Description
A vibrant holiday side dish combining tart cranberries, crisp apples, and crunchy walnuts in a delightful gelatin salad that’s perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries
- 1 large Granny Smith apple (tart green variety)
- 1 large orange
- 1 large Honey Crisp apple (red variety)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 large (6-ounce) box raspberry gelatin
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Zest the orange using a fine grater, then peel and process the orange flesh in your food processor until liquefied. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Chop the cranberries and both apples in the food processor until they reach your desired consistency. Add the chopped fruit to the bowl with orange and zest, then stir in the walnuts.
- Bring water and sugar to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool for 2-3 minutes, then whisk in the raspberry gelatin until fully dissolved.
- Pour the gelatin mixture over the fruit mixture, stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients, and refrigerate overnight to set and allow flavors to develop.
Notes
- Pulse fruits in short bursts to avoid over-processing and maintain some texture in your salad
- Allow the sugar syrup to cool slightly before adding gelatin to prevent clumping and ensure smooth mixing
- Choose apples with different textures – tart Granny Smith and sweet Honey Crisp create perfect flavor balance
- Toast walnuts lightly in a dry pan for enhanced nutty flavor and extra crunch
- Prepare this salad 12-24 hours ahead for best flavor development and proper setting
- Fresh cranberries can be substituted with frozen ones, but thaw and drain them first to prevent excess moisture
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/12 of recipe)
Keywords: holiday cranberry salad, walnut fruit salad, gelatin salad recipe, Thanksgiving side dish, Christmas salad, make ahead salad, cranberry apple salad, festive fruit salad