped cucumber, cranberry sauce, and whipped cream. Mix well and pour into a jello mold or 11x7 (2 qt) casserole dish. Let chill 2 hours uncovered.
Topping
- Beat together cream cheese, cool whip, and sugar. Spread evenly over chilled jello and store in refrigerator. When ready to serve, top with chopped glazed pecans. (optional)
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Did you mean 3 oz pack of jello?
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for catching that Rita. We definitely meant a 3 oz pack of jello!