This cranberry salad with jello is a lovely and tasty holiday dish made with tart cranberries, crisp apples, and raspberry gelatin. Every taste will reveal fruity, zesty, and sweet flavors that enhance savory entrees. This timeless favorite works well for family get-togethers, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.
This cranberry salad with jello recipe has been a holiday classic in many families for generations. Itโs the perfect make-ahead dish that adds both flavor and a pop of color to your menu. Plus, itโs incredibly easy to prepareโjust mix, chill, and serve! The raspberry gelatin brings a subtle sweetness that balances the tart cranberries, and chopped apples add crunch and texture. You can even toss in chopped pecans or walnuts for extra richness.
Also known as a raspberry cranberry jello salad, this dish isnโt just for the holidaysโitโs also a great option for a church potluck or summer picnic. You can serve it molded in a bundt pan for a classic look or in a simple glass dish for easy scooping. No matter how you serve it, this jello salad is a bright and cheerful side that brings a touch of retro charm and delicious flavor to any occasion.
Content Covered Here
Why We Love This Cranberry Salad with Jello Recipe
- Itโs easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time, allowing for stress-free entertaining or a dish to share at potlucks.
- Jello recipes with fruit are a hit with all ages, and this one, with its bold holiday color and chunky fruit texture, makes a stunning dessert or sweet side dish thatโs sure to dazzle at any gathering.
- Itโs dairy-free so everyone can enjoy it. We donโt use cottage cheese or cream cheese, so this is the ideal dish to โtake to passโ at any event.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cranberry juice or cranberry apple juice: or substitute with your favorite juice or even water. Donโt use sugar-free cranberry juice or another juice with artificial sugar, as heating the juice will give it a bitter taste.
- Raspberry or strawberry Jello gelatin: we went with raspberry jello salad for a festive red vibe and flavor, but you can use any flavor or even sugar-free gelatin.
- Whole berry cranberry sauce: you can use canned cranberry sauce. Or, use canned crushed pineapple or mini pineapple chunks instead. Avoid using fresh pineapple, as the enzymes prevent the gelatin from gelling properly.
- Apple: diced apples provide a crisp bite to this fruit jello, but feel free to swap them for mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries, or diced bananas. Use any fresh fruit except for kiwi or pineapple. The natural enzymes in those fruits prevent gelatin from setting properly.
Recipe Variations
- Strawberry jello salad: use strawberry gelatin and apple juice and substitute 2 cups of chopped strawberries for the cranberry sauce for the perfect summertime jello fruit salad. Cherry jello is also a great option.
- Jello with fruit cocktail: use 2 1/2 cups of drained, canned fruit cocktail in place of the cranberry sauce and apples. This quick and easy salad would eliminate any need to prep the fruit.
Do you have an abundance of apples? Check out these apple desserts like apple cobbler with Bisquick or sourdough cake with apples to help use them up!
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Mixing bowls: For prepping the fruit and gelatin mixture
- Whisk or spoon: To stir the gelatin until dissolved
- Measuring cups: To portion out boiling water and cold water
- Saucepan: For cooking the gelatin
How to Make Raspberry Cranberry Jello Salad
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cranberry juice or hot water to a low boil, about 5 minutes.
- Add the boiling juice and gelatin packet to a large bowl. Do not follow the packet directions. Stir for 2 minutes or until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
- Add the ice cubes. Stir until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Remove any unmelted ice cubes.
๐ฏ TFN Pro Tip
Be sure to use a bowl for this gelatin salad instead of a mold. We tried using jello molds to set the gelatin for a fun, Christmas jello salad look, but the amount of cranberry sauce prevented it from molding thick enough to create a molded gelatin salad.
- Adding fruit to jello โ add the cranberry sauce and chopped apples to the gelatin mixture. Stir well.
- Refrigerate the raspberry cranberry jello salad for 4 hours or until firm. Stir before serving.
