You only need 5 ingredients to prepare this sweet and easy old-fashioned Cranberry Jello Salad. It's a great make-ahead side dish or dessert for the holiday season!
Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or whipped cream
Instructions
In a large bowl, dissolve Jell-O in boiling water, whisking for 2 minutes. Whisk in the cold water. Cool in the refrigerator just until slightly thickened (about 45 minutes – 1 hour).
Gently skim off any foam or bubbles on top of the Jell-O.
Stir in oranges, pineapple, cranberry sauce, and pecans. Pour into an 8-inch square dish that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Chill in the refrigerator until completely set (at least 4 hours or overnight).
Slice into squares and garnish with optional toppings.
Notes
You can easily boil water for your Jell-O by microwaving the water on high for about 2 ½ - 3 minutes.
Once you put the Jell-O in the refrigerator to thicken slightly,be sure to set a timer so that you remember to go back and check it after about 45 minutes or an hour. You want the Jell-O to thicken slightly, but you don't want it to set completely before you stir in the remaining ingredients. Don't forget about it!
Whisking the Jell-O mixture will likely result in some bubbles or foam on the top.That's fine! Just use a spoon to gently skim off the foam before you stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Prep the cranberry salad well in advance of when you want to serve it. You don't want to be stressed out wondering if it will set in time! The salad should only require about 4 hours of chilling time, but you can certainly cover it with plastic or foil and leave it in the refrigerator overnight.
Garnish withfresh parsley for a savory touch, or top it off with whipped cream or Cool Whip for a sweet, creamy contrast!