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Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping - House of Nash Eats

Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping

This nostalgic Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping is a festive, fruity holiday classic made with cherry jello, whole cranberry sauce, and a creamy topping. Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chilling Time (after topping) 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Jello Base
  • 1 package cherry jello 3 oz or red jello
  • 1 can whole cranberry sauce 14 oz can
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup cold water
Cream Cheese Topping
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 0.25 cup powdered sugar optional, to sweeten topping
  • 1 cup whipped cream or whipped topping optional, for lighter topping
Optional Garnish
  • fresh cranberries or maraschino cherries for garnish

Method
 

  1. Dissolve the cherry jello in boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved.
  2. Mix in the can of whole cranberry sauce. Stir until well combined.
  3. Add the cold water and mix. Pour into a serving dish and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until set.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare the cream cheese topping by beating the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar (if using) until smooth.
  5. Gently fold in whipped cream or whipped topping for a lighter texture, if desired.
  6. Once the jello is set, spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on top. Garnish with cranberries or cherries if desired. Chill for another 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

To make ahead, prepare the jello base the day before and add the topping before serving. For a fresher twist, homemade cranberry sauce can replace canned.