Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Recipe

Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Recipe

Whip up a tried and true classic Jello recipe and make this vintage cranberry jello for dinner tonight! Layers of tart pineapple, cranberry, cream cheese, and walnuts combine to make the perfect cranberry dessert or side dish. Take your friends and family back a few decades and bring this terrific cranberry Jello recipe to your next get together or holiday dinner.

My sister-in-law makes this cranberry jello for the holidays. You could make it anytime, but it really is a great dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Retro, vintage, classic, old-fashioned, whatever you want to call it, this cranberry jello recipe simply tastes great!

I make quite a few old-fashioned dishes. This Cranberry Jello recipe works great as a side or dessert, in my opinion. However, dishes like this Easy Carrot Cranberry Salad Recipe or Orange and Cranberry Steamed Carrots Recipe or sweet potato casserole recipe are what I consider side dishes. I mean, unless you want them as a dessert, then you do whatever you like – they’re yummy either way.

How to Make Cranberry Walnut Jello

1. Prepare the pineapple – Pour the pineapple juice from the can into a measuring cup then add water to the juice until 8 ounces of liquid is reached. Bring to a boil.
2. Make the lemon jello – Add the lemon jello to the boiling juice. Remove from heat and add the ginger ale. Chill for 20 minutes.
3. Add the cranberry and pineapple – Add the cranberry sauce and drained, crushed pineapple to the jello mixture. Pour into pan and let chill until set.
4. Make the topping – Make the dream whip and use a hand mixer to combine it with the cream cheese. Spread over the top of the chilled jello mixture. Sprinkle nuts over the top. Enjoy!

Tips and variations for making this Vintage Cranberry Jello Recipe:

● You will have some leftover topping – try it as a dip with carrots or celery! It is fantastic.
● Any name brands that were used can be substituted with other name brands or generics of the alike product.
● Make it sugar-free – Simply choose the sugar-free option when buying most of these ingredients and you can enjoy this salad as a sugar-free treat!
● Ginger ale substitution – If desired, you can always use another soda in the place of ginger ale. It’s a good idea to go with a clear soda for this recipe.
● Can I use fresh pineapple? – No, unfortunately, you cannot use fresh pineapple with cranberry jello salad. This is because fresh pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain. It breaks down foods often turning them to mush or giving them a strange texture.
● Add-ins – If desired, add in some dried cranberries, switch out the walnuts for pecans, crushed pretzels, or even add sprinkles. Have fun with the add-ins and experiment with which ones would be best.
● Is cranberry jello salad gluten-free? – Thankfully, all the ingredients used in this specific recipe are naturally gluten-free. However, there are some cranberry salad recipes that like to add crushed pretzels, which are commonly not gluten-free.
● Storage – Cover the cranberry jello salad and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Do not freeze or leave out.
● Reheating – You do not need to reheat this dish as it is served chilled.
● Change up the flavors – Don’t like the flavors used in this salad? Simply choose your own flavors and use those instead! Just be sure to use the same amounts. For example, if you’re switching out the lemon jello, be sure to use two boxes of the same size in the new flavor.

Common Questions About Cranberry Jello

Does Jello Make Cranberry Flavor?

Yes, they sure do! However, cranberry jello is not needed in this recipe unless, of course, you would like to use it in place of the lemon jello. This is totally up to you, but do note it will change up the flavor profile. If you want to go full cranberry with this salad, go ahead and reach for that cranberry jello!

How Long is Jello Salad Good For?

You can keep cranberry jello salad for around 7 days and it will still be good. However, I don’t like to push it that far and usually keep it for 4 days, just to be on the safe side. Of course, with all the sugar included in it, it doesn’t go bad quickly. Because of this, it often can go beyond 7 days and still be safe, if you want to push it that long.

Why is my Jello grainy?

If you do not allow the jello powder to dissolve before adding in the cold water, you’ll end up with a grainy jello. You could also end up with a white foamy layer on the top of your jello as well. If you want the perfect jello, be sure to be patient when mixing it into the hot water.

If you like cranberry side dish recipes, you might enjoy these:

● The Best Cranberry Sauce Recipe (really!)
● Easy Carrot Cranberry Salad Recipe
● Orange and Cranberry Steamed Carrots Recipe

Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Recipe Ingredients:

● 14 oz Crushed Pineapple
● 2 small boxes Lemon Jello
● 7 oz Ginger Ale
● 16 oz Jelly Cranberry Sauce
● 1 package Dream Whip
● 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
● 2 TBSP Crushed Walnuts

Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Mise en Place:

● Bowls
● Pot
● Measuring Cup
● Stand Mixer, bowl and beaters
● 6″ x 9″ Pan
● Spatula

Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Directions:

1. Drain pineapple but save the juice. Set aside the drained pineapple for later.

2. Pour the pineapple juice into a one-cup measuring cup and then fill the measuring cup to the top with water (you need one cup of liquid total).
3. Heat the one cup of pineapple juice-water to boiling and add the two small boxes of lemon jello to the boiling liquid.
4. Remove from the stove.

5. Stir in seven ounces of ginger ale.

6. Chill 20 minutes.
7. Into the chilled ginger ale mixture fold in 16 ounces of cranberry sauce and the drained crushed pineapple.

8. Pour into a 6″x9″ pan.
9. Chill until set.

10. Make the dream whip according to package directions.

11. Beat eight ounces of softened cream cheese into the dream whip.

12. Spread the dream whip mixture on top of the chilled cranberry jello.

13. Top with crushed walnuts.

14. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

15. Refrigerate all leftovers.

Yield: 1

Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Recipe

Print

A classic cranberry jello recipe.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 14 oz Crushed Pineapple
• 2 small boxes Lemon Jello
• 7 oz Ginger Ale
• 16 oz Jelly Cranberry Sauce
• 1 package Dream Whip
• 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
• 2 TBSP Crushed Walnuts

Instructions

1. Drain pineapple but save the juice. Set aside the drained pineapple for later.
2. Pour the pineapple juice into a one-cup measuring cup and then fill the measuring cup to the top with water (you need one cup of liquid total).
3. Heat the one cup of pineapple juice-water to boiling and add the two small boxes of lemon jello to the boiling liquid.
4. Remove from the stove.
5. Stir in seven ounces of ginger ale.
6. Chill 20 minutes.
7. Into the chilled ginger ale mixture fold in 16 ounces of cranberry sauce and the drained crushed pineapple.
8. Pour into a 6"x9" pan.
9. Chill until set.
10. Make the dream whip according to package directions.
11. Beat eight ounces of softened cream cheese into the dream whip.
12. Spread the dream whip mixture on top of the chilled cranberry jello.
13. Top with crushed walnuts.
14. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
15. Refrigerate all leftovers.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

15

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 198Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 66mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 2g

Note: for exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information provided is simply a guideline.

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