• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe

Mindy's Cooking Obsession

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Cranberry Raspberry Jello Salad Recipe

    Published: Nov 22, 2019 · Updated: Feb 12, 2023 by Mindy Boyd

    Pin468
    Share15
    Share862
    Tweet
    1345Shares
    Cranberry Raspberry Jello Salad is tasty way to perk up canned cranberry sauce using canned pineapple and raspberry jello.  via @mindyscookingobsession
    Jump to Recipe

    Cranberry Raspberry Jello Salad recipe features cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple and raspberry jello. That is it!

    This dish is tangy and sweet and goes perfectly with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Lee’s Aunt Betty used to make a jello salad kind of like this just about every year before she passed away.

    While searching for a similar recipe on the internet I found this one from Kraft.

    I thought to myself, does it have jello? Yes it does. But Aunt Betty used raspberry jello, so that is one change I made.

    Does this one have crushed pineapple? Yep.

    Does this one use whole berry cranberry sauce? Yes!

    Did Aunt Betty use pears in hers? Nope. So I left those out. Although Lee would not mind if I left them in.

    So Aunt Betty’s did have nuts and they do add a nice crunchy texture but I decided to leave those out because one of my kids isn’t a fan of nuts.

    I think she used orange juice or zest or something, but I wasn’t sure so I left that out too. I have no idea the method she used to make hers, but Kraft’s method seemed pretty good to me so that is how I do mine.

    Wondering why exactly it is called jello salad I googled it and found a very interesting article about congealed salads on the National Museum of American History website.

    Side view of a small glass bowl full of cranberry raspberry jello salad

    Ingredient Notes:

    Just 3 simple ingredients are all you need to make this festive side dish that is perfect on any holiday table.

    Crushed Pineapple – canned pineapple is better than fresh pineapple in this instance because you need the pineapple juice. It also helps to make this an easy recipe.

    Raspberry Jello – can use sugar free.

    Whole Cranberry Sauce – the type without whole berries can be used.

    Overhead view of one large and two small glass bowls of cranberry raspberry jello salad.

    How to Make This Jello Salad Recipe:

    1. Drain a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple, reserving the juice.
    2. Add enough water to the reserved pineapple juice to equal 3 cups. Pour into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
    3. In a large bowl or casserole dish pour hot water and juice mixture over jello and mix until the jello powder is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add 14 ounce can of whole berry cranberry sauce and stir until melted, about 5 – 7 minutes.
    4. Refrigerate for about an hour. Stir crushed pineapple into jello mixture and return to the refrigerator for about 3 hours or until set.

    A bowl of cranberry raspberry jello salad with the title in red below it.

     

    Tips & Tricks:

    The best tip I have is to be patient and gently mix the ingredients. It takes a while for the jello powder to dissolve and it takes even longer for the cranberry sauce to melt into the jello mixture.

    Stir gently so you don’t end up with Jello all over the place. It can be easy to get the liquid sloshing around and before you know it it is all over the place.

    I always make this the day before, at least. This way I don’t have to stress about it setting up in time.

    The pineapple will sink to the bottom if you don’t let the jello set up for a while before putting it in. About an hour works great because you also don’t want it to set up too much.

    I have not made this using a jello mold because I wanted to keep it as easy and fool proof as possible.

    Side view of a small bowl of jello salad with a large bowl full of it in the background.

    Additions & Substitutions:

    Most red jello will work. Cranberry, raspberry, cherry, or strawberry are all good options.

    As mentioned above, sugar free jello can be used.

    Fresh fruits can be added. I would add the fruit based on the flavor of jello. So if using raspberry jello then fresh cranberries and fresh raspberries. If using cherry or strawberry jello then fresh cherries or strawberries and/or fresh cranberries.

    Pears or mandarin oranges could also be added, fresh or canned (canned would need to be drained).

    Pecans or walnuts would be a nice addition for a bit of crunch, about 1/2 a cup or so.

    Add a dollop of Cool Whip to transform this from a delicious side dish to an even more delicious dessert.

    Garnish with fresh fruit.

    Storage:

    Store refrigerated in an airtight container or bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.

    Just like most foods that are served on our Thanksgiving table this should only sit out at room temperature for no more than 2 hours.

    A large glass bowl full of cranberry raspberry jello salad on a white tablecloth.

    Why We Love This Raspberry Cranberry Jello Salad Recipe:

    It reminds us of holiday dinners with family.

    This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled depending on the number of people that need to be fed.

    It is a great make ahead side dish. We love dishes that we can make a day or two ahead of time. This helps to make our holiday meals less stressful on the big day.

    More Recipes Perfect For Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner:

    Homemade Stove Top Stuffing

    Creamed Peas

    Follow us on social media!!

    Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |Twitter

    Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad

    Mindy Boyd
    Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad features whole berry cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, and raspberry jello. A tasty way to perk up canned cranberry sauce.
    4.94 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Refrigeration Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 can crushed pineapple 20 ounces
    • 1 box raspberry jello 6 ounces
    • 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce 14 ounces

    I earn a small commission from Instacart for qualifying purchases.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Drain pineapple, reserving the juice. Add enough cold water to pineapple juice to equal 3 cups. Pour into medium saucepan, bring to a boil.
    • Pour jello mix into a medium or large bowl. Pour boiling water over jello mix; stir 2 minutes or until jello mix is completely dissolved. Add cranberry sauce and stir until completely melted, about 5-7 minutes.
    • Refrigerate for about an hour, mix in crushed pineapple and return to the refrigerator for 3 - 4 hours or until jello is set.

    Notes

    • See in post notes above for valuable information that may help you make this recipe successfully.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Keyword Cranberry raspberry jello salad
    Did you make this?Please leave a comment on the blog or tag us on Instagram @mindyscookingobsession

     

    Pin this image for later!!

    Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad features whole berry cranberry sauce, crushed pineapple, and raspberry jello. A tasty way to perk up canned cranberry sauce.

     

    Some other Thanksgiving sides you might like:

    Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

    Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows feature canned sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, and mini marshmallows. A traditional Thanksgiving side dish.

     

    Super Easy Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans

    Super Easy Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans combine string beans, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and water to make a healthy, tasty, quick, and easy side dish.

     

    Asiago Garlic Mashed Potatoes

    Asiago Garlic Mashed Potatoes combine red potatoes, authentic cheese, garlic, butter, milk, salt and pepper to make an easy and delicious side dish.

    Pin468
    Share15
    Share862
    Tweet
    1345Shares

    More Side Dishes

    • Very close up overhead angle of a baked potato topped with butter, sour cream and green onions.
      Quick and Easy Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
    • A large bowl of potato salad with cut celery, hard boiled egg and onions that are on top of the potato salad.
      Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Original Potato Salad Recipe
    • A collage of 6 images, 5 vegetables and one cornbread.
      What to Serve with Chicken Fingers (Tenders) 60 Best Sides
    • The plate of potatoes and onions on a white and gold napkin with a silver fork on the right side.
      Easy Air Fryer Seasoned Potatoes and Onions Recipe

    Filed Under: Desserts & Treats, Salads, Side Dishes Tagged With: cranberry, crushed pineapple, dessert, holiday, jello, raspberry jello, salad, side dish, Thanksgiving

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angiesrecipes says

      November 23, 2019 at 5:40 am

      Such a beautiful and festive colour! Have never had anything like this..

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        November 29, 2019 at 6:27 pm

        Cranberry sauce is a traditional side to Thanksgiving dinner here in the US. This is my way of making it tastier.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there! I'm Mindy and this is my husband, and biggest fan, Lee. Most of the recipes that I make use ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. No special equipment or skills required.

    More about me →


    Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Reader Favorites

    • Homemade Tuna Helper Creamy Pasta
    • Featured image of the finished sliced potatoes in the air fryer.
      Sliced Potatoes in the Air Fryer
    • Close up view of a serving of green beans on a whit plate.
      Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe
    • Kodiak Cakes Muffin Recipe (without banana)
    • Overhead close up shot of a bronze colored pot full of alfredo chicken broccoli pasta.
      Easy Alfredo Chicken Pasta & Broccoli (with jar sauce)
    • one piece of cake on a white plate.
      Tornado Cake Recipe (Do Nothing)

    Popular Pasta Dishes

    • close up view of one pot meaty marinara pasta on a white plate.
      One Pot Meaty Marinara Pasta
    • Tortellini alla Panna Recipe
    • Skinny Baked Chicken Spaghetti - tender chicken and spaghetti in a cream cheese sauce is baked in the oven and topped with cheddar cheese.
      Skinny Baked Chicken Spaghetti
    • Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo - a quick and easy one pot meal with only 7 ingredients; chicken, broth, broccoli, orzo, cheese, salt, pepper.
      Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Orzo
    • Chicken Spinach Tortellini Alfredo is chicken, jar sauce, milk, cheese tortellini, spinach and Parmesan cheese and is on the table in about 30 minutes!
      Chicken Spinach Tortellini Alfredo
    • Orzo Salad with Feta and Dried Cranberries
    • A white plate with one serving of hamburger helper on it.
      Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheesy Italian Shells
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.
      Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac
    • Overhead close up of one serving of lemon pasta with peas and ricotta on a white plate.
      Easy Lemon Pasta with Peas and Ricotta Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Newsletter

    SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES

    CONNECT WITH US!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    FIND IT HERE

    Privacy Policy | Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Mindy's Cooking Obsession

     

    Loading Comments...