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Cranberry Jello Salad Recipe

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3.9 from 46 reviews

This Cranberry Jello Salad is a vibrant, fruity dish that combines the tartness of fresh cranberries with sweet mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, and crunchy walnuts, all suspended in a refreshing strawberry-flavored gelatin. Perfect as a festive side or a light dessert, this salad sets beautifully in the refrigerator for a colorful and flavorful treat.

Ingredients

Fruits

  • 1 Pound fresh cranberries
  • 1 Can mandarin oranges (15 ounces), drained and juice reserved
  • 1 Can pineapple tidbits (20 ounces), drained and juice reserved

Gelatin Mixture

  • 2 Boxes strawberry flavored gelatin (3-ounce boxes)
  • 1 Cup boiling water
  • 1 Cup granulated sugar
  • Reserved juice from mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits

Add-ins

  • 1 Cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

  1. Clean the cranberries: Thoroughly rinse the cranberries and pick over to remove any debris. Drain well.
  2. Pulse cranberries: Place the cleaned cranberries into a food processor and pulse 10 to 12 times until the cranberry pieces are about pea-sized.
  3. Drain canned fruit: Drain the liquid from the mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits, reserving the juice for the gelatin mixture.
  4. Make gelatin base: In a large bowl, empty the strawberry gelatin powder. Bring 1 cup of water to a full boil, then carefully pour the boiling water into the gelatin powder. Whisk vigorously for 1 minute until the gelatin completely dissolves.
  5. Add sugar: Stir the granulated sugar into the warm gelatin mixture until fully combined.
  6. Incorporate reserved juice: Add the reserved juice from the canned mandarin oranges and pineapple to the gelatin mixture; stir well to combine.
  7. Combine fruits and nuts: Gently fold in the pulsed cranberries, drained mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, and chopped walnuts into the gelatin mixture, ensuring even distribution without crushing the fruit.
  8. Set the salad: Pour the mixture into a serving dish, cover it, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the gelatin is fully set.

Notes

  • For best texture, ensure the cranberries are pulsed to pea-sized pieces rather than fully pureed.
  • You can substitute walnuts with pecans if preferred.
  • For a less sweet salad, reduce sugar to 3/4 cup.
  • This salad can be prepared a day ahead and kept refrigerated to allow flavors to meld.
  • Use fresh cranberries in season or frozen cranberries (thawed) if fresh are unavailable.

Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/cranberry-jello-salad-recipe/