Description
A refreshing and festive Cranberry Jello Salad that combines the tartness of cranberry juice and fresh cranberries with the sweetness of pineapple chunks and mini marshmallows. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a light, fruity dessert, this salad is chilled to a firm, jiggly texture and topped with creamy whipped cream for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Gelatin Mixture
- 1 cup 100% cranberry juice (cold)
- 1 cup unflavored gelatin powder
- 2 cups cranberry juice (heated for dissolving gelatin)
Fruit and Add-ins
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Topping
- 1 cup whipped cream (for serving)
Instructions
- Bloom the Gelatin: In a medium bowl, sprinkle the unflavored gelatin powder evenly over 1 cup of cold cranberry juice. Let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes to allow the gelatin to fully absorb the liquid and bloom.
- Dissolve the Gelatin: Heat 2 cups of cranberry juice in a saucepan until hot but not boiling. Add the bloomed gelatin mixture to the hot juice and stir continuously until the gelatin is completely dissolved, forming a smooth liquid.
- Add Fruit and Marshmallows: Stir in the fresh cranberries and drained pineapple chunks. Gently fold in the mini marshmallows to distribute evenly without deflating them.
- Chill to Set: Pour the mixture into a mold or serving dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the gelatin mixture is fully set and firm to the touch.
- Prepare Topping: Just before serving, whip the cream until soft peaks form. This will add a light and creamy texture to the salad.
- Serve: Slice the jello salad into squares or scoop into bowls. Top each serving generously with the whipped cream and serve chilled for a delightful, refreshing dessert.
Notes
- For a firmer salad, you can increase the gelatin powder to 1.5 cups.
- Ensure the cranberry juice used for dissolving gelatin is hot enough to fully dissolve the gelatin but not boiling to avoid affecting texture.
- Fresh cranberries add tartness and texture but can be substituted with frozen if fresh are unavailable.
- Mini marshmallows add sweetness and softness; feel free to adjust quantity to taste.
- This salad can be prepared a day in advance and kept refrigerated covered.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
