Description
Cranberry-orange salad brings festive flair to holiday tables with its jewel-toned elegance. Gelatin molds create a delightful centerpiece that delights guests and adds sophisticated charm to seasonal gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (3 oz / 85 g) raspberry or cranberry-flavored gelatin
- 1 can (14 oz / 397 g) whole berry cranberry sauce
- ¾ cup boiling water
- ½ cup cold water
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 small orange, peeled and finely chopped
- ½ tsp orange zest
Instructions
- Gelatin Preparation: Whisk gelatin crystals into boiling water until completely dissolved, creating a smooth liquid base.
- Liquid Incorporation: Blend cold water and orange juice into the gelatin mixture, ensuring a consistent, translucent texture.
- Fruit Integration: Fold pineapple, cranberries, and celery into the gelatin, distributing ingredients evenly for a vibrant, textured composition.
- Nutty Enhancement: Gently mix in walnuts, providing a delightful crunch and complementary flavor profile to the fruity foundation.
- Molding Process: Pour the gelatin mixture into a decorative mold, using a spatula to create a smooth, elegant surface.
- Chilling and Setting: Refrigerate the mold for several hours until the salad achieves a firm, quivering consistency.
- Unmolding and Presentation: Briefly dip the mold in warm water, then invert onto a serving platter, carefully releasing the salad.
- Final Garnish: Adorn with fresh cranberries or orange zest, creating a visually stunning and refreshing side dish perfect for various dining occasions.
Notes
- Gelatin Dissolving Technique: Whisk boiling water and gelatin thoroughly to prevent clumping and ensure smooth, uniform texture throughout the salad.
- Fruit Distribution Strategy: Fold fruits gently and evenly to maintain delicate texture and prevent crushing pineapple or cranberry pieces during mixing.
- Chilling Precision: Refrigerate for minimum 4-6 hours to achieve perfect molded consistency, allowing gelatin to set completely without becoming rubbery.
- Unmolding Pro Tip: Briefly dip mold in warm water for 5-10 seconds to release salad smoothly, preventing potential breakage during serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg