Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

  • Post author:Melissa Haines
  • Post published:November 24, 2016
  • Post comments:6 Comments

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This Cranberry Salad Recipe is a sure hit with everyone. It’s the perfect side for the holidays. With bits of fresh cranberry, oranges, apples, and pineapple, it has the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Come on in and I’ll share my Grandmother’s Recipe for an Old Fashioned Cranberry Salad…

Cranberry Salad Recipe

This is an old-fashioned recipe, from my grandmother. Boy does this take me back to her 1950s-style kitchen, and the old hand grinder hanging over the kitchen sink! I loved grinding the apples and other ingredients for this delicious holiday side as a kid. Now, even after all of these years, I still don’t think any other cranberry salad holds a candle to this delicious flavor. Sometimes the old-fashioned recipes are truly the best!

If you are looking for holiday sides like this one then you might like my recipe for Old Fashioned Cranberry Cake with Butter Frosting, No Bake Cherry Fluff Salad, or Homemade Cornbread Stuffing with Cranberries

Table of contents

  • Cranberry Salad Recipe
  • Here is a quick video showing you how I make this Cranberry Salad…

It’s not only yummy, but it’s also so festive looking. I love the bits of orange peel and the chunks of cranberry.

Here is a quick video showing you how I make this Cranberry Salad…

Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (3)

Grandma’s Famous Cranberry Salad

Grandma’s cranberry salad is the perfect side for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 10 -12 servings

Calories: 190cal

Author: Melissa

Cost: $10

Ingredients

  • 1 12 oz. fresh cranberries
  • 2 large Apples Cored – (quartered or cut into large pieces) Get a sweet variety, like Empire, or Gala
  • 2 Seedless Oranges quartered – Don’t peel these, either.
  • 1 12 oz. stemless Maraschino Cherries – Drain the juice
  • 1 6 oz. Raspberry Jello
  • 2 Cups Heated Water
  • 2 Cups sugar
  • 1 15 oz. Crushed Pineapple Drain the juice

Instructions

  • Using a food processor or blender – grind the cranberries, apples, oranges, and cherries

  • *Just so the blender or food processor doesn’t get bogged down – You may want to grind a small amount at a time.

  • The mixture should be a little course for texture. Don’t grind it too fine

  • In the meantime, heat the water in a saucepan

  • Add the jello and sugar to the heated water

  • In a large bowl, combine the ground mixture, and the liquid

  • Add the drained crushed pineapple, and stir

  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours, or even 1 day in advance

  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • The older recipes paid no attention to the number of calories in recipes. This recipe has 2 whopping cups of sugar! The sweetness is a big hit with my kids, and us. I like the balance of tart and sweet. But, if you would like the tartness of the cranberry to show through a little more, just cut back on the sugar. I’d start with 1 cup and add more if it needs it. If, after tasting it, you think you’d like to add more sugar to the salad, just dissolve more sugar in a small amount of hot water, and fold in before refrigerating. 🙂

nutrition information is only an estimate

Nutrition

Calories: 190cal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 83IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.1mg

[box] Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (4)Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (5)Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (6)Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (7)[/box]

~Melissa KidFriendlyThingsToDo.Com

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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (9)

    Susan Urben October 29, 2020Reply

    Thanks Melissa for this recipe. I omitted the sugar altogether and used the pineapple juice as part of the water, it was about 3/4s of a cup, so 1 1/4 cup water and 3/4s juice from the can . I topped with vanilla yogurt and pecans.

    1. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (10)

      Melissa October 29, 2020Reply

      That sounds delicious, Susan. Thank you for telling us how you modified the recipe without sugar. I’m sure several people will find that information very helpful. 🙂

  2. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (11)

    Vickie November 19, 2021Reply

    Would be nice to include the number of servings

  3. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (12)

    Misty November 29, 2022Reply

    Love this recipe, its so good! I was wondering if you can freeze the leftovers?

    1. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (13)

      Melissa November 29, 2022Reply

      Thank you! You know, I’ve never tried to freeze this recipe before, but that’s a great question. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like you can freeze this salad successfully because the Jell-O won’t freeze all the way and some of the fruit will lose their texture. You can, however, store it in the fridge for up to 10 days.

    2. Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (14)

      Melissa November 30, 2022Reply

      Strike my last reply. I’ve been corrected. My mom says she freezes it every year and it holds well in the freezer. That would be a great time saver for Christmas!

