Pioneer Woman Cranberry Jello Salad Recipe

Alright. This Pioneer Woman Cranberry Jello Salad is basically dessert pretending to be a side dish. Cherry jello, cranberry sauce, pineapple, pecans… it’s sweet, tart, and that weird jiggly texture you either love or won’t admit you love. Fast, cheap, zero cooking. It lives in the fridge till you need it.

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Ingredients Needed

2 cups boiling water: actually needs to be boiling or the jello won’t dissolve right. been there.
2 (0.3 oz) packages sugar-free cherry gelatin mix: use Jell-O or store brand, no one’s checking.
1 (16 oz) can jellied cranberry sauce: that wobbly canned stuff. mash it up.
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained: get all the juice out or it’ll never set.
½ cup chopped pecans: adds crunch. don’t toast them. just toss them in.

How To Make Pioneer Woman Cranberry Jello Salad

Dissolve the Jello:

Pour the boiling water into a mixing bowl. Add the jello packets. Stir like you mean it. It should look smooth and jewel-toned. If there are grains, keep going. You didn’t stir enough.

Add the Good Stuff:

Dump in the cranberry sauce. Stir until it breaks up and melts into the mix. Then stir in the drained pineapple. It’ll look… goopy. That’s correct.

Pour It Out:

Spoon or pour the mixture into a big glass dish. Or cute little ramekins if you’re feeling fancy. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top. They’ll float a bit. That’s fine.

Chill It:

Cover it. Fridge it. Wait at least 4 hours. Overnight if you’re smart. It needs to fully set. Don’t poke it every hour like I do.

Pioneer Woman Cranberry Jello Salad Recipe

Recipe Tips

Boiling water. Not hot. Boiling.
Drain the pineapple or it turns into cold soup.
Add pecans last or they sink and go soggy.
Let it chill undisturbed. No peeking.
You can totally swap in strawberry jello or raspberry.

How to Store & Reheat

Room Temperature: Nope. Has to stay cold.
Fridge: Covered, up to 3 days.
Freezer: Don’t do it. Gelatin hates the freezer.
Reheat: Lol. No. It’s cold food.

Nutrition Facts (Approx. per serving – 157g)

Calories: 230
Sodium: 112mg
Protein: 1g
Fat: 0.2g
Carbs: 57g
Fibre: 3g
Sugar: 39g

FAQs

Do I have to use sugar-free jello?

Nope. Use regular if you want it sweeter. Up to you.

Can I skip the pecans?

Yes. Or sub with walnuts. Or leave nuts out entirely.

Does this taste like cranberry sauce?

Kinda. It’s sweeter, lighter, less tart. Like jello with a vibe.

Can I add cream cheese or Cool Whip?

Sure. Mix in or top it after chilling. People do wild things with jello salad.

Can I make it ahead?

Yep. The night before is perfect. Just don’t forget it in the back of the fridge.