Description
Cranberry gelatin salad layers delightful textures and flavors in a classic midwest holiday dish. Creamy marshmallow and tart cranberry create a festive dessert you’ll savor with each refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (6 oz / 170 g) raspberry or cranberry-flavored gelatin
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 can (14 oz / 397 g) whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 small orange, peeled and finely chopped (or ½ cup mandarin oranges, drained)
- 1 package (8 oz / 227 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or 1 cup whipped topping, thawed)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Gelatin Preparation: Whisk unflavored gelatin into steaming liquid until seamlessly dissolved, eliminating any granular inconsistencies.
- Flavor Integration: Merge cranberry preserve into mixture, methodically breaking down preserve to create uniform consistency while ensuring even distribution of fruity essence.
- Ingredient Incorporation: Delicately fold pineapple chunks and citrus segments throughout gelatin base, creating a vibrant and textured landscape of tropical flavors.
- Nutmeat Enhancement: Sprinkle chopped nutmeats across surface to introduce a delightful crunch and nutritional complexity, elevating the overall sensory experience.
- Molding and Chilling: Transfer gelatin composition into lightly greased rectangular ceramic vessel, then position within refrigeration unit to facilitate gradual molecular solidification.
- Structural Development: Allow minimum 120 minutes of undisturbed cooling, enabling complete gelatin transformation from liquid state to a trembling, stable configuration.
- Presentation Refinement: Before serving, inspect gelatin’s structural integrity and optionally embellish with additional fresh citrus zest or reserved nutmeats to heighten visual and textural appeal.
Notes
- Whisk Thoroughly: Ensure no gelatin granules remain by vigorously whisking into hot liquid, preventing unpleasant grainy texture.
- Break Down Preserves: Systematically fragment cranberry preserve to create smooth, consistent mixture without large fruit chunks.
- Distribute Ingredients Evenly: Gently fold pineapple and citrus segments throughout gelatin to ensure balanced flavor in every bite.
- Chill Completely: Allow minimum 2 hours refrigeration for perfect gelatin set, achieving ideal trembling consistency and optimal molecular binding.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg