Cranberry Orange Jello Salad

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Fresh cranberries, oranges and apples fill this Cranberry Orange Jello Salad with a raspberry Jello base. It makes a beautiful holiday dessert or fruit side dish.

Jump to Recipe

cranberry orange jello salad with whipped cream

Cranberry Orange Jello Salad Recipe

Nothing says the holidays like jello salads! I grew up eating Jello salads not only on the holidays but also for family dinners and church potlucks. Jello salads are some of my favorite desserts because there are just so many varieties! This Jello salad is unique because it has fresh oranges, apples and cranberries, making it perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

Fresh vs Frozen Cranberries

We call for frozen cranberries in this recipe. Can you use fresh? Yes! Cranberries freeze really well. There won’t be any difference in flavor whichever you use. We choose frozen just because they are easy to keep on hand and pull out exactly you need them.

Can you use fresh fruit in Jello salads?

This recipe calls for using fresh apples and oranges. These fruits work perfectly in Jello.  There are some fresh fruits that you want to steer clear of in Jello salads. Some of those include fresh pineapple, kiwi, mango and guava. These fruits have have an enzyme that makes the gelatin not set. If you want to use these fruits, use the canned version.

easy fruit jello salad for the holidays

How to Make Cranberry Orange Jello Salad

Let’s talk about some hints to make this delicious fruit salad:

  • Prepare the fruit by peeling the oranges and apples, then cutting them in small pieces. Run the whole cranberries through a food processor to grind them up.
  • Make the raspberry Jello according to the recipe, then stir in the sugar while the water is still hot so it dissolves.
  • Add the cold water and fruit and mix well.
  • This makes quite a bit of Jello salad so be sure to use a bowl or baking dish that holds at least 4 quarts. We used a large glass bowl. If you use a 9×13 baking pan, make sure it has deep sides. And if you need to, you can use two smaller pans or bowls.
  • Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. The time it takes for the Jello to set will depend on how deep your bowl is.
  • Serve with a dollop of whipped cream. Mmmm!

Can you freeze Jello salad?

No, you can’t freeze Jello salad. If you freeze Jello, it will lose its texture after it has thawed.

How far in advance can you make Jello salad?

No Jello salad can’t be frozen, but thankfully, you can make this dish up several days in advance and keep it refrigerated.

A close up of a bowl of fruit, with Jello salad

How long does Jello salad last?

Cranberry Orange Jello Salad should stay fresh for about 5 days in the fridge. Be sure it is covered tightly so it doesn’t absorb odors from the refrigerator.

OTHER JELLO SALAD RECIPES

easy cranberry jello salad with oranges
easy cranberry jello salad with oranges

Cranberry Orange Jello Salad

4.82 from 16 votes
Fresh cranberries, oranges and apples fill this Cranberry Orange Jello Salad with a raspberry Jello base. It makes a beautiful holiday dessert or fruit side dish.
Servings 20
Prep Time 20 minutes

Email Me This Recipe!
Enter your email and get the recipe sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week.

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound frozen cranberries (mostly thawed)
  • 2 oranges
  • 2 apples
  • 2 cups crushed pineapple, drained (1 20 ounce can)
  • 2 large boxes raspberry Jello (6 ounces each)
  • 3 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 cups cold water

Instructions
 

Prepare the fruit:

  • Using a food processor, grind the cranberries until they are crushed in small pieces.
  • Peel and cut the oranges into very small pieces.
  • Peel, core and finely dice the apples.

Make the Jello:

  • Heat 3 cups of water to boiling (either on the stovetop or in the microwave).
  • Dissolve the raspberry Jello in the hot water.
  • Add the granulated sugar to the hot raspberry Jello.
  • Stir well.
  • Add the cold water and mix well.
  • Add the cranberries, chopped oranges and apples, and pineapple. Mix well.
  • Pour in a 9x13 glass baking dish or a pretty glass bowl that holds at least 4 quarts.
  • Allow the jello to chill and set for at least 4 hours (exact time will depend on the serving bowl and how deep it is).
  • Top with whipped cream.

Video

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 20 people, with 1 serving being about 3/4-1 cup of Jello. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 16.2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Calories 163

A close up of a cranberry orange jello salad title image

About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

Get 5 Classic Recipes with a Deliciously Secret Twist

You might also like

Join the Discussion

Subscribe
Notify of

6 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Diana Crist
2 years ago

Can I substitute orange jello for raspberry hello for cranberry salad

Sylvia
2 years ago

5 stars
I have been looking for a recipe with cranberries, oranges and apples. Can’t wait to make this for my family at Christmas. Sounds delicious!

Amber Stoops
3 years ago

Is this really 12 oz of jello total or 6 oz total?

Joy
4 years ago

5 stars
Had this dish at our catered banquet in November and fell in love with it (and so did our guests!). Was so pleased to find your recipe to make it for my family and guests!! Great directions and THANK YOU for the video!