Cherry Jello Salad is a delightful, light, and fruity dessert, perfect after a heavy meal. Get creative in the kitchen with this delicious treat, which is easily modifiable and adds color to any Christmas or Easter spread.
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Cherry Jello Salad: A Vintage Classic
This easy Cherry Jello Salad is a jiggly treat that will bring you back to the 1950s. The recipe is easy to make and uses cheap ingredients, as well as being both a delicious dessert and a pretty centerpiece.
Modern Jello was invented by Pearle and May David Wait, who transformed gelatin, originally sold commercially for medicinal use, into the popular dessert we know today. By the early 20th century, Jello’s popularity was on the rise in the United States after an extensive advertising campaign, and it was often used in dishes and desserts in the 1930s during the Great Depression. In the 1960s, a line of savory vegetable-flavored Jello products was introduced, although these did not sell well (for obvious reasons!).
Why This Cherry Jello Salad Recipe is a Keeper
This Cherry Jello salad recipe is the perfect light and fruity dessert. You can make this great recipe ahead of time to serve at a potluck or other gathering.
- Quick: It’s nice to be able to make this recipe and move on during the busy holiday season. It’s the perfect make-ahead easy side dish for a holiday potluck.
- Easy Ingredients: This side dish recipe is a breeze to make with easy ingredients.
- Family Friendly: There is always room for this dessert, especially when it comes to something so light and fruity. Perfect for holidays or cookouts.
- Adaptable: Make this fruit cocktail in so many combinations and varieties. Perfect for holiday and potluck dinners, full of fruit and top with a creamy topping.
If you’re looking for more Jello recipes, try these: Jello Strawberry Pie, Strawberry Jello Shots, and Lime Jello Salad.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
What Happened to Jello Salad?
Although Jello salad was a popular trend in the 1950s, dieting trends in the 80s meant that people began to shift to less sugar-based foods and tossed salads instead.
More women entering the workforce also meant a rise in other convenience foods other than gelatin, such as microwave dinners. Today, Jello is mainly a dessert or snack food in the United States, although it can still make a delicious and decorative centerpiece, such as in the case of this recipe.
Ingredient Notes for this Great Recipe for Cherries and Pineapple Marshmallow Fruit Salad
This fruit salad is an easy side dish to make. While a variety of fruits are great to give this recipe a colorful appearance and an array of flavors.
- Make Jello: Sugar free Jello is a great swap.
- Mixed Berries: Mixed berries will bring a variety of sweet and flavorful tastes to your Jello.
- Pie Filling: Use a canned cherries pie filling for this delicious recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Make the Recipe for Fruit Salad
You can make this recipe with most fruits or Jello varieties. Here are some ideas for putting your own spin on this cherry flavor Jello salad:
- Different Fruits: You can use different fruits in this recipe, aside from the ones listed. For example, cherries and crushed pineapple will taste great in this recipe, or other fruits such as peaches or cranberry, mandarin orange. Using fresh fruit instead of canned fruit can work great as well for this dessert salad.
- Jello Varieties: You can make the recipe with any flavor of Jello, such as raspberry Jello or orange Jello, not just cherry. Vegan options will also work just fine.
This salad would go great as an accompaniment to this Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board.
How to Make Black Cherry Jello Salad
These are the basic steps for making cherry Jell-o salad. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
STEP 1: Make Jello for this Sweet Side Dish
First, pour Jello and boiling water in a large bowl and stir. Then, stir in the strawberries, mixed fruit and the other fruit.
STEP 1: Stir to Combine this Sweet Salad
Finally, cover and transfer to the fridge. When it’s time to chill, leave in the fridge and wait three hours for the Jello with fruit to set.
Recipe FAQs for Cherry Pineapple Jello Recipe
Expert Tips for Making This Marshmallow Jell-O Salad Recipe
To improve your cherry Jello salad, try these helpful tips for the perfect side dish:
- Make Individual: Use disposable clear cups or pretty parfait glasses for the best cherry watergate salad.
- Trifle Bowl: Use a trifle bowl and lay all the fruit out in pretty patterns. It’ll look gorgeous as the centerpiece to the table,
- Toppings: Keep it simple, top with a whipped topping, such as whipped cream or Cool Whip. You can use toasted coconut, or use this dessert as a topper for ice cream. You can also add mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, cream cheese, cottage cheese, instant vanilla pudding, or even fun sprinkles.
- Crunch: Chopped nuts or crushed pretzels add a great crunch to this dessert.
- Lighten up: Feel free to use fruit packed in its own juice and sugar-free options of filling and Jello.
More Jello Salad Recipes You Might Like
Cherry Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Cherry Jello
- 2 cups Water, boiling
- 10 ounces Frozen sliced strawberries, 1 package of frozen
- 10 ounces Mixed berries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, 1 package of frozen
- 21 ounces Cherry pie filling, 1 package
- 20 ounces Pineapple chunks, drained, 1 can
- 15 ounces Pear halves, drained and cut into chunks
- 15 ounces Mandarin oranges, drained
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 3 Bananas, sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve Jello in boiling water.
- Stir in the strawberries and mixed berries.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours before serving.
Expert Tips
- Make Individual: Use disposable clear cups or pretty parfait glasses.
- Trifle Bowl: Use a trifle bowl and lay all the fruit out in pretty patterns. it looks gorgeous as the centerpiece to the table,
- Toppings: Top with Whipped cream, cool whip or toasted coconut. Or use this dessert as a topper for ice cream.
- Crunch: Chopped Nuts or crushed pretzels add a great crunch to this dessert.
- Lighten up: Feel free to use fruit packed in its own juice and sugar free options of filling and jello.
Mmm this is so refreshing and tasty, thanks so much!
My kiddos love this jello salad because the color + fruit looks super cool to them. Major win!
We added extra cherries on top and they’re so delicious! My family’s new favorite dessert! Highly recommended!
Tasty and so fun! My niece loved this. Thank you!
This is a great recipe. I tried it at home and my family loves it. Thank you, Christina for this recipe. We enjoyed it so much.
Do you Add 2 cups of cold water too?
Do you put 2 Cups of Cold water too?
I’m about to make this. It Says 2 Cups Boiling Water to Dissolve. Do you also Add 2 Cups of Cold Water too?
No do not add any cold water. Just follow the recipe card, you will love it.
This is such a fun recipe!
Everyone loved it! Easy to make and delicious!
I tried this recipe following the recipe exactly as given and it did not set – even overnight. I tied again the next day and it did not set. I don’t think I will try again even though it looks absolutely delicious.
I have made this recipe so many times and have never had a problem. I’d love to be able to help you troubleshoot – something has to be off. Are you sure you’re using the correct amounts of each ingredient and draining all of the canned fruits?
You only add 2 cups of boiling water. The frozen fruit will contribute the remaining liquid, otherwise it will never set up.