Festive Cranberry Jello Salad Recipe with Creamy Topping
A vibrant, sweet, tangy, and creamy cranberry jello salad with a luscious topping, perfect for holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes (including chill time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 packages cranberry-flavored gelatin mix
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 can (14 ounces) canned whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (or substitute pecans)
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water and pour into a mixing bowl containing the cranberry gelatin mix. Stir until completely dissolved.
- Add 2 cups of cold water to the dissolved gelatin mixture and stir until combined.
- Mix in the canned whole berry cranberry sauce and drained crushed pineapple until evenly distributed.
- Fold in the chopped walnuts and mini marshmallows gently, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour the mixture into a serving dish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until fully set (overnight is best).
- Prepare the creamy topping by beating softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and airy.
- Spread the creamy topping evenly over the set jello layer, being careful not to disrupt the jello.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate for another hour to allow the topping to firm up slightly.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
[‘Ensure cream cheese is softened to prevent lumps in the topping.’, ‘Let the jello set fully before adding the creamy topping.’, ‘Drain pineapple thoroughly to avoid excess liquid.’, ‘Do not over-whip the cream to maintain its texture.’, ‘Chill the dish before serving for the best flavor and texture.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 80
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: cranberry jello salad, holiday dessert, Thanksgiving recipe, Christmas dessert, festive salad, creamy topping, easy dessert