Cranberry Jell-O Salad

This cranberry Jell-O salad will add a bright and fruity burst of nostalgic color to your Thanksgiving table. According to many members of the Cookdap community, even the pickiest eaters will request it year after year.

Cranberry Jell-O Salad Ingredients

You need just five — count 'em, five — ingredients to make this cranberry Jell-O salad:

• Water: Before you start combining the ingredients, you'll bring two cups of water to a boil.
• Gelatin mix: You'll need two packages of cherry-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O).
• Cranberry sauce: Opt for canned, jellied cranberry sauce.
• Pineapple: A can of crushed pineapple adds even more bright, fruity flavor to this cranberry Jell-O salad.
• Nuts: The recipe calls for chopped pecans, but you can use walnuts if you prefer.

How to Make Cranberry Jell-O Salad

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below. But here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this festive cranberry Jell-O salad:

1. Combine the ingredients: Combine the boiling water and gelatin mix in a bowl. Stir until the mix is dissolved, then mix in the cranberry sauce and crushed pineapple.
2. Chill the salad: Transfer the mixture to a serving dish or (12 individual serving dishes) and sprinkle pecans on top. Cover and chill until set.

Can You Make Cranberry Jell-O Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes, this is a great make-ahead dish! Individual portions of this cranberry Jell-O salad should be fully set after about four hours in the fridge. One large dish, meanwhile, will benefit from a full night of chilling — so it might actually be better to make this salad the day before you plan to serve it.

How to Store Cranberry Jell-O Salad

Store your leftover Jell-O salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Jell-O Salad?

While you technically can freeze Jell-O salad, we don't recommend it. Freezing and thawing will change the consistency, making it runny and clumpy.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“This is an excellent recipe — tastes great and so …. easy,” according to cinnamon. “I did add a can of drained mandarin oranges and omitted the nuts. Thanks for this great addition to any meal.”

“This turned out great,” says yellwdaisy. Went by the recipe but did add a little Cool Whip to the top (after setting) for extra sweetness.”

"I love this salad," raves one Cookdap community member. "I think I have made it before, but had lost the recipe. It is very rich. I mixed the pecans in instead of putting them on top. It was very quick and easy."