Festive cranberry Jello salad is a sweet-tart dessert that takes minutes to make!

Cranberry sauce, mandarin oranges, and crunchy pecans are mixed with raspberry Jell-O and topped with whipped cream.

Best of all, it’s a make-ahead dream during the busy holiday season!

square of cranberry jello salad on a white plate

Delish Holiday Salad!

  • Cranberry salad with Jell-O is a fun and colorful addition to any celebration! So easy, that even the kids can help whip up this no-bake dessert!
  • Begin the holiday feast with a simple cheese ball and cranberry meatballs for snacking, then serve this festive cranberry salad along with Thanksgiving turkey and all the fixings!
  • This five-ingredient cranberry Jell-O recipe is a great recipe for making and taking to a party or potluck, and no cooking is required!
ingredients to make cranberry jello salad including oranges, cool whip, cranberry sauce, pecans, water, and jello

Just 5 Ingredients!

Cranberries – Canned cranberry sauce is available year-round and makes this dish come together super-fast! Add a handful of fresh cranberries for extra pops of citrusy sour flavor, if desired.

Jello – Raspberry, cherry, or any berry-flavored gelatin will work.

Try these flavor variations!

  • Apple pie filling, celery, walnuts, cubes of cheddar cheese, and lime Jell-O.
  • Mixed berry pie filling, slivered almonds, and raspberry Jell-O.
  • Crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and Lemon Jell-O.
  • Strawberry pie filling, kiwis, and Lime Jell-O.
  • Cherry pie filling, mini marshmallows, walnuts, and cherry Jell-O.

How to Make Cranberry Jell-O Salad

This easy peasy dessert is a cinch to make!

  1. Toast nuts and allow to cool completely.
  2. Prepare Jell-O as directed on the package. Set aside.
  3. Mix cranberry sauce, ½ cup pecans, and mandarin oranges until combined. Pour into a casserole dish and refrigerate until set.
  4. Spread Cool Whip over the top of the set salad and garnish with remaining pecans.

Tips for Success!

  • Make up to a day ahead and keep chilled until ready to serve.
  • Toasting nuts in a dry saute pan intensifies their flavor and keeps them extra crunchy in the salad!
  • Save the juice from the mandarin oranges and freeze in ice cubes to pop into cold drinks or cocktails!
cranberry jello salad in a dish with a scoop being taken out

Storing Cranberry Jell-O Salad

Keep leftover cranberry Jell-O salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Jell-O does not freeze or thaw well, but this recipe is so easy to make, why not just start fresh?

Other Easy Sides!

Have you tried this Cranberry Jello Salad recipe? Leave a comment and rating below!

cranberry jello salad
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Cranberry Jello Salad

Make this super fresh and delicious homemade Cranberry Jello Salad for the holidays!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings 7 People
Author Shannon Johanson

Ingredients  

  • 1 6 ounces package raspberry or cherry Jell-o gelatin powder
  • 1 cup boiling hot water
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 14 ounces can whole berry cranberry sauce
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans divided
  • 1 11 ounces can mandarin oranges well drained
  • 1 8 ounces cool whip topping ½ container, thawed

Instructions 

  • In a small pan, toast pecans over medium heat until golden and fragrant, stirring often. Cool completely.
  • In a large measuring cup mix Jell-o with boiling water, whisking until jello is dissolved. Stir in cold water.
  • Break apart cranberry sauce in a large mixing bowl. Add in ½ cup pecans and drained mandarin oranges, gently stirring until combined.
  • Mix in the Jell-o and pour into an 8×8 casserole dish. Refrigerate 5 hours or until set.
  • Spread whipped topping evenly over chilled Jell-o and store in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, top with remaining chopped pecans.

Notes

  • For a larger crowd, double the recipe and make in a 9×13 inch pan
5 from 2 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1239IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American

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About the author

Shannon is an Arizona transplant who traded the rain for a life in the sun. Her daughter is like having 5 kids in one so her “me” time is found outside running or in the kitchen cooking and creating recipes families will love. Shannon graduated with a Degree in Biology and went on to get her post-baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene. She feels the way to make people smile and come together is through good food, so she tries to create meals that will not only be easy to make, but delicious to eat. Shannon’s philosophy is, when all else fails, have a dream. So that is what she tries to do; dream, create, and bring her recipes to life from her kitchen to yours. Visit Shannon at The Food Cafe to learn more.
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