Make Ahead

Holiday Cranberry Jello

November 23, 2022
5
1 Ratings
Photo by Regina Carlton
  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 4 hours
  • Serves 8-10
Author Notes

Why pour out the can of cranberry and cut slices when you can have a simply perfect dessert or side dish to compliment any holiday table made ahead of your festivities. I have been making this recipe since I was a little girl. Each time I made it, I had a different combination of ingredients. Today I found the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness that anyone would enjoy, so I'm sharing it with you. I hope you enjoy this annual dish that's at our table with your family too.

This Jello dish is filled with fresh bananas, pecans, pineapple, cranberry sauce, marshmallows and uses strawberry gelatin as a base. Only 15 minutes prep time and refrigerate until slightly set (about 2 hours), add fruits then refrigerate until firm (about four hours total time). —Regina Carlton

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Ingredients
  • 6 ounces Jell-o Gelatin, Strawberry Flavor
  • 42 ounces Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 packet Knox Original Gelatin, Unflavored
  • 3 Ripe Bananas
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Pecans
  • 1 cup Mini Marshmallows
  • 40 ounces Pineapple Tidbits (drained)
  • 2 cups Boiling Water
Directions
  1. Boil 2 cups of water. Pour into large boil, add 6 oz. box of Jell-O Strawberry Gelatin and one Knox Gelatine, unflavored. Mix until all gelatin is dissolved.
  2. Open 3 14 oz. cans of whole cranberry sauce and add to bowl of gelatin mixer. Mix thoroughly, breaking up cranberry sauce so it thickens the gelatin. Add 2 20 oz. cans of drained pineapple tidbits to the gelatin and mix together. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours until the bowl of ingredients just starts to firm up.
  3. Remove from refrigerator. Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1 cup mini marshmallows. Chop 3 bananas into slices and add to bowl. Mix all ingredients, making sure you scrape the sides and bottom until all ingredients are distributed well in bowl. When done, cover again and refrigerate until firm (about 2 hours).
  4. Serve with a holiday meal as a side dish or serve as a dessert. Cranberry Fruit Jello will stay good in refrigerator for several days.

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1 Review

Regina C. November 23, 2022
If you don't like the berries as much, you can swap the whole berries sauce for the jellied sauce.