Holiday Cranberry Salad
A festive and vibrant cranberry salad featuring tart cranberries, sweet pineapple, grapes, and apples, complemented by crunchy pecans. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it offers a refreshing balance of flavors and textures that appeal to all ages and add a colorful touch to your festive table.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring cranberries, water, and sugar to a boil and cook until berries pop, about 5 minutes.
- Add cherry gelatin and stir until dissolved.
- Allow the mixture to cool.
- Add crushed pineapple, halved grapes, diced apples, and chopped pecans.
- Chill the salad overnight before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For a more vibrant color, consider adding a few more cranberries or using fresh instead of frozen. If you're looking for a healthier option, you can substitute honey or agave for the sugar. Feel free to add other fruits like orange segments or pomegranate seeds for extra flavor and texture. To make this dish vegan, use a plant-based gelatin alternative instead of cherry jello.
Serving Suggestions
This Holiday Cranberry Salad is perfect as a refreshing side dish for festive meals, pairing well with roasted meats or served alongside dishes like Ann Anderson'S Perfect Pot Roast. Garnish with extra pecans or a sprinkle of fresh mint for added flair. It also complements other holiday favorites like Shoe Peg Corn Salad or various American recipes.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors will develop further as it sits, making it even more delicious the next day. It’s best served cold, so there's no need to reheat. Consume within 3-4 days for the best quality.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Holiday Cranberry Salad contains roughly 821 calories, with 7g protein, 115g carbohydrates, and 45g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (55% of the Daily Value) and dietary fiber (49% of the Daily Value), and a good source of protein and iron. It also contributes 14g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other types of gelatin for this recipe?
Yes, you can experiment with different flavored gelatins to create a unique taste. Just be aware that the flavor profile will change, so choose a flavor that complements cranberries, like raspberry or strawberry.
Is this salad suitable for a vegan diet?
To make this Holiday Cranberry Salad vegan, substitute the cherry jello with a plant-based gelatin alternative. Additionally, replace the sugar with a vegan sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar to keep it entirely plant-based.
How can I add more crunch to this salad?
You can enhance the crunch factor by adding additional nuts like walnuts or almonds. Also, consider incorporating celery or chopped bell peppers for a refreshing crunch that complements the fruit.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).