How Long Does Jello Take to Set
Typically, it takes 4 hours to fully set. Using the speed set method with ice cubes like in our recipe, it takes 30-90 minutes. But since weโve added cranberry sauce and chopped apples, weโre recommending 4 hours for this fruit jello salad recipe to set.
Serving Suggestions
For a festive touch, serve this cranberry salad with jello topped with Cool Whip or whipped cream and a few fresh cranberries, cherries, or even mint leaves. It pairs wonderfully with holiday main dishes like a glazed Crock Pot ham, Thanksgiving turkey, or roasted chicken. If youโre looking to dress up your holiday table like Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner, add a splash of red to your spread; this cranberry jell-o salad is the perfect side dish. It also works beautifully as a light dessert!
Recipe FAQs
No, you can use homemade cranberry sauce!
Yes you can use water instead of juice, or even half water and half juice for a slightly less sweet gelatin salad.
It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on how itโs prepared. For the speed-setting method, with ice cubes instead of cold water, it will take from 30 to 90 minutes. Using the traditional method with boiling water (or juice) and cold water, it takes 4 hours.
Our recipe uses the speed set method, but since weโre adding cranberry sauce and chopped apples, allow up to 4 hours for your raspberry jello salad to set.
You can! Just avoid using fresh pineapple and kiwi, as the enzymes in those fruits will keep the gelatin from setting properly. Or use 2 1/2 cups of drained canned fruit instead.
Yes, use whatever flavor or color gelatin or even unflavored gelatin in this jello fruit recipe.
You can use sugar-free Jello/gelatin. All other measurements and instructions remain the same. Donโt follow the direction on the box to prepare the jello, though.
You can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Other Holiday Side Dish Recipes to Considerโฆ
If you tried this cranberry salad with jello recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ๐ star rating and let me know how it went in the ๐ comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Cranberry Salad with Jello
Equipment
- saucepan
- large bowl
- whisk - or large spoon
Ingredients
- 1 ยพ cups cranberry juice or cranberry apple juice or water, see notes for substitutes
- 6 ounce (large) box raspberry or strawberry Jello gelatin or a .6 ounce (large) box of sugar free gelatin
- 3 cups ice cubes
- 14 ounces whole berry cranberry sauce about 2 cups
- 1 medium apple peeled and chopped; about 1 ยผ cup
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cranberry juice or water to a low boil, about 5 minutes.
- Add the boiling juice and jello packet to a large bowl. Do not follow the packet directions. Stir for 2 minutes or until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
- Add the ice cubes. Stir with a whisk or large spoon until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the unmelted ice cubes.
- Add the cranberry sauce and chopped apples to the gelatin mixture. Stir well, ensuring that the fruit is evenly mixed throughout.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm. Stir before serving.
- For a festive dessert topping, add a bit of cool whip or whipped cream on top with a fresh cranberries or mint leaves.
Notes
- Strawberry jello salad: use strawberry gelatin and apple juice and substitute 2 cups of chopped strawberries for the cranberry sauce for the perfect summertime jello fruit salad. Cherry jello is also a great option.
- Jello with fruit cocktail: use 2 1/2 cups of drained, canned fruit cocktail in place of the cranberry sauce and apples. This quick and easy salad would eliminate any need to prep the fruit.
- Cranberry juice or Cranberry apple juice โ use your favorite juice or water. Donโt use sugar-free cranberry juice or another juice with artificial sugar as heating the juice will give it a bitter taste.
- Cranberry sauce โ Use canned crushed pineapple or mini pineapple chunks instead. Avoid using fresh pineapple as the enzymes prevent the gelatin from gelling properly.
- Apple โ diced apples provide a crisp bite to this fruit jello but feel free to swap them for mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries, or diced bananas. Donโt use fresh kiwi as the enzymes will keep the gelatin mixture from setting properly.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Save This Recipe!
Enter your email below, and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox.
Amy says
I made this as a test run for Thanksgiving and it turned out great! Canโt wait to make it again next week for my family.