Grandma's Famous Cranberry Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cranberry salad runny? ›

Mistake #2: Your Cranberry Sauce Is Too Runny

You may have added too much liquid to the cranberries. In addition to pectin, cranberries contain water, which means you only need to add a splash of liquid to get the cooking going. Add too much and you'll be stirring at the stove much longer than expected.

What is the closest berry to cranberries? ›

2. Red Currants. Red currants are the closest substitute for cranberries if you can't find cranberries in any form. They have a similar tart flavor and work well as a 1:1 substitute in most recipes.

Can craisins be substituted for cranberries? ›

Yes, Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries work well in baked goods; however, there is a 1/4 cup (60 mL) difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh cranberries you should use 3/4 cup (175 mL) of Craisins®. Craisins® should not be used in cooked sauces.

Can I substitute frozen cranberries for fresh? ›

Yes! Fresh cranberries freeze for up to a year and can often be substituted in recipes that call for fresh cranberries. When cooking with frozen cranberries, do not thaw before using.

How do I stop my salad from being watery? ›

Before you pack your salad away, fluff up your salad and pull any of these out. Store your clean, dry salad in an airtight plastic container lined with paper towel. The paper towel will absorb any excess water, and the airtight container will keep the salad from wilting.

How do you fix a watery salad? ›

To combat sogginess, one should dress the salad right before serving and use thicker dressings that cling to the vegetables. Ingredients like yogurt or sour cream can be used to thicken the dressing. Additionally, vegetables should be dry after washing to prevent diluting the dressing.

What 2 states grow the most cranberries? ›

Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts

The United States is the world's leading cranberry producer, followed by Canada and Chile.

How many cranberries should I eat a day? ›

HOW MUCH CRANBERRIES TO EAT DAILY? Studies confirming the health-promoting properties of cranberries have typically used doses of 100-300 g of fresh cranberries, equivalent to 7-10 g of dried cranberries, and 100-150 ml of 100% cranberry juice.

Are craisins dried cranberries? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

Why are there no cranberries in the stores? ›

Cranberry sauce

Weather again hurt cranberry harvests across the country in 2023, with drought, excess snow, freezes, and hailstorms harming crops in many regions.

Which is healthier raisins or Craisins? ›

Another main difference between the two, pointed out by the website, is that Craisins have added sugar, while raisins are “naturally sweet.” NuVal ranks raisins an 87 on its nutrition rating scale, out of 100 points, and rates Craisins a 4.

What happens if you don't refrigerate cranberry juice after opening? ›

Once a bottle or container of cranberry juice has been opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator as this will limit the growth of bacteria and help keep the juice from going bad.

Can I use year old frozen cranberries? ›

Pack cranberries into containers, leaving ½-inch headspace for expansion, or freeze them on a tray and then pack into containers or freezer bags as soon as berries are frozen. Frozen berries are best if used within one year.

Do frozen cranberries get mushy when thawed? ›

If cranberries are frozen then removed from the freezer then thawed, they will have a soft texture and are usable for cooking and baking.

What can I use in place of fresh cranberries? ›

There's not a direct substitute for fresh cranberries, but you could make a relish or chutney using a combination of fresh cherries and pomegranates, as well as a small amount of dried cranberries or dried figs. The flavor will be more sweet than tart, but it serves the same purpose.

Why is my salad watery? ›

Another sneaky moisture-inducing culprit that can ruin a salad is the roasted or cooked ingredients you toss into the mix. When roasting a tray of vegetables like sweet potatoes and asparagus or grilling a batch of chicken, you'll want to ensure they're completely cooled before combining them with the leafy greens.

Is cranberry sauce supposed to be runny? ›

Cranberries are naturally rich in pectin, so they gel easily under the right conditions. The ingredient proportions and cooking time determine whether you end up with a sauce that's too runny, a sauce that's perfectly thickened, or a gel that's firm enough to cut with a knife.

Will my cranberry sauce thicken in the fridge? ›

Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. To store, let cool completely, then transfer to a resealable container and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Why is my fruit salad watery? ›

The first thing you need to remember when it comes to making fruit salad is that you need to drain the fruit co*cktail. Draining the fruit co*cktail is important because unless it's drained of as much liquid or syrup as possible, your fruit salad may and will be thin and watery.

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